Fauna & Flora of Madeira

The archipelago of Madeira is a land with unique flora and fauna and of course the Laurel Forest classified as World Heritage by UNESCO where plants and animals cohabit in complete interdependence.

On this natural stage, we highlight four important Lauraceae, where you can observe on one of the many walking trails scattered around the island. They are the Til, the Laurel, the Vinhático and the Barbusano. In addition to these species there are a whole bunch of trees, bushes, ferns, mosses, mushrooms and other fungus.

The Natural Heritage of Madeira occupies two thirds of the territory and is home to several nature reserves and protected landscapes. The Region tries, whenever possible, to reconcile nature conservation with human enjoyment. This is the case of the Natural Reserve of Garajau, accessible to the public, where you can benefit from contact with various marine species, although subject to rules, for the preservation of that habitat.

The biological diversity of the island of Madeira was referred to more than 30 times in the book "Origin of Species" by Charles Darwin who considered it a unique place on Earth. This natural wealth is invaluable and has a high level of scientific interest.

In the sea off the coast of Madeira there are over 500 species of fish such as the rockfish, the Salema, the Bream, the damselfish and a countless number of species of marine invertebrates. It is also possible to observe several species of turtles and marine mammals such as dolphins and the Lobo Marinho (fur seal) which is an emblematic species of the Desert Islands. Enjoy and take advantage of the organized trips in the beautiful Atlantic Ocean and observe the most unique species in the world.