The University of the Azores (UAc), through CIBIO-Açores, has joined the European TreeTag, a European project focused on highlighting the value of trees and the multiple benefits they offer to cities, ecosystems, and communities.
As part of this initiative, an araucaria tree (Araucaria columnaris) on the Ponta Delgada campus has been tagged. This specimen, approximately 32 meters tall, holds considerable landscape value.
The TreeTag label aims to communicate the ecosystem services associated with each tree, such as carbon capture, air quality improvement, microclimate regulation, water management, and biodiversity support.
This year, two emblematic trees in Ponta Delgada are part of the initiative: the aforementioned araucaria from the University of the Azores and a metropolitan tree (Metrosideros excelsa) located in Campo de São Francisco.
By participating in TreeTag, UAc and CIBIO-Açores aim to bring science, sustainability, and environmental literacy closer to the community, valuing local arboreal heritage and the daily benefits provided by trees.
Recognizing the value of trees also implies raising awareness about the importance of their protection.
