Protected Areas

The Ultra Skyrunning Madeira takes place in areas of remarkable cultural and natural heritage of the municipality of Santana, which saw the richness of its heritage recognized worldwide in 2011 when it was classified by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve.

 

Around 80% of Ultra Skyrunning Madeira takes place in an area of Laurissilva Forest, classified in 1992 as a Biogenetic Reserve by the Council of Europe, and included, in 1999, in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage list, being the only World Natural Heritage Site in Portugal. This type of indigenous natural forest was also classified as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Area (SPA) of the Natura 2000 Network, an ecological network that aims to help ensure biodiversity by conserving natural habitats and wild fauna and flora in the territory of the European Union.

 

Part of the race will take place in another protected area, the Central Mountainous Massif, fully integrated in the Madeira Natural Park, as a Geological and High Altitude Vegetation Reserve, and which is also classified as a Special Conservation Area (SAC) and Special Protection Area (SPA) of the Natura 2000 Network.

 

It is also important to point out that the entire race takes place within the Madeira Natural Park area.