Plants of Madeira

Madeira Laurissilva

The Madeira Laurissilva is part of a forest that covered Southern Europe and North-eastern Africa during the tertiary era and is today considered a rare treasure. Climatic changes in the Pleistocene have contributed to its disappearance in much of these regions and it now only exists in the Azores, Madeira and Canary archipelagos thanks to their mild Atlantic climate. Due to climatic differences and a diversity of habitats both within and between the archipelagos, there is a wide variety of indigenous flora and fauna compositions and as a result, types of Laurissilva forest.

World Nature Heritage Site

Madeira today has the largest expanse of this type of forest, occupying an area of approximately 15,000 hectares, mostly on the north coast. It is a legacy of indisputable scientific, economic and social interest for the Madeira Autonomous Region, justifying all scientific studies and protection means aimed at better knowledge and preservation of its bio-diversity. It was classified a UNESCO World Nature Heritage Site by 1999.

Stamps in detail

Date of issue: 4 July 2000.
Values: 52, 85, 100, 100, 140, 350 esc.
Design: Carlos Alberto Pinto.
Print: Offset, Lito Maia.

More information

Postage Stamps 2000