Candidatura Reserva da Biosfera - Santana Madeira Biosfera

Figura 2. Panoramic view of São Jorge parish
The terrestrial component of the proposed Biosphere Reserve incorporates several
macaronesian coastal habitats, evergreen forests and high altitude vegetation, which
comprise 11 natural habitats listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive, of which four are
priority, integrating a wide range of plant communities. The Municipality of Santana has a
precious floristic richness, encompassing 189 Macaronesian endemics, of which 132 are
unique to the archipelago. The invertebrate fauna includes 30 species of terrestrial
mollusks endemic to Madeira and 288 endemic species of arthropods of which 262 are
exclusive to Madeira.
In the proposed biosphere reserve occur 20 species of land birds and 5 species of
sea birds, among which are 6 species included in Annex I and 6 in Annex II of the Birds
Directive, highlighting the high international importance of this area, given the
uniqueness and susceptibility of species occurring in it, especially since three species and
five subspecies are exclusive to Madeira, one species and seven subspecies are endemic
Macaronesia and one species is endemic to Macaronesia and simultaneously a Madeiran
subspecies.
As for the mamofauna, three species of bats occur, including a species endemic to
Macaronesia and another subspecies endemic to the island of Madeira, all included in
Application of Santana, Madeira to Biosphere Reserve – UNESCO - MAB 11