Madeira - Native UNESCO Natural World Heritages Sites and Laurel Forest the Region of Macaronesia Comprises 12 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves

EU Overseas regions of global

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Macaronesia Did you Macaronesia know?

The Macaronesia region is home to 3 Madeira - Native UNESCO Natural World Heritages sites and laurel forest The region of Macaronesia comprises 12 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. (Laurisilva) at three volcanic archipelagos in the Madeira Nature There are more than 5,600 endemic species Atlantic Ocean: the Portuguese Park among the 23,000 existing marine and autonomous regions of the Azores (9 terrestrial species in Macaronesia. © Antonio Domingos Abreu islands) and Madeira (2 islands), and the Spanish autonomous community Laurisilva or laurel forest is a temperate of the Canary Islands (7 main islands). rainforest, which existed throughout Europe, but is now restricted to humid mountainous Compared to other European areas of Macaronesia. Overseas regions Macaronesia has Macaronesia is the only European Overseas a relatively high population density region, which benefits from Natura 2000, a with the Canary Islands being European network of protected areas. the most populated. The region’s economy is strongly specialized in The Azores, located at the triple junction of three tectonic plates (North American, the services sector, where tourism Eurasian and African), are some of the has a prominent role, particularly in world’s tallest mountains, measured from Madeira and the Canary Islands. In their deep base in the ocean to the peak. the Azores, agriculture and fisheries remain relevant income sources. 29 of the world’s 81 whale species are found Canary Islands around the Canary Islands – Angel shark, However, economic development critically also puts pressure on biodiversity endangered

and ecosystems: Despite an © Carlos Suarez extensive network of local protected areas and Natura 2000 Territories sites, Macaronesia’s biodiversity is threatened by habitat destruction and invasive alien species. Azores

Madeira

Canary Islands

Canary Islands – Tenerife bugloss at Mount Teide

© Ricardo Haroun Tabraue

Azores - Nature tourism at Corvo Azores - Lagoa Comprida at Flores island Nature Reserve ©Luisa Madruga

© Luisa Madruga

Canary Islands - Bottlenose Dolphins © Ricardo Haroun Tabraue Azores - Celebrations of the holy spirit at Flores Islands ©Luisa Madruga