The Regional Secretary for the Environment and the Sea (SRAM) visited the Barreiro da Faneca on Santa Maria this morning to become acquainted with the progress of the work to remove the invasive plants from this site, which is integrated in the protected landscape of regional interest.
For Álamo Meneses, the need to protect a unique landscape in the Azores is the main concern, as it was being jeopardised by the uncontrollable growth of species such as the Small Furze, Pittosporum undulatum, Maritime Pine and the Common Bracken.
“Contrary to what happens in the majority of our islands, where vegetation dominates, the Barreiro da Faneca is a desert-like landscape, with reddish brown soil completely uncovered,” Álamo Meneses said, justifying that Government has moved ahead with this intervention, because “the natural balance (of the place) had disappeared.”
The Plan to Eradicate the Invasive Exotic Flora in the Barreiro da Faneca involves twelve thousand square meters, located in the area corresponding to the geosite of the Protected Landscape on Santa Maria.
The intervention in progress estimates the prohibition of vehicles in that place, the creation of the appropriate landscape integration and the provision of information explaining what the visitor may see in the site.
According to Álamo Meneses, the government intends to establish contact with the 20 owners of the land located in the site in order to buy it or to agree on a strategy to protect the environment of the Barreiro da Faneca.
On the last day of the statutory visit to Santa Maria, the SRAM also visited some pedestrian trails proposed for the island.