Laurisilva Forest In The Mountains Of Madeira, UNESCO’s World Natural Heritage Royalty-Free Stock Image

The volcanic island of Madeira harbours the largest area of Atlantic laurisilva forest remaining in the world. This type of temperate evergreen forest is an ecological relict from the last glaciations, and nowadays exists only in the archipelagos of the Azores, Madeira and Canary islands. The laurisilva forest of Madeira is legally protected and encompassed by Madeira’s Natural Park. However, it is still threatened by forest fires and questionable public works, such as the opening and enlargement of the regional road network. Often, the enlargement of roads is justified by the local authorities with the excuse that it is needed to improve the access of tourists to the laurisilva forest. This is a contradiction on itself, and also reveals the lack of a truly conservationist mindset at the institutions responsible for the preservation of this globally unique type of forest.