The Regional Director for the Environment revealed in Horta that the Government will develop several initiatives between July this year and April 2019 to mark the 10 years of existence of Natural Parks in the Azores as well as to assess the main environmental education programmes.
 
"The Azores Natural Parks ensure the internal and external projection of protected areas and the archipelago's natural and cultural heritage. They have increasingly become privileged places for the dissemination of knowledge and development of recreational and leisure activities," stated Hernâni Jorge. He spoke during a press conference held on the date of the European Day of Parks.
 
The Regional Director pointed out that they contribute to "an integrated management model of protected areas that has been developed on the nine islands of the Azores."
 
"This is the important role we want to highlight with the celebration of the 10 years of the Azores Natural Parks," added the government official.
 
Hernâni Jorge added that the celebration programme begins on July 8 with the conference under the title "10 Years of Natural Parks in the Azores." It organised in conjunction with the National Council of the Environment and Sustainable Development as part of its 20th anniversary.
 
Besides this conference, the programme includes exhibitions, the production and dissemination of promotional films, a special issue of the Azores Natural Parks magazine, a special edition of the children's book "Lia and Nicolau at the Azores Natural Parks" and actions held under the School Park and Open Park initiatives.
 
The programme also includes the 13th Regional Meeting on Environmental Education - Azores Natural Parks - 10 years preserving natural heritage" on October 13 and 14 and the 22nd National Meeting of Nature Watchers to be held between January 30 and February 3, 2019.
 
"The nine Island Natural Parks currently cover 123 protected areas that stretch over an area of 180,247 hectares, of which 56,066 are located inland, corresponding to 24% of the archipelago's territory. They are part of a wide network of visiting and environmental interpretation centres composed of twenty spaces spread throughout the archipelago," said the Regional Director.
 
The first Island Natural Parks were created in July 2008, specifically on the island of São Miguel Island, July 8, and on the island of Pico, July 9. They are the base management unit of the Regional Protected Areas Network of the Azores, covering all classified areas of each island.