Project LAST ISLANDS

LAST-ISLANDS is a research project that aims to understand the conditions under which native and endemic species of the Azores are able to persist in exotic forests and habitats in transition, following centuries of human-induced landscape transformation.

The project seeks to determine whether these habitats function as refuges for biodiversity, whether they harbor only residual populations, or whether they represent situations at risk of future extinction.

The research focuses primarily on spiders, beetles, and bryophytes, combining field sampling, genetic analysis, and ecological modeling. Starting with baseline data from Terceira Island, the study will be expanded to the islands of São Miguel, Santa Maria, São Jorge, Pico, and Flores.

With a duration of 36 months and financial support of up to 300,000 euros from the Belmiro de Azevedo Foundation, LAST-ISLANDS aims to generate scientific knowledge that contributes to the conservation of Azorean biodiversity. Expected outcomes include open-access databases, decision-support maps, recommendations for ecological restoration, and outreach activities aimed at the community.