Between 29 and 31 May, the Graciosa Island Biosphere Reserve hosted the Islands for Sustainability event, an initiative of the COST Action SHIFT programme, as part of Call 21166, “Social Sciences and Humanities for Transformation and Climate Resilience.”

In the auditorium of the Escola Básica e Secundária da Graciosa, participants—both from Portugal and from Hungary, Greece, and Turkey—presented their contributions in five panels on the themes of biocultural heritage, ecosystem services, and climate resilience.

The event included a presentation on the Flores Biosphere Reserve entitled “Flores Island Biosphere Reserve – Heaven on Earth? A Pristine Spot?”, which addressed issues related to biocultural landscapes and traditional knowledge, and also highlighted some of the conservation work carried out on the island under the LIFE IP AZORES NATURA project, specifically in the Caldeira Branca intervention area – also a Ramsar Site and ZEC/Natura 2000.

In this context, actions such as the removal of invasive species and the planting of endemic species (such as African Boxwood, Azorean Bishopsweed, Azorean Fescue, and Scabiosa nitens) were emphasised, as well as the collection of seeds of endemic species for propagation and reinforcement of the plantation.