First prospection and monitoring visit of the LIFE IP AZORES NATURA project's to Ilhéu do Topo, São Jorge

July 21, 2022

Within the scope of the actions C6.1 – Restoring islet seabirds' habitat; C8.1 – Control and eradication of IAS plant species in terrestrial restored habitat; and C8.2 – Control and eradication of IAS animal species in terrestrial restored habitat, the LIFE IP AZORES NATURA, coordinated by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Change, visited the Ilhéu do Topo (islet). The Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA) and the Regional Directorate for Maritime Policies (DRPM) also participated in the visit.

SPEA installed an ARU (autonomous recording unit) on this islet on São Jorge, which will record the vocalizations of seabirds, thus allowing to determine which species frequent it.  

A survey of the flora present on the islet has also been carried out, with only one native species recorded, namely Plantago coronopus. Otherwise, the vegetation is dominated by pasture species. 

With the information gathered during the visit, the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Change will now proceed to plan measures to recover this habitat. 

Find out more: www.lifeazoresnatura.eu/en/