Last March, the LIFE IP AZORES NATURA project, in collaboration with Ribeira Grande Town Council and the São Miguel Island Environment and Climate Action Service, organised two actions to remove Carpobrotus edulis (Ice Plant) on Santa Bárbara beach, involving schools in the municipality.

In the first action, 20 students and 2 teachers from Ribeira Grande Secondary School took part, and around 3 tonnes of this invasive plant were removed. Following the intervention, 60 specimens of native species were planted, including Festuca petraea, Solidago azorica, Pericallis malvifolia and Tolpis succulenta.

The second action involved 18 students and 1 teacher from the Ribeira Grande Vocational School, and resulted in the planting of 127 specimens of native species such as Ammi seubertianum, Morella faya, Pericallis malvifolia, and Tolpis succulenta, as well as the removal of around 1 tonne of Carpobrotus edulis.

In total, during the two initiatives, around 4 tonnes of Carpobrotus edulis were removed and around 200 specimens of native species were planted, contributing to the recovery of the local ecosystem.