DON'T MESS WITH MOTHER NATURE

Please help Mother Nature - help keep Madeira clean and avoid impacting nature with any untoward human activities that destroys the necessary harmony needed to keep the green and great outdoors in ecological balance:
as outdoor sports become more and more popular, trails and wilderness areas suffer from the increased use. You can help preserve the wilds by following these tips:

• Stay on established trails to limit your impact on the area, and camp in the existing campsites.
• Keep pollutants out of water sources by digging latrines or cat holes and washing at least 50 metres ( about 70 adult steps) from levadas and streams. Please avoid using the levadas ! Some levadas are actually used for drinking water !
• Take along a litter bag. Pack out your own trash (including food scraps) and any litter you may find along the way.
• Avoid building fires whenever possible. Use a stove for cooking and your clothing for warmth. If you must build a fire, use only established fire rings and burn only dead, down wood. Never cut living trees for firewood. Use small-diameter wood and always make sure your fire is completely burnt to ashes before going to sleep or leaving the site.

Some extra info you may find useful:

• What equipment to bring
• The annual sunshine pattern and advice
• The annual rainfall pattern and advice
• Fauna - insects and animal life in Madeira