As part of the LIFE IP AZORES NATURA project, coordinated by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, 58 students and 5 teachers from Agrupamento de Escolas de Sá de Miranda took part in an environmental volunteering activity in the area of Lagoa do Carvão, on the island of São Miguel. The main aim of this initiative was to raise awareness of the importance of nature conservation and the impact of invasive alien species on local ecosystems.

During the action, the participants removed 1,460 kg of Gunnera tinctorial (Chilean Rhubarb), an invasive species that poses a significant threat to the natural ecosystems of the Azores. In addition, they actively contributed to restoring the habitat by planting 50 individuals of Laurus azorica (Azorean Laurel) and 50 of Hypericum foliosum (Azorean St. John’s Wort), both species native to the Region.

This activity is part of action E5 – Public Involvement and Volunteer Programme of the LIFE IP AZORES NATURA project, underlining the essential role of environmental education and the involvement of school communities in protecting biodiversity.