The Atlantic floating garden: between protected areas, parks and gardens
Madeira will surprise visitors with its diversity: not only in its landscapes, which are very different from one part of the island to the next, but also in its flora, which is colorful and luxuriant, and whose diversity can also be seen in the gardens and market stalls of Funchal. Volcanism and geology have shaped the island's sometimes picturesque shapes, always varied relief and particularly fertile soil. The trails that criss-cross the island will take you past peaks, steep cliffs dropping into the sea, beaches and natural seawater pools, forests and terraced cultivation along canals. While many exotic species have been introduced to the island, such as palms, cork oaks, fig trees, eucalyptus, yuccas and agaves, there is still a wealth of indigenous flora and fauna, including some fragile endemic species. To the north of the island remains a primary forest of evergreen laurel. This laurel forest is one of the last remnants of a larger forest dating from the Tertiary era (15 to 40 million years ago). This laurel forest has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1999, and most of it is protected within the Madeira Natural Park. Created in 1982, its surface area covers two-thirds of the island's territory, and is home to endangered species such as the Madeira petrel and the Madeira trocaz pigeon. Nature reserves complete the biodiversity protection scheme, including the Garajau, Rocha do Navio and Ponta de São Lourenço marine reserves.
The Funchal Ecological Park (Parque ecológico do Funchal), located at Pico do Arieiro, is a natural and geological heritage conservation area. It has benefited from a reforestation program and is open to visitors and schoolchildren. Forest parks allow hikers to immerse themselves in laurel ecosystems.
The Flora da Madeira Forest Park offers the lovely site of Ribeiro Freio, on Santana's west coast.
The Queimadas Forest Park is the starting point for many beautiful hiking trails.
If Madeira can be called "the floating garden of the Atlantic", it's also because it's full of parks, gardens and quintas that will delight botanists and the simply curious. We can't list them all, but the attentive stroller will discover them all. The Botanical Garden of Funchal(Jardim Botânico) is located 300 meters above sea level, on the heights of the city (whose name, incidentally, means "fennel"). Home to numerous species from all over the world, it invites visitors on a colorful journey. The Orchid Garden, a stone's throw from the Botanical Garden, boasts a collection of over 50,000 plants. For orchid lovers, there's a family garden at Quinta da Bela Vista, where you can admire beautiful varieties of orchids and other plants. The Monte Palace Tropical Garden on Monte Hill invites you to enjoy an immersive experience, discovering numerous tropical species. Further afield is the Monte Municipal Park. Free to enter, it is home to some beautiful trees and offers a magnificent view over Funchal bay. The Parc de Saint-Catherine(Parque de Santa Catarina), overlooking Funchal, is a popular strolling destination for the island's inhabitants. The Municipal Gardens, also known as Dona Amélia Garden, are home to flora from all over the world and host numerous events. The Quinta Vigia Gardens are a small haven of peace. Outside Funchal, there are other parks to visit. The Jardin des plantes indigènes de São Vicente is the ideal place to discover the local flora and its treasures. Rose enthusiasts can head to Arco de São Jorge, in the north of the island, where you'll find the Quinta do Arco and its collection of roses from all over the world. In São Gonçalo, a park called Dragon Trees Nucleus is dedicated to the endangered dragon tree, an emblematic species of the archipelago. The Palheiro Ferreiro Park(Palheiro Gardens) in São Gonçalo is part English garden, part orchid nursery and part camellia collection.
Actions in favor of pollution prevention
The arrival of settlers on the island, the development of agriculture and then tourism have undermined the ecological balance. Deforestation and the artificialization of land have led to erosion and degradation of natural environments. The introduction of exotic species has contributed to the decline of endemic species. The island, which has a high population density (400 inhabitants/km2), now receives one million tourists a year, who use natural resources (water, energy) and produce waste. Faced with these pressures, Madeira has protected some remarkable natural areas and has taken action in terms of pollution prevention. A strategy, called "MaRaM", has been deployed to this end. It is intended to be participatory and based on environmental education of the youngest, training of professionals and cooperation of students. Since 2018, Madeira has been part of the Blue Flag initiative, which concerns the quality of bathing water and, in particular, carries out beach clean-up actions. While pollution prevention is thus the subject of programmes, the same applies to the preservation of resources. Projects are therefore aimed at setting up measuring devices and raising awareness of water saving, as well as actions to combat deforestation and the destruction of vegetation.
Plastic waste and incineration: the worrying issue of waste
However, the issue of waste has not been fully addressed. Plastic pollution of the sea is sadly illustrated by the appearance of "plastic crusts" observed since 2016 on coastal rocks. These are small pieces of plastic clinging to the rocks. The phenomenon is on the increase, affecting 9.46% of the island's rocky surface in 2019, according to the scientists in charge of the monitoring system. Researchers currently favor the hypothesis of a global pollution phenomenon, although to date no other observations of this type have yet been reported. The next objective will be to assess the impact of this plastic on marine invertebrates. Another area of concern is the treatment of waste produced on the island. The decision to install a waste incinerator has had the effect of slowing down recycling initiatives, particularly for bio-waste, and circular economy initiatives. Although Madeira's material recovery rate was very low (10% in 2007), things are improving. By 2023, Madeira's material recovery rate had risen to 23%, or 130,000 tonnes collected per year. The aim is to reach 35% by 2030. The two main objectives are to reduce waste production and increase selective collection. Implementing material recovery, in particular of bio-waste, is feasible, less costly and would be in line with the energy transition, by avoiding greenhouse gas emissions.
The island is well on its way to the energy transition
Portugal has based its energy policy on the development of renewable energies. Initially, this strategy was driven by a desire to create the conditions for energy independence from oil, in the wake of the 2008 crisis. This policy is in line with the fight against climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The island has gone from 15% renewable energy to 30% in 2018 and 40% in 2022, thanks to hydroelectricity and wind power. The regional government's goal, with the addition of these solar power plants, is to reach 50% by 2026. One of the reasons for this progress is the conversion of the Socorridos hydroelectric power station into a reversible production system, enabling energy to be stored in the form of water. Wind turbines generate energy, and when production exceeds consumption, the excess energy is used to pump water back into the dam. This system ensures a secure supply of water and electricity. It has also led to the construction of tunnels, canals and a pumping station, the environmental impact of which is open to question. The development of renewable energies in Madeira is also part of a project to build solar power plants spread over different parts of the territory. This dispersal of power plants is intended to help integrate them into the landscape (with tourists in mind!), ensure social acceptance of the project by local residents, and secure the system in an area with several microclimates. Geothermal energy projects are also under study, to further strengthen the island's energy autonomy. The country is also focusing on controlling consumption (raising awareness and involving residents in the fight against energy waste) and energy efficiency (thermal rehabilitation of buildings, notably through insulation work). A large proportion of the island's energy consumption - and greenhouse gas emissions - comes from the transport sector (diesel and petrol vehicles). To alleviate this problem, Madeira is considering the development of electric cars, as part of a " smart grid" system (batteries would be recharged at night during off-peak hours). This last point may seem virtuous, but it only shifts the problem, as the effectiveness of the energy transition depends more on reducing car traffic and encouraging modal shift (towards public transport and active mobility). In any case, the Madeira example highlights the need for a proactive, participatory policy to ensure the success of this type of project.
