The Regional Secretary for the Environment and the Sea assured in Horta on Friday that the Regional Government of the Azores is committed to restore the endemic flora of the archipelago in various emblematic sites of the Azorean islands.

The guarantee was made by Álamo Meneses on Friday morning during a visit to the plantation of Myrica faya and Picconia azorica that is developed in the protected landscape of Monte da Guia, under the Regional Plan for the Eradication and Control of Invasive Species in Sensitive Areas (PRECEFIAS).

With the implementation of this plan, the Azorean Government aims to eradicate from environmentally sensitive areas species such as the giant reed, pittosporum, Kahili Ginger, small furze, willow, Chilean rhubarb and the Rubus hochstetterorum Seub, replacing them with the natural flora of the islands.

Here on Faial, explained Álamo Meneses, the project is being implemented in several sites that are integrated in the Natural Park of the Island, where there is still a considerable area covered by endemic vegetation.

“In these areas, we are cleaning the invasive species and replacing them with endemic species, which typical of the habitat where theses interventions are taking place,” added the Regional Secretary.

For Álamo Meneses, that is a project that has a “great potential,” as a measure to demonstrate that it is possible to recover the endemic vegetation as well as to enhance biodiversity.

“We are in the International Year of Biodiversity and this is a project that is integrated in this year’s celebration. It was developed with the purpose of raising the awareness of the population for the nature preservation issues, especially in places such as this, near the city, or even included in urban areas,” explained the Regional Secretary. 

According to Álamo Meneses, projects like this one demonstrate that establishing a “healthy relationship” between human activities and the areas with a rich biodiversity and good quality, in terms of aesthetics and practical use, is possible. After the visit to the protected landscape of Monte da Guia, the Regional Secretary visited the Nature Reserve of the Morro de Castelo Branco, where the removal works of giant reeds are being carried out, and the protected area for the management of habitats or species of Capelinhos, Costa Nordeste and Varadouro in order to supervise the removal works of invasive species (giant reeds and willows) and the planting of native flora (Festuca petraea and Myrica faya).

At the Caldeirão do Pico Verde, the last place to be visited, Álamo Meneses planted three Azorina vidalii, whose specimens are from seeds which were collected and germinated under the BASEMAC and BIOCLIMAC projects.