Macaronesian heathy woodland

The habitat type comprises successionally mature, zonal microforests of Madeira and the Canary Islands with a luxuriant canopy 3 to 12m tall, dominated by one or more of Erica canariensis Rivas Mart., M. Osório & Wildpret (=E. arborea sensu auct. mad & can. and not E. arborea L.), E. platycodon subsp. platycodon (Canarian) or E. platycodon subsp. maderincola (Madeiran) usually with some broadleafs, including Lauraceae. Heath scrub, even if arborescent, that is pioneer, seral or secondary to mature forest, is not included here but placed in F4.3 Macaronesian heath, vegetation typical of cambisols with mor humus. Four distinct subtypes of these primary woodlands can be recognized with notable stretches of types 2 and 4 on Tenerife (Anaga) , Gomera and La Palma.

1. Madeiran, upper mesotemperate to supratemperate, hyper-humid tree-heath forests above the

upper limit of laurel forest from ca. 1500 up to 1862m, on andosols or cambisols, with absolute dominance of heaths reaching up to 12m tall, either E. canariensis or E. platycodon subsp. maderincola (Polysticho falcinelli-Ericion canariensis). Intense cold probably excludes laurels but there can be some other broadleafs (Vaccinium padifolium, Sorbus maderensis) and endemics in the understorey and clearings (e.g. Teucrium francoi, Odontites holliana, Polystichum falcinellum). In pristine stands, Juniperus cedrus subsp. maderensis used to be much more abundant in the forest, having been subsequently cut for timber and charcoal and now surviving as sparse individuals.

2. Tree-heath/Canarian holly forests of the sub-humid to humid mesomediterranean zone on rocky outcrops, but under almost permanent heavy fogs such that the thin soils with low water-holding capacity are kept permanently wet. These forests are co-dominated by Erica platycodon subsp. platycodon and elements of the Canarian laurel forest (Ixantho-Laurion), e.g. Laurus novocanariensis Rivas Mart. et al. (=Laurus azorica sensu auct. can. non (Seub.) Franco), Viburnum tinus subsp. rugosum and Ilex canariensis var. canariensis..

3. Madeiran equivalents of type 2 have Erica platycodon subsp. maderincola, madeiran blueberries (Vaccinium padifolium) and elements of the madeiran laurel forest (Sibthorpio-Clethrion) on deep cambisols.

4. On west Canaries with a dry to subhumid thermomediterranean climate, there are tree heath/ Canarian strawberry tree microforests dominated by Arbutus canariensis, Erica canariensis, Ilex canariensis var. canariensis with Visnea mocanera and Syderoxylon marmulano. Madeiran strawberry tree forests have no large tree-heath individuals.

Indicators of quality:

• Closed canopy layer and richness of both dominant and understory characteristic taxa.
• Large gaps in crown layer occurring naturally by death of individual trees or sometimes mass movements of soil in steep slopes.
• No tendency to dominance by shrub thickets of E. platycodon subsp. pl., Teline sp. pl., Cistus symphytifolius, C. monspeliensis, Globularia salicina, Carlina sp. pl. or tall perennial grasses (Hyparrhenia sinaica, H. podotricha).
• Absence of invasive aliens such as Cytisus scoparius, Ulex europaeus and Leptospermum scoparius or even Australian wattles (Acacia sp. pl.), taking advantage of gaps or wildfires.
• Absence of trampling by humans.

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Confidence in the assessment

Pressures and threats