Europe’s biodiversity – biogeographical regions and seas: The Macaronesian region – volcanic islands in the ocean

(2005) Europe’s biodiversity – biogeographical regions and seas: The Macaronesian region – volcanic islands in the ocean. Technical Report. European Environment Agency, Copenhagen, Denmark.

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Official URL: http://www.eea.eu.int

Summary

This is the first report to describe the condition and influences on main habitat types and species groups in the eleven biogeographical regions and the seven seas around Europe. The report covers Europe from the Arctic to the Mediterranean and from the Atlantic to the Ural Mountains. It is based on expert contributions and comments from the countries involved in the biogeographical regions and seas.

The volcanic islands of Macaronesia cover an array of landscapes ranging from deserts and xerophytic scrubs in arid and rocky areas in eastern Canaries to humid mountain evergreen broadleaf forests in Madeira and the Azores. Tourism has during recent decades created a significant pressure to biodiversity. Introduction of alien species has a long history and several have had a devasting effect on the unique ecosystems of the islands.

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