The Regional Secretariat for the Environment and the Sea (SRAM) continuously supports the activities of several non-governmental organisations for the Environment of the Azores (NGOs). In this context, funds exceeding half a million Euros were awarded to the NGOs to support the management of the Ecotecas (Environmental Awareness Raising Centres) Regional Network. Thus, the existence of environmental promotion units on every island was assured (except Corvo Island where the activities are carried out by the Flores Ecoteca).
In addition to these funds, the Regional Secretary for the Environment and the Sea will provide more than two hundred thousand Euros for Azorean NGOs. With this economic aid, the Regional Government provides support the activities of the different non-governmental organisations in accordance to their respective activity plans. Moreover, these funds intend to ensure the continuous action of those institutions and support the operation of the environmental interpretation centres, visiting centres and of the ecotecas. These functions includes the opening of structures such as the Carvão Cave (Paim section), the Algar do Carvão or the Torres Cave which are financed by the Government as they correspond to the fulfilment of natural space management protocols and the accomplishment of environmental dissemination tasks undertaken by the Government.
Some of the NGO’s projects, co-financed through international programmes, such as LIFE+ and Interreg are also supported by the SRAM; therefore, assuring the development of large-scale projects that have manage to achieve goals, such as the recovery of the Azores Bullfinch population. Some projects are currently developing strategies to enhance the Azores natural forest and eradicate the invasive fauna and flora in the sea, on islands and islets.