The Regional Director for the Environment stated that the "SOS Environment line provides an important contribution to the promotion of an increasingly active environmental citizenship, being also a simple and widely accessible way of reporting environmental occurrences."

Hernâni Jorge spoke this morning at the premises of Madalena Association of Volunteer Firefighters, where he participated in the opening of a training session for the operators who will provide telephone assistance under the SOS Azores Environment line.

According to the Regional Director, the SOS Environment line is "a complement to the online service "On My Island," which may continue to be used as it has until now." He added that the "occurrences reported through the Internet portal or mobile applications, together with the occurrences reported through SOS Environment line, are awarded different priority levels according to their urgency. Consequently, the deadlines for referral, intervention and response to citizens are different."

The government official also mentioned that “calls are free of charge for users" and that this "new permanent t telephone service of the Regional Government will be available from January 1, through the telephone number 800 292 800; it will operate 24/7 every day.

The SOS Environment line is intended for the reporting of occurrences in the areas of environmental quality, waste management, nature conservation, spatial planning and water resources, namely when possible violations of environmental legislation and spatial planning tools may be involved or situations that may pose risks to people, animals, nature and heritage.

Moreover, the session included the presentation of the film entitled "Give Voice to Nature," which will be used in the campaigns to promote the SOS Environment line. The initiative also aims to increase civic participation in the monitoring and safeguarding of the environmental and natural resources of the Azores.