The Regional Secretariat for Energy, Environment and Tourism, through the Regional Directorate for the Environment, promotes a series of environmental awareness-raising and educational activities to take place on February 2 and 3 under the celebrations of the World Wetlands Day.
 
The Regional Delegation of the National Scouts Corp has joined these celebrations by promoting an international activity designed as "Trees for the World," which aims to plant trees and encourage the organisation of actions for the protection of the native forest.
 
In turn, the Natural Parks will promote a series of actions under the international theme "Wetlands for a Sustainable Urban Future" between February 2 and 4. They include tours and sports activities as well as information sessions with the aim of raising the awareness of participants for the importance of identified wetlands in the balance of ecosystems.
 
Wetlands are the richest and most productive ecosystem in the world in terms of biological diversity, where water is the main element. In this context, their protection and proper management are essential insofar as they are very sensitive sites and are seriously threatened by pollution, urbanisation, industrialisation, intensification of agriculture, fishing, fish farming, illegal hunting and unsustainable tourism, among others.
 
In the Azores, wetlands are the essence of a substantial part of the archipelago's emblematic landscapes and, therefore, are fundamental in the regional tourism scene. Moreover, they are associated with relevant natural processes related to water retention and prevention of floods and landslides. Hence, the involvement of local populations in the conservation of these habitats is considered of great relevance.
 
In the Azores, there are 13 sites officially classified by the Ramsar Convention as Wetlands of International Importance: Caldeirão do Corvo, Planalto Central das Flores (Morro Alto), Caldeira do Faial, Planalto Central do Pico (Achada), Planalto Central de São Jorge (Pico da Esperança), "Fajãs" of Caldeira and Cubres Lagoons (São Jorge), Caldeira da Graciosa (Furna do Enxofre), Planalto Central da Terceira (Furnas do Enxofre and Algar do Carvão), Praia da Vitória Marsh, Complexo Vulcânico das Furnas, Complexo Vulcânico das Sete Cidades, Complexo Vulcânico do Fogo, Ilhéus das Formigas and Recife Dollabarat. They cover an approximate area of 13 thousand hectares.
 
With the exception of Praia da Vitória Marsh, these sites are part of the Network of Protected Areas of the Azores and are managed by the Regional Directorate for the Environment, through the Island Natural Parks.