Laurisilva
The forest that survived the Ice Age
Can you imagine walking through a forest that already existed long before humans appeared? On the Portuguese island of Madeira, there is a very special place where that seems possible. It is called Laurisilva and it is one of the oldest forests on the planet. While others disappeared millions of years ago, this one managed to survive thanks to a unique climate. Laurisilva is a type of subtropical humid forest, a relic of the Tertiary Era.
An island in the middle of the ocean
Madeira is a volcanic island located in the Atlantic Ocean, several hundred kilometers from the coast of Africa. Its mountains trap the clouds that come from the sea and cause frequent rainfall. Thanks to this, the forest remains always green and full of life.
The air is usually fresh and humid. Fog often appears among the trees, moss covers the rocks, and the branches are full of small plants. Strolling along its trails gives you the feeling of entering a magical place.
A very ancient forest
Millions of years ago, much of southern Europe was covered by forests very similar to Laurisilva. However, the climate gradually changed. The great glaciations arrived, and enormous ice sheets covered a large part of the continent.
Many of those forests disappeared forever. They only survived in a few places where the climate remained mild throughout the year. One of those refuges was the island of Madeira.
A journey to the past
Walking through Laurisilva is like traveling millions of years back in time. Many of its trees belong to plant families that already existed when Europe looked very different from what it is today.
The trunks are covered in moss, ferns grow everywhere, and the branches seem to form green tunnels. When the fog appears, the landscape is reminiscent of the forests we often see in adventure or fantasy movies.
A home for unique species
Laurisilva not only preserves very old trees. It is also the home of many plants, insects, and birds that only live in Madeira. Scientists call these species “endemic,” because they are not found naturally anywhere else in the world. Examples of endemic fauna include the Madeira wood pigeon, the Madeira firecrest, or the Madeira chaffinch.
A treasure for scientists
Laurisilva is like a huge natural history book. Studying this forest allows us to understand what the ancient European landscapes were like and how living beings have changed over time.
It also helps to discover how forests can adapt to the climate and why it is so important to protect the places where very old nature is still preserved.
A forest worth protecting
Due to its enormous natural value, the Laurisilva of Madeira was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. A large part of the forest is part of a protected park where both the trees and the animals that live among them are cared for.
There are also examples of Laurisilva in other places in the Macaronesia region, of which Madeira is a part; in the Canary Islands, home to the most important areas, and in the Azores and Cape Verde, to a lesser extent.
A true natural treasure
Laurisilva belongs to the category of Treasures of Nature because it is much more than a pretty forest. It is one of the last places on the planet where we can still see a landscape very similar to the one that covered much of Europe millions of years ago.
While time transformed almost all of those ancient forests, this small corner of Madeira managed to survive. Thanks to this, today we can walk among trees, ferns, and mists that show us what our planet was like long before cities, castles, or even humans existed.
