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Aeolian Islands - Plants and Animals

The modern-day vegetation is completely different from the dense vegetation that once covered the fertile lava from the volcanoes. The present-day landscape of the island is the result of man’s need to cultivate the land and his need for wood (as well as frequent forest fires). Until the 1950s, much of the land was intensely cultivated, while today’s agricultural production is limited to the districts of Piano Conte and Quattropani, although this has shown a noticeable increase in recent years due to the tourist demand for local products. Compared with the rest of the island, the northern areas have a more rugged apperarance and are covered with Mediterranean maquis, composed of lentiscus, gorse, erica, euphorbia and cistaceous shrubs.

The local fauna comprises a few species of wild birds, such as royal seagulls, buzzards, Sardinian warblers, owls, whitethroats, kestrels, common warblers, ravens and scops owls. Migratory birds are also of great interest to birdwatchers: during the migratory season you can see smaller and greater herons, as well as various kinds of ducks and birds of prey, turtle doves and woodcocks. As on the other islands in the archipelago, the only mammals are rabbits and other radents. Although the waters do not have as many fish as in earlier times, they are still well inhabited and are very interesting places for underwater explorers.

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