The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and the Environment stated in Vila do Porto that the construction of the House of Fossils, an infrastructure that joins the Network of Environmental Centres, is "based on the goals defended by the Regional Government towards the dissemination of the rich paleontological and geological heritage of "Santa Maria, the island that contains the largest open deposit of fossils in the North Atlantic.
 
Luís Neto Viveiros spoke at the opening ceremony of the House of Fossils, stressing that the Network of Regional Environmental Centres has "established as a key element in the dissemination of natural heritage and awareness for the adoption of good environmental practices, so that we may all contribute to its preservation, promotion and enhancement."
 
"This year alone, the network received more than 90 thousand visitors, more precisely 92,635 visitors by the end of August," the government official said, stressing that this figure "represents, once again, a growth over 15% compared the same period last year."
 
In terms of revenue, Neto Viveiros said this growth reflects an increase of 26%."
 
Regarding the House of Fossils, the Secretary for the Environment considered that it "acknowledges the value of the scientific work produced as a result of paleontological expeditions carried out by MBP (Marine PalaeoBiogeography Working Group); the latter was led by Sérgio Ávila, professor at the University of the Azores, who conceived this space and the enriched it with scientific and educational contents."
 
"This investment of nearly 600 thousand Euros also takes into account its suitability for the for the surrounding environment," the Regional Secretary said, adding that "the space offers a 3D tour to the island's geological formation from the past to the present, focusing on the importance of its paleontological heritage in the international context."
 
In his speech, Neto Viveiros also pointed out that "visitors can "feel" the fossils of Santa Maria and "hear" the sound of the fossil deposits, where the sea meets the rocks," adding that children and young people have a special for them, "where they can become palaeontologists through an interactive game."
 
Nevertheless, the Regional Secretary stressed that the "work that is at the service of Santa Maria and the Azores from today is not limited to its public opening."
 
"Launched during this term, the House of Fossils stemmed from the project for the creation of the Fossils Itinerary, developed in partnership with the University of the Azores, as well as from the classification of this island as PalaeoPark. It provides "new contents to companies operating in the area of Nature Tourism, seizing the potentialities brought by the significant growth of geocaching internationally."
 
"Similarly to what we have been promoting throughout the Region, we intend to create conditions so that private entities may develop new business opportunities, generating local wealth and enhancing the creation of new differentiated jobs," said Luís Neto Viveiros.