The President of the Government highlighted today the potential of the Azores Forestry Strategy for the development of the Region, through the promotion of forest products and the improvement of competitiveness of the sector, with the aim of boosting the forest heritage in the generation of wealth and creation of employment in the archipelago.

"This is a goal for which the Regional Government has mobilised several areas under its administration," said Vasco Cordeiro after receiving the Secretary of State for Forestry and Rural Development, Francisco Gomes da Silva, at an audience held in Ponta Delgada.

Speaking to journalists, the President of the Government added that this strategy for Regional Forests will be developed in coordination with the strategy that Mainland Portugal follows in this particular area.

In this regard, the period for the public consultation of the Azores Forestry Strategy ends next Friday. In a later stage, it will become part of the National Forestry Strategy, which is currently being updated.

"This is a key aspect on how the Azores will deal with deal with the potentialities of this area and the contribution it may provide to our development," restated Vasco Cordeiro. The President of the Government added the main goals of the Azores Forestry Strategy require the certification of forest management, the promotion of forest products and the enhancement of competitiveness in order to seize the potential of the forest heritage in the generation of wealth and creation of employment.

After the audience, Vasco Cordeiro announced the launch of the second public tender for the cutting and reforestation of another 100 hectares of cryptomeria woods under the strategic project to revitalise the forestry sector to the generation of wealth and creation of employment in the Azores.

"The Government of the Azores is already preparing the second public tender to issue the respective license for over 100 hectares, which is expected to be launched this year. The tender is the result of a new approach to the contribution provided by the forestry sector to the development of our Region", said Vasco Cordeiro.

The President of the Government stressed that his Government is "deeply committed" to not only protect the Region's forest resources, but also to acknowledge their importance and turn them into wealth generation and employment creation.

"These are the goals that have guided the development of this initiative that is already reaching its implementation phase, such as the public tender that was decided in 2013. A total of 50 hectares were awarded in the first phase of the tender. The cutting of the remaining areas is expected to start soon and will be followed by the reforestation phase," concluded the President of the Government.