The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry, João Ponte, announced that the Government of the Azores will launch this year a new public tender for the cutting and reforestation of certified timber on the island of São Miguel, covering an area of 350 hectares.
 
"By the end of the year, we will launch a tender covering an area of 350 hectares for a cutting period of 5 years. The fact that we have increased the area put to tender and the cutting period from 1 to 5 years will give stability to the company that will win the tender insofar as it will assure the supply of wood during this time," said João Ponte. The government official added that "the eventual buyers of cryptomeria wood want the assurance, on the part of suppliers, that there are conditions for the regular supply of wood for a period over one year."
 
The government official stated that, currently, the Azores cryptomeria wood is being mainly exported to the United States of America, "a demanding market with great potential for growth."
 
"We currently export around 100 40-foot containers of timber to the USA. This gives a good indication of the growth this industry has registered in recent years," João Ponte said, adding that the economic use of timber is "a source of wealth and job creation".
 
In May this year, the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Forestry launched a public tender for the sale of certified cryptomeria wood bearing the FSC eco-label (Forest Stewardship Council) and the reforestation of 143 hectares within five years; the contract work was awarded to the company Marques Britas SA in June.
 
The Government of the Azores started in 2014 the active management of the forest areas under its responsibility, through the selection of areas for cutting and the definition of a series of operations and regulations to be met in the exploitation of this resource.
 
These options, embodied in a Forest Management Plan aimed the redevelopment of exploited forest areas; also intend to promote the rejuvenation of public forests, always respecting the natural values associated with it and minimising the impacts often associated with this type of operation.
 
With this measure, the Government of the Azores seeks to promote the emergence of new businesses in the areas of processing and innovation in the timber industry as well as to increase exports.
 
The municipality of Nordeste, where one of the largest forest areas of the archipelago is under the Regional Government's management, has been a "macro" laboratory for sustainable forest management. It is the first public area in the country to receive management certification by the FSC system.