Serviço do Parque Natural da Madeira

Selvagens Islands Natural Reserve is bounded by the 200 meters bathymetric contour line, including all the islands and islets and respective maritime area. It includes three volcanic islands, Selvagem Grande, Selvagem Pequena and Ilhéu de Fora.

Selvagens Islands were classified as a Reserve in 1971, being the first to be classified as such in Portugal. It is the only portuguese Reserve awarded with European Diploma of Protected Areas since 1992, is included in Natura 2000 Network and is an Important Bird Area (IBA).

The Reserve contains some plant habitats unique in the world living in untouched ecosystems (Selvagem Pequena and Ilhéu de Fora) and the highest percentage of endemic plants per square meter in Macaronesia.

The fauna of the Selvagens Islands is diversified, mostly as regards nesting birds. The Reserve is a refuge for an interesting community of several species of seabirds such as Cory’s Shearwater, the largest colony of this species in the world, White-faced Storm-petrel, one of the largest populations in the Atlantic and forms the northern boundary of the species distribution, Bulwer’s Petrel and Madeiran Storm-petrel.

The terrestrial and marine biodiversity of the Selvagens Islands as well as the importance of their habitats make these islands a unique Natural Reserve.

Advanced permission from Serviço do Parque Natural da Madeira (Madeira Natural Park) is needed to anchor and visit ashore. To obtain it, contact us by e-mail, with the following information:

a) Date and period of your staying;

b) Boat’s responsible identification;

c) Crew members number;

d) Boat’s registration name and nationality;

e) Type of boat;

f) Aim of the visit, namely if it is particular or commercial.

This is a resumed translation of the Portuguese version. For further information, please contact the Reserve Coordination.