Flores have, since today, a new instrument of defence and protection of the natural heritage of its coast, the Coastal Border Planning Plan (POOC) of the island.
By means of the establishment of a legal specific regime, the POOC of Flores intends to stimulate the compatibility between the protection and valorisation of the biological diversity of the zone included with the sustainable socio-economical development.
It equally puts in perspective a regulated use of the natural resources for the development of the tourism.
The new diploma, to which there are subdued the municipal master plans of the two councils of the island - Lajes and Santa Cruz - covers a land area of protection with the maximum width of 500 meters, measured from the edge of the sea waters, and a sea shore that takes the depth measure of 30 meters as the maximum limit.
According to one of the annexes of the new legislation, the POOC of Flores includes, also, a set of real estates classified in both councils, namely to water mills, the Place of Cuada, the São Boaventura Convent, Mesquita Pimentel House, Boqueirão Whale Factory and Nossa Senhora da Conceição Mother church, in Santa Cruz.