Candidatura Reserva da Biosfera - Santana Madeira Biosfera

valorisation of their natural heritage. The Regional Directorate of Forestry has in Santana
ranger stations in Ribeiro Frio, Cascalho, Pico das Pedras, Pico do Areeiro and Vale da
Lapa and also several shelters in Pico Ruivo, Achada do Teixeira, Queimadas (2 houses),
Pico das Pedras and at Ribeiro Frio. In the area of Rocha do Navio there is a station of
Madeira Natural Park, used for observation and surveillance and also serves as space for
education and environmental exhibitions.
In Ribeiro Frio, parish of São Roque do Faial, the Regional Directorate of
Environment has an environmental education center, housed in a educational core
dedicated to the Madeira laurel (Ocotea foetens) laurel forest. The core of environmental
education is composed by a nature store, a course where you can observe many of the
characteristic species of this forest and a small laboratory to support research and
monitoring undertaken in the area.
In the various schools of the county there are several books devoted to regional
biodiversity, published by the Regional Directorate of Environment, which allow students
of the different ages to realize of the rich natural heritage that can be observed in natural
areas.
15.3. SPECIALIST TRAINING
In recent years various government institutions concerned with the environment,
sustainable agriculture and resource management have conducted training courses on
the regional natural heritage and organic farming. The courses were formatted for
teachers, tour guides and people in general, different types of learners requiring different
contents. Additionally, several developed research and conservation projects, including
LIFE Nature, relied on campaigns of field work which involved many volunteers, who
generally were fellows involved in masters and doctoral thesis on ecology and
conservation and also Research Biology students from the University of Madeira. The
participation of several national and international researchers in collaborative projects
with local scientists, motivate the technical and scientific exchange and training and
Application of Santana, Madeira to Biosphere Reserve – UNESCO - MAB 151