The President of the Government of the Azores revealed on Tuesday that the project for the construction of waste centres on several islands is at an implementation stage, which will involve an investment over one hundred million Euros. 
As he added, there will be a “reinforcement of EU funds which has been politically agreed with the Government of the Republic. These works will also be supported by municipalities and private entities.”
Carlos César spoke at the opening ceremony of the Lajido de Santa Luzia Interpretation Centre on Pico Island, concluding an intervention primarily addressed at environmental renewal and recovery policies undertaken by the Government which stressed the Azores are on the right track.
The Centre – where the facilities of the Pico Island Natural Park are located, also include the Vineyard Technical Office, the Pico Environmental Services, the Nature Watchers, the workers of “Ecotecas” (Environmental Awareness Raising Centre) and of Interpretation Centres, an exhibition area, a technical support area as well as a space to view the Pico Mountain – represented an 900,000 Euro investment and is intended to provide historical and technical knowledge on viticulture.
Another 630,000 Euro investment was made in the electrification of the houses in Lajido. It was revealed that the electrification projects for the reaming housing units located in the Vineyard Landscape are about to be concluded and a priority status was awarded to Cais do Mourato, Fogos, Ana Clara, Cabrito e Cachorro.
“Defending the environment is also promoting the balance with nature,” stated Carlos César, who urged the defence of biodiversity in the Azores, which is being endangered by the massive introduction of foreign species. As he stated, “the Azorean endemic species are reduced to the condition of rare species located in restricted areas with low, thus becoming into authentic refuge habitats, where their survival is threatened if measures are not taken.”
Carlos César stressed that the Government has implemented eradication plans “to remove the populations of invasive species in hundreds of hectares of protected areas in the Azores, including the underwater removal of invasive seaweed, an unprecedented operation in Portugal. 
The creation of Natural Parks on each island – which are fundamental for the preservation of the Azorean endemic species as well as for the recovery of the habitats of migratory species, especially seabirds - was perhaps the most important of these measures, having a major impact on the International Year of Biodiversity.
“Furthermore, the acknowledgement of the natural and environmental value of our region - should boost our economic and social development as I stressed before– has recently been reinforced with the recognition of the European Union of two protected sites in the deep ocean (the firsts at a European level, proposed by the Azores as a result of their importance), placing two important areas, given their hydrothermal vents and extraordinary biodiversity, under the responsibility of the Azores,” stated the President of the Government.
Ensuring the continuity of this effort to preserve biodiversity, Carlos César concluded that thanks to the Government’s initiative and support among the University of the Azores, the first complete list containing the nine thousand species that inhabit our archipelago will be launched.