Conservation work on Terceira is progressing at a good pace

Aug. 18, 2023

The intervention areas of the LIFE IP AZORES NATURA project, coordinated by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Change, on Terceira Island are: Terra Brava, Pico Alto and Tamujal, Quinta da Madalena, Turfeira da Lomba, Lagoa do Negro, Furnas do Enxofre, Biscoito da Ferraria, Rocha do Juncal and Vale da Vinagreira.

Since the beginning of the project, conservation work has been carried out in these areas, related to the maintenance of the Laurel Forest and peatbogs, removal of invasive species, restoration of habitats and planting of endemic and native species, with the intention of re-naturalizing with structuring species native to the Azores.

Taking advantage of the summer and the warmer months, the project started some work in these areas, namely:

– Stabilization of the access path to Rocha do Chambre: in June, work began on stabilizing an access path to the project’s intervention areas, so that conservation work could be carried out in a safer way, ensuring the passage of machinery that would become indispensable in this process throughout the project;

– Sanguinhal peatbog: invasive species were removed from this site, namely Tasmanian Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus), so that this habitat could be restored. In total, 5,000 Tasmanian Blue Gum trees were removed, leaving this area open so that the native and endemic species present here could grow and reproduce;

– Biscoito da Ferraria and Vale da Vinagreira: in these places, invasive species were removed, namely 9500 Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), Kahili Ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum) and Australian Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) through pulling and mechanical cuts, standing death and herbicide application on the bulbs/roots.

Learn more about this project at www.lifeazoresnatura.eu.