The Regional Director for Agriculture and Rural Development defended in Praia da Vitória the possibility of reconciling the "adequate protection and management" of wetlands with the existence of economic and leisure activities by promoting their "environmentally sustainable use."

Speaking at the closing session of the seminar "Wetlands and Agriculture," organised by the Praia da Vitória City Hall, Fátima Amorim mentioned that wetlands are "the richest and most productive ecosystems in the world in terms of biodiversity; water being the key element." We should not forget that they are "very sensitive areas."

The government official recalled that these areas are globally threatened "by pollution, urbanisation and industrialisation, intensification of agriculture, fishing and fish farming, poaching, unsustainable tourism; therefore, it is essential to assure their protection and proper management."

Nevertheless, Fátima Amorim assured that the "Government of the Azores believes it is possible to combine its use with an adequate protection and environmentally sustained management, through the proper regulation and implementation of good practices in various economic activities that can draw the potentialities of these areas."

The Regional Director for Agriculture and Rural Development also mentioned the ARALL contract signed between the Regional Secretariat for Natural Resources and the municipality of Praia da Vitória in the amount of 160 thousand Euros for the acquisition of two land plots. This contract was signed with the aim of implementing the protection and recovery measures for the Paul de Bel Jardim.

The Region, through the Regional Directorate for the Environment, is also a partner of the municipality of Praia da Vitória in the development of a LIFE project in the Paul da Praia da Vitória. This area was the 13th site in the Azores to be distinguished as a protected wetland of international interest, being included in the Ramsar Convention list.

Fátima Amorim stressed that the Government of the Azores will celebrate the World Wetlands Day across the archipelago over the next week. This event marks the adoption of Convention on Wetlands in the Iranian city of Ramsar on February 2, 1971.

"The Ramsar philosophy is defined as the maintenance of the ecological features of wetlands, achieved through the implementation of approaches to the ecosystem in the context of sustainable development."

Furthermore, the Regional Director added that "the conservation of wetlands and the sustainable use of their resources have at their heart the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands and their resources, for the benefit of humankind"; they play "a vital role in the adaptation to climate change as well as in the mitigation of its consequences."