The Regional Director for Forest Resources stated today that the good work carried out in the Azores in terms of forest management has earned international attention, seeing that the archipelago is increasingly sought-after by young people to carry out traineeships in this area.
 
"The results of the good forest management and preservation are evident. The Azores forest is also fashionable and increasingly attracts more attention," stressed Anabela Isidoro. She spoke at Nordeste Plant Nursery on São Miguel Island during the welcoming session of two students from the Lambesc School of Agriculture in France. They are going to carry out a traineeship under the Erasmus + programme until March 10.
 
As Anabela Isidoro revealed, this is the second traineeship of its kind to be carried out in the Region. The first took place in June 2016 at Furnas Plant Nursery, involving four participants.
 
During the traineeship, the two French students will have the opportunity to follow on the ground the technicians from the Regional Directorate for Forest Resources, to become acquainted with the work carried out on a daily basis at Nordeste Plant Nursery and to learn more about the endemic forest of the Azores.
 
The municipality of Nordeste contains some of the largest forest areas of the archipelago under the Regional Government's management. It has been a "macro" laboratory in terms of sustainable forest management, being the first public area in the country whose management was certified by the FSC system (Forest Stewardship Council).
 
"The forest, either the natural and laurel forest preserved and recovered or the forest planted and managed responsibly over the years, is a source of great wealth that must be exploited with respect for the principles of sustainability," said Anabela Isidoro.