Azores to spend €1 million upgrading its forest recreation reserves

The Azores regional government is putting around €1 million into its forest recreation reserves through the ValorFloraAzor application. Works are to improve access, leisure areas, visitor information and user safety. Regional agriculture secretary António Ventura announced the plan during a visit to the Capelo reserve on Faial, an area of about 80 hectares with Macaronesian species. Capelo is Faial's most visited reserve, with an estimated 17,000 visitors in 2026. The archipelago has 27 such reserves covering roughly 570 hectares, receiving about 400,000 visitors a year. Ventura said the aim is to protect endemic species and strengthen environmental education.