Posto Florestal do Fanal, Ranger station in Seixal, Portugal
Posto Florestal do Fanal is a ranger station nestled within a protected laurel forest on Madeira island, where staff provide information about trails and local nature. The facility sits at a central point from which several paths branch into different parts of the woodland.
The station was created to protect Madeira's ancient laurel forests, which have existed on the island since the Tertiary period. It developed in response to the need to preserve this rare ecosystem from destruction.
The rangers here speak daily with visitors about the island's special plants and animals, showing how everything is connected. You feel in every conversation how much these people care about protecting the forest.
Visitors find detailed trail maps here and receive information about weather conditions and guidance for safe forest use. Staff help with questions about the best times for certain routes or seasons.
The area holds some of Europe's last laurel forests, with plant species that vanished from the continent millions of years ago. These living fossils allow scientists to understand how Europe's forests once looked.
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