The government and "Os Montanheiros" association signed the construction contracts of the Algar do Carvão Environmental Interpretation Centre

March 30, 2022

The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Change signed on Tuesday, in Angra do Heroísmo, the contract of the legal constitution of the surface right and the exploitation concession protocol with the "Os Montanheiros" association for the launch of the construction procedure of the Algar do Carvão Environmental Interpretation Centre, on Terceira island. It corresponds to an investment from the Regional Government of about two million euros.

"The Algar do Carvão reúne a set of geological singularities and extraordinary natural values, justifying its classification as a Natural Monument and its integration into the Serra de Santa Bárbara e Pico Alto Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the Planalto Central da Terceira Ramsar Site. These characteristics make it a unique place and a magnificent calling card of Terceira and the Region, target of an enormous demand and tourist pressure, which should be requalified, organized and protected", said Alonso Miguel.

Due to the necessity to offer better visitation and interpretation conditions of the Algar do Carvão, the Regional Secretary affirmed that "the plan is to increase the current facilities to a building of about 1000m2, of a multidisciplinary nature, with a strong educational component, with exhibition contents aimed, naturally, at the tourist sector, but also at schools and the resident population, to raise awareness of the importance of the natural wealth and the protection of this unique heritage of the Region".

The Secretary of the Environment also said that "due to its location and for being a protected area, the intention is to minimize the building's visual impact, maintaining the pre-existence of stone and using local wood and other endogenous materials".

According to the secretary, "this construction project of the Algar do Carvão Environmental Interpretation Centre will make it possible, on the one hand, to provide the site with visitation and interpretation facilities worthy of the uniqueness of this natural monument and, on the other, to create conditions to discipline access and to guarantee respect for its load capacity, safeguarding its preservation".

It is an investment that, according to Alonso Miguel, "exponents the best of what we have to show, but which has as its purpose the protection and preservation of our unique natural heritage".