largest biodiversity reservoir of europe: more ... - azores · cooperation between the canaries,...

Largest biodiversity reservoir of Europe:

more than 5,600 endemics among 23,000

marine and terrestrial speciesEcosystem profile for the Macaronesia overseas region

3 EU overseas entities

(2 PT / 1 ES)

Luisa Madruga,

Francisco Wallenstein

& José Azevedo

Fundo Regional para a

Ciência e Tecnologia

(FRCT)

Context

Total area 99% marine area

> 3x size of Spain and Portugal together

With the Azores being the largest of the ORs

Population density Average 245/km2

> double the pop. density of Portugal mainland

Canaries are the most populated EU overseas with over 2

million inhabitants

Average GDP per

capita

still lower than Portugal or Spain mainland

© hotel Riu Palace Madeira www.visitazores.com

http://www.visitazores.com/en/the-azores/the-9-islands/sao-miguel/nature

Biological importance of the region

Tourism

Agriculture

Fisheries

Canary Is. Tourism ~ 15% of

GAV while agriculture and

fisheries remain important in

Azores

Economy relies largely on natural resources

and biodiversity

Mycteroperca fusca (EN)

Macaronesia

23,000 marine and terrestrial species,

from which more than 5,600 endemics

Existing biodiversity

658 globally threatened species,

92% endemicsAzorina vidalii (EN)

Azores

Pterodroma madeira

(EN)

Madeira

Gallotia galloti (CR)

Canaries

At least 40% of endemics are

known from only one site

Habitat degradation of Laurissilva:

Reduction of native evergreen humid forest to < 20%

of original cover has led species to extinction

Globally threatened species in Macaronesia that are endemic to the region

Nr. %

BIRDS 16 76%

ARTHROPODS 71 99%

MAMMALS 5 42%

MOLLUSCS 122 100%

FISH 2 5%

PLANTS 435 100%

REPTILES 7 64%

TOTAL 658 92%

Existing biodiversity

Existing biodiversitySome recent extinctions

Haematopus meadewaldoi

Canary Island oystercatcher (XX century)Emberiza alcoveri

Escribano patilargo (recent)

Others (Canary Is.):

Monilearia arguineguinensis

Monilearia pulverulenta

Existing biodiversityProbable current extinctions

Atlantica guerinianus

(Madeira)

Pieris wollastoni

(Madeira)

Leyostila cassida

(Madeira)

Leyostila cassidula

(Madeira)

Monilearia granostriata

(Canary Is.)

Sculptiferussacia

clausiliaeformis

(Canary Is.)

© Liftarn

Main threats and pressures on biodiversityhabitat destruction fostered by

human population growth

(exacerbated by tourism),

agriculture and forestry

Alien species

© Jose_Ortiz

© Giuseppe_Nerilli

Key biodiversity areas (KBAs)

AZORES – example of S. Miguel Island

Pink: CR & EN

Blue: VU

Yellow: Endemic

Lines: Protected areas


Madeira archipelago

Identified

KBAs

Priority 1

KBAs

Terrestrial 13 3

Terrestrial &

Marine

3 3

Total 16 6

Provisional resultsLines: KBAs

Green: Priority 1


CANARY ISLANDS

Identified

KBAs

Priority 1

KBAs

Terrestrial 166 29

Marine 7 0

Total 173 29

Provisional results


CANARY ISLANDS – example of Tenerife

Lines: KBAs

Green: Priority 1

Current conservation activitiesProject Budget Results

Saving

Pyrrhula

murina from

extinction

(since 2003)

€ 3.363.260

(2013-2018)

Species went from "CR" to "EN” (IUCN’s

Red List); recovered over 100 ha. of

endemic bullfinch’s habitat; creation of

a visitors centre

Saving

Monachus

monachus

from extinction

(since 1988)

1,143,364 €

(2014-2018)

Creation of a Nature Reserve to protect

the monk seal; recovery of the only

surviving Macaronesian population of the

monk seal (CR)

Expanding

the range

of Columba

junoniae

1,401,870€ (2013-

2017)

Re-introducing the white tailed laurel

pigeon and creation of a viable

population (75-100 pairs) on Gran

Canaria

Current investments in conservation

International and EU level

• CBD

• CITES

• Bern Convention

• Bonn Convention

• Ramsar Convention

Ratification of Treaties and Conventions:

