- 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽... -

The LIFE BEETLES project carried out a direct seeding assay, in the intervention area adjacent to Lagoa do Caiado, on Pico island.

One of the objectives of this project, coordinated by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Change, is the renaturalization of an old pasture, in a favourable habitat for Laurocho (𝘗𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴), the project’s target species, and other native arthropods. To this end, actions have been taken to plant endemic trees and shrubs that will enable natural succession until reaching a native forest.

These plantations are now complemented with direct sowing of Azorean Holly (𝘐𝘭𝘦𝘹 𝘢𝘻𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢) and Azorean Heather (𝘌𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢 𝘢𝘻𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢), in order to test the speed of their 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶 germination. These seedbeds will be regularly monitored by the project´s team, in order to assess the success of germination and growth of new endemic plants.