Following the presentation of the “SOS Cagarro” (SOS Corey’s Shearwater) campaign at the 4th Iberian Congress of Ornithology, the Director of the Madeira Natural Park said that “this is an example to be followed by other Regions. I would like to implement a similar project in the archipelago of Madeira.”

This Congress, organized by the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds this year, has “also counted upon with the collaboration of the Spanish Ornithology Society and BirdLife International, an association made up by non-governmental organisations, specifically addressed at the protection of birds with over three million members.

During the four-day Conference 55 papers were presented and 70 posters were displayed. The Government of the Azores presented the conference, presenting a poster on the regional commitment in the protection of birds and the Regional Director for the Environment, Frederico Cardigos, presented a lecture on the “SOS Cagarro” campaign. By comparison, a total of 9 thousand Cory’s Shearwaters were rescued in the Canary Islands in the last decade while almost 4 thousand birds were saved in the Azores in 2009. This fact demonstrates the success and importance of the volunteerism campaign in the Azores which was implemented in 1995 by Luís Monteiro, the Amigos dos Açores Environmental Association and by the Regional Government.

During the lecture, special emphasis was given to the potential of the “SOS Cagarro” campaign as environmental education tool. It was also stressed by the participants that following the good work carried out in the Azores concerning land and marine birds, the Government will invest in the protection and valorisation of migratory birds. The Regional Director underlined the observation logic, pointing out the examples of the Corvo Island and the Praia da Vitória City Hall.

According to the choice of the participants, the best paper of the Conference was “People and Birds” presented by Gerbrand Michelsen, an amateur ornithologist, an Azorean by heart, who works in the Regional Directorate for Tourism.

During the closing session, the Regional Director for the Environment highlighted the importance of the role played by the non-governmental organisations for the environment with special emphasis on those that “carry out a good work in the Azores such as the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds. Moreover, Frederico Cardigos reiterated the Azorean commitment in the defence of its natural heritage.”