The Fourth Annual Furnas Chainsaw Wood Carving seminar began today at the Furnas Monitoring and Research Center (CMIF) in S. Miguel, which runs until Sunday with the participation of the former champion of the sport, Emmanuel Courtot.
Admission is free; visitors can attend daily from 9.30 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 18.00, in order to watch the transformation of deadwood and/or invasive species converted into breath taking works of art.
The Furnas Wood Carving seminar is promoted by the Regional Government through partnerships with private entities and has already become a reference in the program of activities of the Natural Park of S. Miguel. This particular seminar attracts more residents and tourists to the rails surrounding the Lagoa das Furnas, where, alongside other events such as the Furnas Wicker Festival, gives exposure to wood carvings and wood work which in turn created new points of interest that were introduced into the landscape.
The sculptures made in previous seminars include various animals that can be seen reqularly in the Watershed of the Lagoa das Furnas, including the Ferret (Mustela putorius furo), Long-eared Owl (Asio otus), Common Tern (Sterna hirundo), Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio), Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), Hedgehog (azoricus Erinaceus europaeus), Perez Frog (Rana perezi), Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperato), Endemic Beetles (brachyptera Crotchiella) and the Triton-crested Newt (Triturus cristatus carnifex).
In previous seminars Lobito sculptures were also designed to celebrate the partnership between the Laboratory of the Furnas Landscape, the Furnas LandLab and the Scout groups of Furnas.
The Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Environment, in correlation with this event and taking into account their philosophy of the promoting education and knowledge for the improvement of the safety for its employees working in the area of environmental remediation, also promotes an educational program on technical and maintenance work with equipment such as chainsaws, clearing saws and brush cutter motors, drills and blowers, among other equipment.