Madeira evergreen forests  The Madeira evergreen forests is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion of southwestern Europe. It encompasses the archipelago of Madeira and some nearby islands (Desertas and Selvagens) in the Atlantic Ocean. The islands are an autonomous region of Portugal, and lie southwest of the Portuguese mainland. Madeira is home to laurel forests (called laurissilva), characterized by evergreen trees with glossy leaves. Typical laurissilva trees include the genera "Apollonias" (Lauraceae), "Ocotea" (Lauraceae), "Persea" (Lauraceae), "Clethra" (Clethraceae), "Dracaena" (Ruscaceae), and "Picconia" (Oleaceae). The paleobotanical record of Madeira reveals that laurissilva forests has existed in this island for at least 1.8 million years.  endemic bird species include the Trocaz pigeon ("Columba trocaz") and Zino's petrel ("Pterodroma madeira").  483 km² (66%) of the ecoregion is in protected areas. The Madeira Islands laurel forest was designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1999. Madeira