The approval process begins by sending the Regional Directorate of Tourism a project to implement the trail, accompanied by the following elements:

• Details of the Promoting Entity;
• Features of the Trail (Name, shape, length, duration, degree of difficulty, placement in a protected area of the island's Natural Park);
• Type of ground and number of private plots;
• Map of the trail (in GPS format (.gpx) or Google Earth (.kml/.kmz));
• Description of the Walking Trail (the most relevant and considered pertinent features of the area and places through which the trail passes, geology, fauna, flora, traditional architecture, monuments, gastronomy, arts and traditions, among others);
• Photographs;
• Other users of the trail;
• Support facilities;
• Support facilities (markets, public transport, restaurants, toilets, accommodation, pharmacies, health centre, picnic area;
• Emergency contacts;
• A statement of commitment regarding the maintenance of the walking trail, with a 5-year maintenance plan for the trail, including the name and contact details of the entity responsible for supervision and periodic maintenance;
• Declaration of concession in private passage (mandatory where this applies);
• Model RH1 (mandatory if it is necessary to cross a watercourse - request for authorisation from the Regional Directorate for Spatial Planning and Water Resources);
• Declaration of permit to build infrastructure on private property;
• Favourable reports from other entities whenever the trail crosses areas with specific legislation and so requires,
• Other documents considered relevant to the analysis of the proposal.

Verifying compliance with the technical conditions that apply to the proposal to approve the trail, in particular the information provided on the registration form, the respective declarations and annexes and the way the trail project fits into the special land-use plans (Regional Network of Protected Areas; Lake Basin Management Plans; Coastal Zone Management Plans; Water Domain Areas; Forest Perimeter Areas) for the purposes of collecting the prior opinion of all the entities that have competence in the management of the area where the trail is located.

After hearing the different entities consulted and if a favourable decision is obtained, a technical visit is carried out on site and the respective technical report is issued. If the approval proposal receives an unfavourable opinion, the Regional Directorate of Tourism will inform the promoter of the decision and the reasons for it.

Once all the documents that make up the approval process have been gathered (registration form, declarations and favourable technical reports), the project is submitted to the Pedestrian Trail Monitoring Committee (CAPP) for approval by the Azores Regional Pedestrian Trail Network.

The proposal for approval is sent by the Regional Directorate of Tourism to the members of the Pedestrian Trail Monitoring Committee, together with the notice informing them of the meeting. Proposals can be presented at the Pedestrian Trail Monitoring Committee meeting in person or by videoconference, by the promoter or their representative, and cannot exceed 15 minutes. If the promoter does not attend, the proposal will be presented by the technician who accompanied the process.

All expenses related to the presence of the promoter or his representative at the Pedestrian Trail Monitoring Committee meeting to present the proposal(s) are the responsibility of the promoter.

The Pedestrian Trail Monitoring Committee will decide whether or not to approve the proposals submitted, as well as whether to revise or revoke walking trails that are already part of the Regional Network.

After the Pedestrian Trail Monitoring Committee meeting, the Regional Directorate of Tourism informs the promoters of the deliberations on the proposals for re-evaluation and approval of walking trails within a maximum of 15 days.

After the approval of a walking trail, the promoter has 12 months to implement it.

Once this phase has been completed, an inspection should be requested from the Regional Directorate of Tourism to verify the work carried out.

If the promoter fails to implement the walking trail within 12 months, the approved proposal will become ineffective, unless within the following 30 days the promoter submits a written statement to the Regional Directorate for Tourism justifying the failure to implement and requesting an extension of the deadline, indicating the desired period. This request will be deliberated at the next Pedestrian Trail Monitoring Committee meeting

The Pedestrian Trail Monitoring Committee meets regularly every six months and extraordinarily whenever justified.

The Regional Directorate of Tourism is responsible for marking the trails using information panels and auxiliary marks.

Information panels are placed at the end of each trail:

• the rating and code of the trail;
• the layout, length and approximate duration of the trail;
• the obstacles;
• the degree of difficulty and danger;
• information about the places it passes through, in particular the natural, cultural and social aspects;
• the supervising entities and emergency contacts;
• the terms of use.

Auxiliary markings are placed on signs where justified by means of orientation markings, information boards and signposts, in order to facilitate the progression and orientation of users, indicating, among other things:

• the direction of route;
• the proximity and identification of services and places of relevant interest;
• a favoured trail, in cases where progress along it is not straightforward;
• the temporary closure of the trail.

The promotion of walking routes is dependent on authorisation from the Regional Directorate of Tourism, which aims to safeguard, among other things, the accuracy of the information provided, namely that relating to safety, level of difficulty and other relevant aspects.

The Regional Directorate of Tourism is also responsible for publishing updated information on the network of walking trails in the Autonomous Region of the Azores on its website at www.trilhos.visitazores.com

Without detriment to the duties assigned to other entities, the regional directorates responsible for tourism, the environment and forest resources are responsible for monitoring fulfilment of the requirements of this statute.

The maintenance, preservation and cleaning of the walking trails is the responsibility of the respective promoters or, in the case of trails whose route takes place, even partially, in areas of the Regional Network of Protected Areas of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, of the regional directorate responsible for the environment.

Promoters may sign contracts for the maintenance, preservation and cleaning of walking trails with other organisations, without prejudice to the fact that they remain responsible for them.

For the purposes of re-evaluating and approving the trails, the Monitoring Committee must be informed of any interventions or works that have an impact on the trails, the type of pavement or any other features that are essential to their safety or scenic quality.

Promoters who decide to close a trail for safety reasons must:

• place information about the closure at the end of the trail in question;
• immediately notify the Regional Directorate of Tourism by any suitable means;
• Publicise this fact by the appropriate means.

As a last resort, and if permanent closure is necessary, the promoters must remove all marking from the site and publicise the closure through the appropriate means.