The Pico Island Nature Park and Nature Returns organized on March 27-28 meetings with the community of entrepreneurs of the island and the Pico Technical School to promote the call for entrepreneurs. The call is out until the end of April and we aim to get business proposals that may potentially reverse the threats that have been identified and analyzed during the elaboration of the pilot management plan of the Nature Park.

We are looking to everyone that is an entrepreneur or aspires to be one, that has any business proposals that can help preserve and protect the nature of our island within the scope of the Nature Returns project. Each proposal must be submitted separately through the application form available at the following link:

https://forms.gle/79Wkm8V7iunjubMD9

The deadline for submission is April 30th, 2025. There are no application costs. The candidates selected to participate in the project will have the opportunity to establish their businesses in the Pico Island Natural Park. To this end, candidates with selected proposals will have a chance to participate in the Entrepreneur Academy by Connectology to support the development of projects and reduce the risk of investment and operations, within the scope of the Nature Returns project, led by experts in entrepreneurship. In addition, they will have an opportunity to access an incubation grant and the added advantage of connecting with other entrepreneurs and establishing a long-term collaboration with key stakeholders in the protected area.

We encourage and support innovative business proposals that contribute to:

The conservation of the biodiversity of the Pico Island Nature Park

• Using and reducing the populations of invasive alien plant species, such as Hedychium gardneranium, Pittosporum undulatum, Solanum mauritianum or the algae Rugulopteryx okamurae and Sargassum vulgare.
• Using invasive alien species as products of biomass plants, wood products industry, bioplastics, or any other applications.
• Reducing and controlling populations of introduced feral animals that affect seabirds and Natural Park habitats, e.g. rodents, rabbits, goats, and sheep.
• Any other business activities that may contribute to the enhancement of the biodiversity of Pico Island.

The preservation of the Pico Vineyard Landscape

• Contributing to the production maintenance of vineyard areas, reduction of pests and diseases, technological solutions, etc.
• Contributing to the creation and diversity of cultural events dedicated to the Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture, for example, festivals, and workshops.
• Rehabilitating and enhancing elements of the built heritage and characteristic structures of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture Landscape, for example, carpentry, maintenance and construction work, and repair.

The reduction of the threats listed in the pilot Management Plan of the Pico Island Nature Park

• g. Invasive alien plant species; introduced mammals; harvesting native plants and fruits; expansion of pastureland; abandonment of the wine activity; human disturbance; etc.