The Regional Director for the Environment stated today in Attard, island of Malta, that the classification of "Fajãs" of S. Jorge as Biosphere Reserves will add value to the products and services provided by this island.

"The more than seventy "fajãs" of S. Jorge have marked the life and way of being of the local population over the centuries. Their classification as Biosphere Reserve will be an opportunity for their global projection, bring added value to products and services provided by the island," stressed Hernâni Jorge. The government official spoke on the sidelines of a tasting session of S. Jorge products that was featured in the programmed of the 5th Conference of the World Network of Island and Coastal Biosphere Reserve.

The application of "Fajãs" of S. Jorge to UNESCO Biosphere Reserve was presented today to conference participants, who had the opportunity to become acquainted with the project in its current development phase, including the approval of the proposal for the delimitation of the respective area at the last meeting of the monitoring committee.

During the presentation, the Regional Director for the Environment stressed that this application "aims to preserve and promote the natural and cultural heritage of S. Jorge by maintaining traditional land uses in the context of a sustainable development strategy that the Azorean Government has been implementing on S. Jorge and throughout the archipelago."

"The future Biosphere Reserve of 'Fajãs' of S. Jorge will enhance the visibility of the Azores Biosphere brand that already comprises the Biosphere Reserves of Corvo, Graciosa and Flores. In fact, it will strengthen its projection in the context of the Global Network and regional networks, namely REDBIOS and the Network of Islands and Coastal Areas," stressed Hernâni Jorge.
The application of "Fajãs" of S. Jorge will be formalised with UNESCO in September.