Protected Areas

The Natural heritage is the archipelago's most cherished and protected treasure. Whether above or below the sea line, life multiplies itself. It adds colours, sounds, shapes and indescribable landscapes, plant or animal life.

Aware of the uniqueness of its natural heritage, Madeira has sought, from an early stage, to obtain conservation statutes, both nationally and worldwide, in order to maintain the integrity and vitality of its ecological spaces. Thus, over the years several nature reserves - total and partial - have been delimited in Madeira. Currently, around 2/3 of the total area of the island of Madeira is classified as a protected area, and there are multiple nature reserves, both on land and at sea.

Discover a unique, surprising and rigorously protected natural heritage.

Among others, Madeira's protected areas include the Laurissilva Forest, the Garajau, Rocha do Navio, Desertas Islands and Selvagens Islands Nature Reserves, and also the Madeira Natural Park itself. In turn, the island of Porto Santo is a Biosphere Reserve since 2020, an important award that acknowledges the uniqueness of this oasis, whose unrivalled biodiversity further justified the creation of the Porto Santo Protected Marine Areas Network.

Protected Area which covers 67% of the island's total area.

The definition of these land and sea areas makes it possible to carefully implement policies to protect biological diversity, environmental quality and the sustainable development of the archipelago. It is important to underline the obvious importance of Madeira's Nature Reserves, because when Nature wins, we all win.

A Natural Monument located at an altitude above 1400 metres.