• EC Birds and Habitats directives and the Natura 2000 network

• Man and Biosphere programme

• network REDBIOS

Other policy instruments:


Regional level

Cooperation between the Canaries, Madeira and Azores islands supported by

EU programmes

Programme Period

Interreg V-A Spain-Portugal (Madeira-Azores-Canary Is. [MAC])(and Cape Verde, Maritania and Senegal as 3rd countries)

2014-2020

Transnational Cooperation Programme Madeira-Açores-

Canarias (MAC)

2007-2013

INTERREG III-B Community Initiative Programme 2000-2006


Regional level

Cooperation between the Canaries, Madeira and Azores islands supported by EU programs

Bionatura: management and Conservation of Macaronesian Biodiversity (priority species list and

a list of the most important exotic species)

MACETUS: creation of a Macaronesian Network for the study of cetaceans

BASEMAC: ex-situ conservation project for the threatened endemic species of Madeira, Azores

and Canary Islands

OGAMP: planning and management of MPAs to promote the Integrated Coastal Zone Plans for

those marine and coastal areas included in Natura 2000 network

Reia-Mac: network of Environmental Education and Information Centres in Madeira, Azores and

the Canary islands


Local levelSignificant effort in each off the archipelagos to establish a network of protected

areas, as well as on implementing Natura 2000 Network

MACARONESIA

Nº Area (ha)Marine

area (%)

Land

area (%)

Protected areas 289 11 820 8207% 45%

Natura 2000 Network 288 1 729 165

Other areas with conservation

statusNº Area (ha)

Important Bird Areas 119 2 296 627

Biosphere Reserves 11 932 363

Ramsar 14 13 027

OSPAR 8 569 999

Alliance for Zero Extinction 2 n.a

Primary Butterfly Area 1 n.a © Nélida Rodríguez


Local levelImplemented LIFE-Nature projects in the region (1996-2014)

Nº Examples

65

• conservation of endemic birds, such as the Azorean bullfinch (Pyrrhula murina), the

Gran Canaria blue chaffinch (Fringilla teydea polatzeki) and dark and white tailed

laurel pigeons (Columba bolli, C. junoniae)

• management and conservation of the Laurisilva Forest of Madeira

• recovery plans and reintroduction of the giant lizard of El Hierro (Gallotia simonyi

machadoi)

• measures for the recovery of the monk seal (Monachus monachus) in the Atlantic and

support projects for the conservation of the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) and

the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

Critical areas for action and investment needs

Baseline data collection & species

assessment

• Distribution and abundance, assessment of

conservation status

Research

• Enhancement of coordinated research on

local ecosystems and endemic species, as

well as on invasive species

Habitat restoration & biodiversity maintenance

• Ecological restoration of natural habitats

Invasive alien species control

• Development of eradication/

control programmes

Critical areas for action and investment needs

© Jose_Ortiz

Annual investment needs for Natura 2000 in Macaronesia

(estimates for the period 2014-2020)

Macaronesia: € 207.2 million

• € 25.0 millionAzores

• € 4.7 millionMadeira

• € 177.5 millionCanaryIslands

Priorities & investment niches


Species recovery plans (Canary Islands)

Taxa Investment needs/year (€)

Arthropods 435,571

Birds 678,450

Molluscs 3,217,558

Plants 3,057,501

Reptiles 950,023

Total 12,101,012

Monitoring conservation status

For plants (population and phenology):

€ 20,000/year/species

Mammals and fish: to be estimated© Marcel Gil


Creation of micro-reservesin areas of severely fragmented

habitats (Madeira)


€

Comprehensive

mapping of

marine habitat

and species

distribution

(La Palma

example)


€

Study distribution of

sperm whales on

navigation channels

to reduce ship

strikes

(Canary Islands)

€ 400,000/one year

project (estimated

cost)

Francisco

WALLENSTEIN

Contact us in the Macaronesia hub

BEST III

Macaronesia

Coordinator

BEST III

Macaronesia

Expert

http://www.azores.gov.pt/Portal/pt/entidades/srmct-frct/

[email protected]@azores.gov.pt [email protected]

José AZEVEDO Luisa MADRUGA

BEST III

Macaronesia

Ecosystem Profile

Expert

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