One forest, One future

This project took place between January, 2009 and June, 2013 coordinated by the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA), the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and the Sea (SRAM), and the municipality of Povoação (São Miguel – Azores) and it was financed by the European Commission with the LIFE fund. 

It’s main objective is to protect the natural habitats present in the Special Protection Area (SPA) Pico da Vara/ Ribeira do Guilherme. This SPA contains the bigger area of natural vegetation existent in the island of São Miguel and one of the biggest in the archipelago, being a suitable area for modelling the future management of The Regional Protected Areas Network. As a result of the insularity and distance from the mainland, the Azores present many species that can only be found in this archipelago (endemic species), that are not even present in the other Macaronesian archipelagos (Madeira, Canarias and Cabo Verde).

It is for this reason that this projects reveals a great importance, because through its actions it will ensure the survival of this unique natural values!

This project continued the conservation actions for the protection of the Azores bullfinch (Pyrrhula murina), Priolo in Portuguese, developed by LIFE Priolo (2003 – 2008) project and was continued and enlarged by the LIFE+ Lands of Priolo (2013 – 2018) project.

Discover more about the conservation of the Azores bullfinch and other threatened bird species in the Azores in the SPEA Azores blog.
Visit the Lands of Priolo and discover this bird and the conservation actions developed in the Priolo’s Interpretation Centre.

During this project the application of the Lands of Priolo to the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas took place with the objective of promoting sustainable tourism an long term conservation of the natural and cultural values of the territory. Learn more about the territory and the Charter in the Lands of Priolo website.

This project also promoted Environmental Education and Awareness on the value of biodiversity and its contribution to human well-being, developing an Environmental Education Strategy and creating useful educational contents. Find this contents and learn by paying in the website Uma floresta, um futuro. (Only in Portuguese)