The LIFE IP AZORES NATURA project, coordinated by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, was present at the LIFE BEETLES Final Conference, where it presented a paper entitled “Remote detection as a monitoring tool in the classified areas of the Azores”.

Remote detection is now an indispensable tool for environmental monitoring, especially in protected areas. In the Azores, the diversity of habitats, the large territorial extension and the geographical dispersion between the islands create unique challenges for nature conservation.

In this context, LIFE IP AZORES NATURA has been integrating the use of technologies such as satellite imagery, aerial photography, LiDAR and drones, which allow the collection of objective, detailed and comparable information over time. These tools provide a comprehensive view of the territory and, simultaneously, enable precise analyses, fundamental for:

– Monitoring the conservation status of priority habitats and species;

– Assessing threats and guiding management measures;

– Monitoring the restoration work implemented in the intervention areas.

In addition, remote detection allows for the demonstration, on a macro scale, of the effects of interventions and renaturalization actions carried out in the field, as well as reaching areas that are difficult to access.

Participation in this conference is part of the E2 (Dissemination, transfer and replication of project actions) and E3 (Networking with other LIFE projects) actions of LIFE IP AZORES NATURA, reinforcing knowledge sharing and cooperation between projects.