The Azores will have, starting now, a new anonymous society which was established with the main purpose of “promoting environmental management actions and preservation of nature and natural resources” in the archipelago.

With the acronym of AZORINA, S.A., the new society, whose creation was approved at the parliament next Wednesday by proposal of the Government of the Azores, aims to develop activities in order to promote public participation in environmental matters as well as in the area of environmental information, dissemination and education.

With a capital of 50,000 Euros, fully subscribed by the Region, this society will implement its strategic objectives by promoting and supporting the integrated management of protected land and marine areas and the development of projects and actions to protect biodiversity, geodiversity and the water and geological resources.

The Society for Environmental Management and Nature Conservation, S.A. will be in charge of the construction, operation and maintenance of the infrastructures for the collection, transfer, recovery and final disposal of waste, wastewater and its derivatives. 
 
Moreover, AZORINA, S.A. was granted with additional powers which include the promotion and support to the development of services for the participation, information, awareness, education and training of citizens in environmental matters, including those integrated in the regional “ecotecas” (environmental awareness raising centres) network, environmental interpretation centres and similar structures.

In order to accomplish its goal, the society may require the compulsory purchase of property situated in its intervention areas, apply and manage regional, national and Community funds and compensate for the loss of income resulting from the implementation of biodiversity and geodiversity preservation measures or water resources and geological protection measures.

The diploma also estimates that the government may transfer to this new society movable and immovable property which are included in the Region’s assets and attached to the environmental interpretation centres, “ecotecas,” and to processing and recovery structures of waste and wastewater, as well as their respective rights.

The government justifies this business intervention to encourage the participation, information dissemination, awareness, education and training of citizens on the environment issues with the “need to reinforce public participation and increase the natural value of the Azores, with in a perspective of sustainable development.”

Furthermore, the option of awarding these responsibilities to an anonymous with public capital “corresponds to the clear perception” that this solution, among the range of available legal solutions” is the most adequate to accomplish the stipulated goals.

As one may read in the preamble of the document, this option also grants the new company some authority which “is essential for achieving an extended protection platform and the awareness of the environmental principles involved in preservation.

The simplification of procedures, the possibility of developing activities according to the stipulated guidelines for the sector, the rationalisation of asset management and the obtainment of more favourable conditions in the financial and commercial plans is other advantages pointed out by the Government as a result of the option for an anonymous society.

When presenting this diploma on Tuesday night, the Regional Secretary for the Environment and the Sea justified the initiative with the need to “create an alternative solution” to the policy that has been carried out with regard to the establishment of contracts with non-governmental organisations and other different associations in the area of environmental information and education.

According to Álamo Meneses, the establishment of contract to implement these initiatives “has been distorting the role played by these associations, which has caused some contract instability that has affected the workers employed in these structures.”

The Regional Secretary added that creating a “strengthened framework” for these associations is the most important in order to ensure “the stability of workers and allow the transparent management of their resources.”