Madeira evergreen forests


The Madeira evergreen forests is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion of southwestern Europe. It encompasses the archipelago of Madeira and some nearby islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The islands are an autonomous region of Portugal, and lie southwest of the Portuguese mainland.

Flora

Madeira is home to laurel forests, characterized by evergreen trees with glossy leaves. Typical laurissilva trees include the genera Apollonias, Ocotea, Persea, Clethra, Dracaena, and Picconia. The paleobotanical record of Madeira reveals that laurissilva forests has existed in this island for at least 1.8 million years.

Fauna

bird species include the Trocaz pigeon and Zino's petrel.

Protected areas

483 km² of the ecoregion is in protected areas. The Madeira Islands laurel forest was designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1999.