Candidatura Reserva da Biosfera - Santana Madeira Biosfera

Annex to Biosfere Reserve Nomination Form
ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Country: PORTUGAL
MABnet Directory of Biosphere Reserves
Biosphere Reserve Description
Name of Biosphere Reserve: Reserva da Biosfera de Santana, Madeira
Year designated:
Administrative authorities: Santana City Council
Contact address: geral@terracidade.com
Related links: http://www.cm-santana.com/cmsantana/
DESCRIPTION
General description:
Madeira Island is characterized by having very steep relief and the coastal area is
almost entirely composed of steep sea cliffs and some cliff deposits as a result of the
retreat of the cliffs due to oceanic abrasion. In the center of the island there is a
mountain massif composed of several mountains with altitudes above 1600 m, cut by
numerous basaltic dykes and veins. In the eastern part of the massif, there is an
extensive plateau with an average altitude of 1550 meters. The link between coastal and
central mountain massif is made up of several hills and valleys, resulting from the water
weathering of bedrock. This geomorphological complexity results in a huge set of
heterogeneous bio-climatic characteristics that create conditions for the existence of a
wide diversity of native climatophylous broadleaf vegetation and unique habitats,
especially the Macaronesian coasts with endemic vegetation, the Mediterranean laurel
forest of the Canary laurel, the temperate laurel forest of the Madeira laurel and high-
altitude heathlands.
Application of Santana, Madeira to Biosphere Reserve – UNESCO - MAB 285