Madeira´s Nature Reserves
- Laurissilva
From Mountain Tops to the Deep Blue Sea...
When the first Portuguese settlers arrived on Madeira Island, it was completely covered in a beautiful dense forest known today as Laurissilva (Laurel Forest). Laurissilva, one of Madeira´s greatest treasures, is one of the oldest forests in the entire world! In the past, large areas of this forest were cleared for agricultural purposes, firewood, housing and furniture.
- Ponta de São Lourenço
Since 1999, the subtropical Laurissilva forest, with its diverse endemic and foreign flora and fauna, has been under the protection and considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Tremendous effort has been made to ensure that the rare plant and animal species of Laurissilva is well taken care of and protected.
Besides Laurissilva, there are other Nature Reserves on Madeira Island:
- Garajau Nature Reserve
Madeira´s Underwater World is also protected with great pride and care. Located on Madeira´s south coast is the Garajau Nature Reserve where fishing with nets or just the simple act of fishing is strictly prohibited. The applied methods of conservation of nature have proved to be effective and very successful. Encounters with large sea mammals and schools of fish are no longer uncommon here.
- Whale
Madeira Island also has a Whale Investigation Station. Here, local whale behaviour is investigated in order to ensure greater protection for the well being of these mammals. The Whale Museum in Caniçal purposely educates the public on the importance of all marine life and how critical it is to ensure its protection. Since 1981 Whaling is prohibited on Madeira Island.