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ISLAND DIRECTORY
Islands of Madeira (Portugal)
Madeira - including Deserta Grande, Bugio [906]
Group: Archipelago: Madeira Archipelago
Country: Portugal - Madeira Region: Macaronesia
Lat: 32.75º N Long : 16.97º W
Area: 749.4 sq. km Altitude: 1861 m
Shoreline: 141.0 km (scale 1:1000000) Coastal Index: 0.1882
Depth to nearest land: 2000 m
Nearest island: 450 km group: 450 km
Nearest continent: Africa Distance: 560 km Isolation Index: 66
ISLAND TYPE: volcanic Natural Protection Indicator: 0
GEOLOGY/SOILS:
Precipitous volcanic island with deep ravines to the coast, high plateau
to
west
CLIMATE: semi-arid subtropical
ECOSYSTEMS: Number of Ecosystems - Terrestrial: 5 Marine: 1
Coastal vegetation of shrubs, herbs and succulents (Aeonium sp.) now
largely
cultivated; transition zone 700-1250 m; subtropical evergreen cloud
forest
(Laurel forest - Laurisilva) with Ilex perado, Laurus azorica, Ocotea
foetens,
Persea indica and Apollonias barbujana, formerly widespread, now 16% of
island
in rugged north at 1300-1850 m; montane scrub with Erica above 1850 m
Percent of land: Forested: 16% Developed: 54% Degraded: 0%
| SPECIES NUMBERS: |
Total |
Endemic |
Threatened (EVRI) |
| Plants |
760 |
131 |
132 |
| Butterflies |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Land snails |
0 |
96 |
0 |
| Rept/Amphib |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Land birds |
24 |
2 |
3 |
| Mammals |
0 |
0 |
1 |
SPECIES OF CONSERVATION INTEREST:
Plants:
760 native species, 131 endemic
66% of endemic vascular plants are rare or threatened
Endemics: 17 E, 30 V, 39 R, 22 K, 23 not threatened
Other natives: 2 E, 17 V, 5 R
Goodyera macrophylla (Madeiran Orchid) endemic
Solanum trisectum, endemic
Musschia wollastoni, endemic
Geranium maderense, endemic
Bunium brevifolium, endemic
Invertebrates:
13 Dermaptera, 6 group endemics
13 Neuroptera, 8 group endemics
5 Sphecoidea, 1 group endemic
14 Lepidoptera, 1 group endemic
146 Chalcids, 40 group endemics
65 Millipedes, 32 group endemics
219 land molluscs, including 144 group endemic species and 47
subspecies
96 island endemic species with highly restricted distributions
threatened
by habitat destruction
Reptiles/Amphibians:
1 endemic reptile
Lacerta dugesii, endemic
no endemic amphibians
Birds:
24 native species, 2 endemic
Columba trocaz (Madeira Laurel Pigeon) endemic, dense laurel forest,
Rare
Pterodroma madeira (Freira) endemic, 30-50 pairs on inland mountain
cliffs,
Endangered
Pterodroma mollis madeira (Madeira Soft-plumaged Petrel) Rare
Mammals:
Pipistrellus maderensis (Bat) on Madeira and Las Palmas
Monachus monachus (Mediterranean Monk Seal) breed in Desertas Islands
but
threatened by fishing, Endangered
SPECIES RICHNESS:
Species Richness Indicator - Terrestrial: 2 Marine: 0
good
ENDEMISM: Terrestrial: Terrestrial Endemism Indicator - Island: 4 Group: 5
high for plants and snails
Marine endemic species: 0
Marine Endemism Indicator - Island: 0 Group: 0
SPECIAL FEATURES : Special Features Indicator - Terrestrial: 2 Marine: 0
seabird rookeries, monk seal breeding
best remaining example of laurel forest, crater lake
INVASIVE SPECIES: Invasive Species Indicator: 4
380 plants, rats, cats, pigs, goats
HUMAN OCCUPATION: Inhabited, discovered 1419
Population: 250000 Density: 333.6 persons/sq. km
Growth Rate: 4.0%/yr Increasing rapidly
Major Human Activities: tourism, agriculture,, forest plantations
HUMAN IMPACTS:
Most of forest cleared, 31% cultivated to 800 m for bananas, sugar cane,
fruits and vegetables; 23% forest plantations of Pinus pinaster, Mimosa,
Acacia and Eucalyptus globulus
Accessibility: port, airport
Percent population in agr/mining/fishing: 22% Human Threat Indicator: 1
Gross Domestic Product: $ 2970 per capita Economic Pressure Indicator: 1
Conservation support: government support, legislation
PROTECTED AREAS: Protected Area Coverage Indicators - Terrestrial: 3 Marine: 0
Number: 5 Area: Terrestrial: 170.0 sq. km Marine: 0 sq. km
Natural Park of Madeira (1982) 100 sq. km of laurel forest
Vale da Ribeira da Janela, Fanal and Ribeira Funda nature
reserve/protected
landscape (1320 ha)
Rabacas and Folhadal nature reserve (1380 ha)
Montado dos Pesseguiros, Cabeceira da Ribiera, Seixal and Lombo
Barbinhas
nature reserve/strict nature reserve (1380 ha)
Caldeirao Verde, Moquinhas, Pico Casada and Tis Amarelos nature
reserve/strict
nature reserve (1700 ha)
Faja da Nogueira and Ribiero Frio nature reserve/strict nature reserve
(1300
ha)
DATA RELIABILITY: good Data Rel. Indicator: 3
HUMAN IMPACT INDEX HI: 31
CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE INDEX CI-Terrestrial: 47 Outstanding
CI-Marine: 1 Low
REFERENCES:
Johnson, Timothy H. 1989. Unpublished ICBP profiles of Atlantic
islands.
Last updated: 15/09/90
Porto Santo [1237]
- including Baixo, Cima, Cenouras, Fero
Group: Archipelago: Madeira Archipelago
Country: Portugal - Madeira: Atlantic
Lat: 33.07º NLong: 16.33º W
Area: 43.9 sq. km Altitude: 93 m Shoreline: 31.3 km (scale 1:1000000)
ISLAND TYPE: volcanic
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Page last updated: 09/05/10