1. WPX SSB 2003

2. IOTA AF-047 23TH April - 15TH May 2001

The islands, situated half-way between Madeira and the Canary Islands, were already known in ancient classical times, but their official discovery by the men of prince Henry the Navigator did not occur until 1438. They were named the Selvagens (Wild Islands) “for being desolate and unfriendly to both navigation and people.” Selvagem Grande have only 245,0 ha looks rather like a pentagon and has a very rugged relief. Its coastline is steep owing to marine erosion, and there are only one or two safe anchorages. The island is crowned by a plateau about 300 feet above sea level.

The Selvagens are an important nesting area in the Atlantic for pelagic birds. The cory-shearwater (Calonectris diomedea bolearis Cory) colony estimated at 30 000 birds is the largest colony in the Atlantic and one of the most important Worldwide.

The Team

The Team that go to the Selvagens is make up of three members of staff from LREC - Regional Civil Engineering Laboratory and two members from the Madeira Natural Park. The aim of the mission isthe installation of a new Solar energy system and the reorganisation of the existing telecomunications. LREC is a Regional institute that, besides Civil Engineering, dedicates itself to R&D projects in the areas of Natural Resources, enviromment and alternative energy.