The Advisory Board of the Pico Island Nature Park is the body responsible for reviewing annual and multi-year plans and activity reports, as well as proposals regarding the management and status of the Nature Park. It includes the three municipalities of the island, the local NGOs and representatives of the main stakeholders in the island. The most recent meeting of this Board, by the end of 2025, allowed all these stakeholders to be aware of the Nature Returns project and its latest developments.

The project coordinator, Luís Costa, presented the project structure, the process for developing the pilot management plan that is currently in place, and the four business initiatives that are being supported by Nature Returns in order to bring together conservation benefits and economic and social income for the local community.

The completion of the Pico Island Nature Park’s Pilot Management Plan and all the actions that were implemented throughout 2025 were highlighted, especially the activities related to business creation in the areas covered by the park. The four businesses currently selected aim restoring areas which are invaded by animal or plant alien species, thus contributing to the management and the habitat restoration goals of the nature park. These are related to promoting eco-hunting of invasive mammals, the development of nature-based solutions for habitat restoration, the production of mate infusion by using native plant species, or producing crop bio stimulants from invasive trees.

Participation in these annual meetings is an excellent strategy for involving stakeholders in the project, as well as for stimulating discussion and the exchange of ideas, which can contribute to dissemination and integration during the implementation of the project.