The Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Forestry has completed the afforestation of a of a 15,000 square meter area with Picconia azorica, an Azorean endemic tree known since the discovery of the archipelago, which produces a highly valuable wood, of a “pinkish white” colour, being extremely hard and heavy with multiple applications, particularly in artistic furniture.

This project, which was created in the context of the policies implemented by the Government of the Azores, is located in the forest perimeter of Terceira Island in the village of Biscoitos in an area previously occupied by pittosporum undulatum.

This is the largest afforestation action with native species ever undertaken in the Azores where silvicultural models previously studied and tested under the Forest Improvement Programme are being implemented.

In order to carry out this action, the Government is using locally grown plants in infrastructures created for this purpose with techniques and methodologies that ensure the production of high quality plants.

These silvicultural models enable the combination of their forestry potential with other purposes, such as the preservation of genetic resources and better spatial planning, thus this forest will be regarded in a multifunctional perspective, capable of producing goods and simultaneously ensuring the preservation of resources, which will enhance the opening of new horizons for the forestry sector.