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| Natural Park of Madeira | |
|---|---|
| Name | Natural Park of Madeira |
| Location | Madeira Islands, Portugal |
| Area km2 | 444 |
| Established | 1982 |
| Governing body | Regional Secretariat for Environment and Natural Resources |
Natural Park of Madeira The Natural Park of Madeira is a protected area on the Madeira Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean administered by the Autonomous Region of Madeira. Encompassing extensive montane, coastal and marine habitats, the park integrates sites such as the Laurisilva of Madeira, Pico Ruivo, Ribeira Brava, and the Desertas Islands under a framework influenced by European Union directives and Convention on Biological Diversity principles. The park's designation reflects interactions among regional authorities, scientific bodies like the University of Madeira, conservation NGOs such as the Madeira Nature Conservation Institute, and international partners including UNESCO and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The park covers terrestrial and marine zones across the Island of Madeira, Porto Santo Island, and several islets, comprising montane forests, coastal cliffs, and marine ecosystems recognized for endemic species that link to the Macaronesia biogeographic region. Management aligns with Portuguese and European Commission statutes, intersecting with protected-area networks like the Natura 2000 network and considerations under the Ramsar Convention for wetlands. Key administrative actors include the Regional Government of Madeira, the Regional Secretariat for Environment and Natural Resources, and local municipalities such as Funchal and Santana.
The park spans high-elevation ridges including Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo, valleys like Curral das Freiras, northern cliffs abutting the São Vicente area, and outlying islets such as the Ilhéu de Baixo and the Desertas Islands. Boundaries incorporate marine limits formulated with reference to fisheries areas governed by the European Fisheries Control Agency and maritime zones adjacent to the Madeira Archipelago. Geological substrates range from basalt lava flows associated with the Atlantic Ocean hotspot to volcanic tuffs, informing geomorphology comparable to other volcanic islands like the Azores and Canary Islands.
Flora is dominated by subtropical humid forest known as laurisilva, notable for endemic trees such as Ocotea foetens and Persea indica, and a suite of endemic plants recorded by botanists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Natural History Museum, London. Fauna includes endemic birds like the Trocaz pigeon, invertebrates such as the Madeira wall lizard prey interactions studied alongside researchers at the Museu da Vida Portuguesa and the Madeira Natural History Museum. Marine biodiversity features cetaceans observed by teams from CIMA Foundation and fish species managed under directives from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. Mycological and bryophyte assemblages have been cataloged in cooperation with the Jardim Botânico da Madeira and the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland.
Management instruments reference the Habitat Directive and the Birds Directive administered via the European Commission. The park employs zoning, species recovery plans, and habitat restoration projects implemented by entities including the Regional Directorate for Nature Conservation and NGOs such as Quercus (Portugal). Scientific monitoring involves partnerships with the University of Lisbon, the University of Porto, the Instituto das Florestas e Conservação da Natureza, and international research centers like the World Wildlife Fund. Funding sources have included regional budgets, European Regional Development Fund grants, and collaborations with the Council of Europe biodiversity initiatives.
Trails such as the levadas and routes to Pico do Arieiro provide access managed by municipal authorities of Funchal and Machico and promoted by tourism boards like the Madeira Promotion Bureau. Activities include hiking, birdwatching, whale watching coordinated with operators certified by the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere, and geotourism linked to UNESCO aspirations similar to sites like Ponta de São Lourenço. Visitor management strategies draw on studies from the World Tourism Organization and national tourism plans administered by the Directorate-General for Tourism.
Protection origins trace to botanical surveys by 19th-century naturalists following expeditions that paralleled studies in the Age of Exploration and later scientific programs under the Portuguese state. Formal establishment occurred in 1982 with progressive expansions and integration into the Natura 2000 network, influenced by international agreements like the Convention on Wetlands and conservation lobbying by groups modeled on the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Research archives include collections at the Natural History Museum of Funchal and theses from the University of Madeira.
Key threats include invasive species such as Hakea and Acacia, wildfire risks exacerbated by climate variability linked to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessments, and pressures from increasing tourism similar to patterns observed in the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands. Marine challenges involve overfishing regulated by the European Fisheries Control Agency and pollution monitored by the Portuguese Environment Agency. Adaptive management incorporates climate adaptation frameworks promoted by the United Nations Environment Programme and regional planning coordinated with the Madeira Regional Directorate for Planning.
Category:Protected areas of Portugal Category:Madeira Islands