The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry announced today that the Azorean Government will create a programme to provide financial support to the companies linked to the timber industry that will invest in the international FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification.
 
"This is a new programme aimed at encouraging Azorean timber companies to certify their responsible management in production," João Ponte said, adding that there are currently 247 companies in the archipelago.
 
João Ponte spoke at the end of a visit to the StartUp "MiiCasa" in the city of Lagoa, a company dedicated to the production of pieces in cryptomeria wood such as scale models and women's handbags, among other. On the occasion, he considered to be an "important initiative that manages to promote different uses of cryptomeria wood."
 
For the Regional Secretary, this measure to consolidate and disseminate the "Azores Cryptomeria" band by associating it with new uses, promoting its disseminating and finds new markets falls within the Government's goal to reinforce the certification of forest management and the enhancement of forest products.
 
The awarding of support for forest management certification of private areas also falls within the Regional Forestry Strategy, thus contributing to the qualification, promotion and diversification of products from these forest areas.
 
"The certification process requires preliminary audits and other annual audits, reports and FSC certificate issuance records," the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry said, adding that this support programme will be made available in February.
 
João Ponte stated that co-financing rate will vary in accordance with business turnover. In the case of SartUp, the co-financing rate will be between 90 and 100%.
 
"This is clearly an investment that evidences that the Regional Government provides an opportunity to all companies in the timber industry wishing to obtain the FSC certification," said the government official.
 
João Ponte emphasised that the FSC eco-label, which currently certifies the Azores Cryptomeria, reinforces the competitiveness of this type of wood that has conquered consumers and markets; both at home and abroad.
 
On the island of São Miguel, 500 hectares of FSC-certified cryptomeria wood have already been put to tender, most of which for export.
 
"Naturally, the main challenge for the Government and investors concerns the promotion of cryptomeria wood and the search for markets that are capable of acknowledging the quality of the cryptomeria wood," said João Ponte.