Nowadays, the preservation of natural resources reflects the concern for creating a coherent network of areas where natural values are untouchable in order to ensure its sustainability and stimulate the rational use of the remaining natural heritage. Nature can be used to fulfil present needs of the, but always bearing in mind future needs. The success and happiness of the new generations will also depend on healthy environment that will leave them as our legacy. However, the use of natural resources is not enough. In addition to promoting their rational, it is also important to maintain them in some pristine areas. 
The Azores have been classified as environmentally sensitive areas since the 70’s. The Nature Reserves of Caldeira do Faial and Pico Island Mountain were classified in 1972 to ensure the preservation their landscapes.
Due to their geological, geographic and climate conditions, the Azores have wide variety of ecosystems, biotopes and landscapes, from hydrothermal vents in the ocean depths, to the Pico Mountain. We can find amazing organisms from the tiny bacteria to the enormous blue whale, weighing 180 tonnes, the Monteiro’s strom petrel, an endemic seabird species that inhabits the Graciosa islets, the Azores bullfinch in the Tronqueira Mountain Range on São Miguel Island, troglobites arthropods in volcanic cavities and the Marsilea azorica in a wetland of Terceira Island. All these are examples of the rich and unique Azorean biodiversity.
The implementation of EU directives and international conventions have established a new generation of environmental ratings, in order to safeguard ecosystems and rare habitats at a European level, creating 40 Natura 2000 areas, 12 Ramsar sites and 8 marine protected areas under the OSPAR Convention.
For the positive interaction between man and nature, the Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture as well as the Corvo, Graciosa and Flores Biosphere Reserve were classified by UNESCO as World Cultural Heritage under the “Man and Biosphere” programme.
Given the rich volcanic geodiversity of the Azores and the value of their geosites, the Government of the Azores, in a joint action with the Local Development Associations, has created the “GeoAçores - Azores Geopark Association” and is promoting its application for the Global and European Geopark Network.
In this century, the importance of reinforcing the knowledge on these natural heritage resources has led to the classification of other areas or the reclassification and / or expansion of other areas, establishing the Classified and Protected Areas Network. In total, this network covers 4595 km2, of which 555Km2 of land area (24% of the Azores area) and the remaining correspond to more than 4000 marine areas.
All these areas are integrated in the Regional Network of Protected Areas of the Azores, a single management tool, which has been recently reformulated according to the criteria stipulated by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), leading to the creation of nine Island Natural Parks and one Marine Park in the Azores.
“In the International Year of Biodiversity, it is interesting to confirm that we have accomplished some complex goals, such as the new conservation status of Azores bullfinch or the classification of the Azores as Quality Coast,” Frederico Cardigos said, Regional Director for the Environment, adding that “obviously, this not dissuade us from trying and doing better. In this context, we have a difficult fight against invasive flora and fauna in the Azores, which we expect to control in environmentally sensitive areas, including marine areas.”
An exhibition on the theme of biodiversity and natural habitats will be open to the public on São Miguel Island at the Portas do Mar and on Pico Island in the Municipality of São Roque on Wednesday. By the end of September, this exhibition will have travelled to all the islands of the archipelago. 
July 28 is the National Day of Nature Conservation was established in 1998 by the Portuguese State by occasion 50th Anniversary of the Portuguese Nature Protection League, LPN. This day is aims to raise awareness for the importance of natural values and their problems.