Candidatura Reserva da Biosfera - Santana Madeira Biosfera

Equally important are the habitats that occur in the laurel forest and mountainous
areas of the central mountainous massif, with particular emphasis on the endemic
Macaronesian heaths, Macaronesian laurel forests, Mediterranean temporary ponds,
priority habitats of community interest listed in Habitats Directive Annex I , Habitats of
important species as the long-toed pigeon (Columba trocaz) and Madeira pipistrelle
(Pipistrellus maderensis).
Figure 11. Madeira pipistrelle (Pipistrellus maderensis)
Santana is the county with the largest number of organic farmers, an activity which
reaches its climax on the outskirts of the laurel forest forest in the parish of Ilha, allowing
a healthy coexistence between agriculture and biodiversity, a symbiosis between
sustainable cultural practices and sanity of the cultures, maintained by the ecological
balance provided by the various species that inhabit the adjacent laurel forest. The
remaining agricultural mosaic, although including some more modern agricultural farms,
is largely made up of small parcels where commercial agricultural production coexists
Application of Santana, Madeira to Biosphere Reserve – UNESCO - MAB 23