Laurisilva Madeira World Heritage Convention
A relict subtropical forest on the Madeira Islands.
The Laurisilva of Madeira is a type of laurel forest, also called laurisilva or laurissilva, recognized as a World Heritage site. It is a subtropical forest found in areas with high humidity and relatively stable, mild temperatures, characterized by broadleaf tree species with evergreen, glossy, and elongated leaves. This forest is a relict of vegetation that once covered much of the mainland of Europe and other regions when their climate was warmer and more humid, and it now survives in the milder, moister climate of coastal areas and on islands like Madeira.
- type
- Laurel forest (laurisilva)
- location
- Madeira Islands (Macaronesia)
- characteristic_trees
- Evergreen, glossy-leaved species, some from Lauraceae family
- climate
- Wet and mild, with high humidity and stable temperatures
- height
- Trees up to 40 m (130 ft)
- key_feature
- Relict of Tertiary subtropical vegetation, with endemic species
Lore & Background
Isolation in these fragmented habitats, particularly on islands, has led to the development of vicariant species and genera. For example, fossils dating from before the Pleistocene glaciations show that species of Laurus were formerly distributed more widely around the Mediterranean and North Africa. Isolation gave rise to Laurus azorica in the Azores Islands, Laurus nobilis on the mainland, and Laurus novocanariensis in Madeira and the Canary Islands. The Laurisilva of Madeira thus contains endemic species that are remnants of archaic flora, with biodiversity reduced but still significant.
Reader's Guide
The Laurisilva of Madeira is significant as a living example of a once-widespread subtropical forest type that has survived in refugia due to its specific climatic requirements. It represents a transitional type between temperate forests and tropical rainforests, with moderate tree diversity and a dense canopy that creates low light levels on the forest floor. The forest is characterized by evergreen and hardwood trees, with leaves adapted to high rainfall and humidity through waxy, glossy surfaces and drip tips. Insects are the most important herbivores, while birds and bats are the predominant seed-dispersers and pollinators. Decomposers such as invertebrates, fungi, and microbes are critical to nutrient cycling. The presence of such laurel forests is key to dating climatic history, as they are archaic populations that diversified due to isolation on islands and tropical mountains. The Laurisilva of Madeira, as part of the Macaronesian islands, shares related species with other isolated areas like Tasmania and New Caledonia, reflecting its Gondwanan origins.
Did You Know?
- The Laurisilva of Madeira is a type of cloud forest, where moisture from the ocean condenses as rain or fog due to terrain forcing warm moist air upwards.
- Some species in the Laurisilva belong to the true laurel family, Lauraceae, but many have similar foliage due to convergent evolution.
- Laurus novocanariensis is native to both Madeira and the Canary Islands, not exclusive to Madeira.
- The forest's leaves have a generous layer of wax and a 'drip tip' to shed water despite the humidity.
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