09/07/2026
🌿 From ambition to action: projects delivering biodiversity results on the ground in Madeira
From 16–19 June, the BESTLIFE2030 team visited Madeira to meet local organisations, conservation practitioners, communities, and partners working to protect the island’s unique biodiversity.
Throughout the week, field visits and meetings highlighted how local action, scientific knowledge, and collaboration are turning conservation goals into measurable outcomes.
🦅 At MAC Puffinus, we saw how protecting seabirds depends on a strong network of schools, volunteers, researchers, public authorities, land managers, and local communities. Together, they are building awareness and long-term support for island biodiversity.
🦇 Through SOS Bats, we learned about efforts to better understand and protect the Madeira pipistrelle, one of Europe’s least known and most threatened bat species. The project is helping fill critical knowledge gaps about a species that plays an essential role in maintaining healthy island ecosystems.
🌊 At MARVEL, researchers shared an exciting milestone: after a decade of trying, they collected the first three biopsies ever taken from Fin whales in Madeira. The samples, gathered after sightings of 10 individuals during four months of monitoring, will provide valuable genetic information to support future conservation efforts.
🐦 Through STOP Predators, monitoring has revealed encouraging signs for threatened shearwater populations, including multiple birds recorded nesting successfully. The findings highlight both the resilience of these species and the need for continued action to address threats such as predation, pollution, bycatch, and extreme events.
🤝 The mission also highlighted the importance of partnerships beyond individual projects. A meeting with six BESTLIFE2030 grantees at the Natural History Museum and a discussion with the Councillor of the Municipality of Funchal demonstrated the key role of local institutions in supporting biodiversity action.
💬 “Biodiversity conservation in island regions cannot be achieved by a single organisation alone; it requires cooperation and a shared commitment from everyone involved.”
💚 From communities and volunteers to researchers and decision-makers, BESTLIFE2030 projects show that lasting conservation impact begins with people working together locally, collectively, and with a shared vision for nature.
Câmara Municipal do Funchal Madeira Fauna & Flora Museu da Baleia da Madeira - MBM SPEA - Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves
The BESTLIFE2030 Programme is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
