The President of the Government, Carlos César, visited an exhibition on environmental and historical diversity of Corvo Island on late Wednesday, which is open to the public at the Environmental Interpretation Centre of that island.

The facility emphasises the role played by the smallest Azorean island in the valorisation of biodiversity, combined with the history of human presence in that part of the Region.

The presentation of a bird protection project took place at the same space, with important centres, in a first stage, on Corvo Island and on the Vila Franca islet (São Miguel). This is an initiative of Community interest coordinated by the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA) with a total budget of 1.5 million Euros, of which over 800 thousand were allocated by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and the Sea.

Under this project, recognised as of vital importance for bird protection and preservation, mostly marine birds, measures to eradicate the invasive flora and fauna are being developed which to improve the chances of survival of the birds comprised by the project, among others.

In addition to the environment and biodiversity concerns, these measures also include an economic component, with emphasis on tourism, which is demonstrated by the fact that four years dozens of ornithologists from countries such as the United States and Finland visited Corvo this year,” revealed the Regional Secretary. 

These ornithologists have identified 15 rare species in Europe on Corvo during that period. These findings are being disseminated at a global level in specialty magazines and websites, developing growing interest in bird watching on the Corov and in the Archipelago.