A fragile biodiversity and protected areas
The archipelago boasts exceptional terrestrial and marine biodiversity, combined with contrasting landscapes marked by insularity and volcanism. The laurel forest, a primary forest populated by endemic species, survives in certain parts of the islands of Pico, Terceira and São Miguel. Since the 15th century, it has undergone a series of cuttings linked to construction, agriculture and livestock farming, but also to the introduction of non-native species. Merchant shipping encouraged the introduction of exotic plants, which became acclimatized and are now found in gardens and natural environments. One example is the hydrangea, originally from Asia, used to line agricultural plots and now the symbol of the archipelago. Plantations of cryptomeria japonica , or Japanese cedar, are an emblematic example of these introductions, which weaken endemic species. The territory also boasts a wide variety of seamounts, including active volcanoes, which are home to remarkable biodiversity. The islands are a sanctuary for many species of cetacean (sperm whales, beaked whales, dolphins), which can be observed at sea with ecotourism organizations. Each of the nine islands has its own nature park, grouping together various protected areas (including nature reserves, recreational forest areas, Natura 2000 zones and natural monuments). The territory also includes a Geopark comprising 121 geological sites (crater lakes, dry calderas, fumaroles, geothermal springs). Its aim is to protect this heritage and raise environmental awareness. The Azores have around twenty interpretation centers. Here are just a few of the archipelago's natural treasures:
The Lagoa do Fogo nature reserve (São Miguel), a Natura 2000 zone, protects a crater lake surrounded by endemic vegetation (juniper, Azorean laurel)
Caldeira Velha waterfall (São Miguel) : located on the outskirts of the Lagoa do Fogo reserve, home to endemic plant species, a magnificent waterfall and natural hot-water pools
The Vila Franca do Campo islet nature reserve (São Miguel) offers exceptional marine biodiversity and birdwatching (shearwater). It is also home to heather and willow forests.
The Caldeira de Faial nature reserve (Faial) is home to a vast crater surrounded by hydrangeas and endemic species.
The Pinhal da Paz forest reserve (São Miguel) is home to a wealth of exotic flora.
The Sete Cidades crater(São Miguel) is home to a wide variety of flora, including endemic species (juniper, woody angelica, Azorean holly)
The Pico da Vara Special Protection Area (São Miguel) will delight birdwatchers. It is home to several endemic species, including the Azorean bullfinch, which is closely related to the native plant species of São Miguel.
Grazing and plowing
The Azores are famous for their milk and cheese production. Terceira is known for its green pastures where ruminants live (it is also known as "the island of cows"). There is no barn for these ladies, who stay in the meadows all year round, as the herders move to them with a mobile milking machine. However, this form of livestock farming is not without environmental impacts: water consumption, deforestation and land use for grazing and fodder crops, methane emissions, nitrogen and phosphorus discharges into the natural environment. Thus Furnas Lake, like others, is experiencing eutrophication problems. The Furnas Research and Monitoring Center highlights the problems linked to agricultural pollution and the solutions implemented (land acquisition, biochemical and mechanical water treatment). However, since the 19th century, the archipelago has been able to maintain an ancestral vine culture, which in 2004 was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Pico Island). The vines are planted in lava fields, at the level of cracks, and protected by volcanic stone walls. São Miguel is home to tea plantations, cultivated since the 17th century, without pesticides or chemicals.
When waste incineration undermines recycling
For a long time, waste management was based on landfilling and sending waste to the mainland for recycling. It was later decided to install an incineration plant on Terceira to avoid landfilling waste. However, this has slowed down the process of reducing waste at source and recycling (particularly bio-waste). Indeed, to operate efficiently, an incinerator has to process a constant quantity of waste, which does not encourage the development of a circular economy. This is precisely what a study published in 2019 by the NGO Zero Waste shows. In Terceira, the municipal waste recycling rate rose by just 1% between 2016 and 2017, reaching 24%, still far from the 55% target aimed for 2025. Plans for a new incinerator on the island of São Miguel also appear to be irrelevant, and are prompting local protests.
An energy transition based on renewable energies
The isolated archipelago is dependent on imported fossil fuels, which emit greenhouse gases. The Azores are one of 26 European island territories to have embarked on the energy transition in 2019. A commitment that goes hand in hand with Portugal's goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, under the Paris Agreements. The archipelago is basing its actions on the development of renewable energies (hydroelectricity, solar power, geothermal energy). To achieve this, it is relying in particular on an innovation in energy storage (lithium-ion titanate batteries). This technology, called Wärtsilä, was launched in February 2020 on the island of Graciosa. It should make it possible to store wind and solar energy production and contribute to achieving a 65% share of renewable energy on the island, to the detriment of fossil fuels (diesel).
Since 2022, the share of renewable energies in energy production has been rising steadily in the Azores: it already reached 40% of energy production in 2023, and should reach 50% across the archipelago by 2025. This significant growth is due to the opening of new geothermal power plants, notably on the islands of Sao Miguel and Terceira, and the development of wind and solar power. The government's objective is to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2040.
