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{{Infobox ecoregion
|name = Azores temperate mixed forests
|image  = Azores flores ribeira grande.jpg
|image_size = 
|image_alt = 
|caption = Ribeira Grande falls, on [[Flores Island (Azores)|Flores Island]]
|map = File:Azores CIA.jpg
|map_size = 
|map_alt = 
|map_caption = Map of the Azores
|ecozone = [[Palearctic realm|Palearctic]]
|biome  = [[temperate broadleaf and mixed forests]]
|animals = 
|bird_species = 
|mammal_species = 
|border = 
|border1 = 
|border2 = 
|border3 = 
|border4 =
|area = 2,431
|country = [[Portugal]]
|state1 = [[Azores]]
|region_type = Autonomous region of Portugal
|elevation = 
|geology = 
|seas =
|rivers = 
|climate = 
|soil =
|conservation = critical/endangered
|global200 =
|habitat_loss = 
|habitat_loss_ref =
|coordinates = 38º30' N, 28º00' W
|protected = 620 km<sup>2</sup> (26
|protected_ref = )<ref name = dinerstein>Eric Dinerstein, David Olson, et al. (2017). An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm, BioScience, Volume 67, Issue 6, June 2017, Pages 534–545; Supplemental material 2 table S1b. [https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/bix014]</ref>
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}}

The '''Azores temperate mixed forests''' is a [[temperate broadleaf and mixed forests]] [[ecoregion]] of southwestern Europe. It encompasses the [[Azores]] archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. These volcanic islands are an autonomous region of [[Portugal]], and lie 1500&nbsp;km west of the Portuguese mainland.

==Geography==
The Azores archipelago consists of nine main islands. The islands extend for more than 600&nbsp;km (370&nbsp;mi) in a northwest–southeast direction. The islands form three clusters. [[Flores Island (Azores)|Flores]] and [[Corvo Island|Corvo]] are to west; [[Graciosa]], [[Terceira Island|Terceira]], [[São Jorge Island|São Jorge]], [[Pico Island|Pico]], and [[Faial Island|Faial]] are in the centre; and [[São Miguel Island|São Miguel]], [[Santa Maria Island|Santa Maria]], and the [[Formigas|Formigas islets]] are to the east. São Miguel is the largest of the islands, and most populous.

The islands arise steeply from the sea. [[Mount Pico]] (2,351 m) on Pico is the highest peak in the Azores.

==Climate==
The islands have a temperate maritime climate, moderated by the [[Gulf Stream]]. Frosts don't occur below 500 meters elevation. The average temperature is 21&nbsp;°C (70&nbsp;°F) in the summer months, and 14.5&nbsp;°C (58&nbsp;°F) in the winter.<ref name = wwf/>

==Flora==
Little natural vegetation remains in the lowlands. The evergreen fire tree (''[[Myrica faya]]'') regrows on old lowland lava flows.

Above 500 meters elevation there are enclaves of evergreen shrub forest, characterized by the trees ''[[Laurus azorica]], [[Juniperus brevifolia]]'', ''[[Picconia azorica]]'', and ''[[Erica azorica]]''. Shrubs include [[Ilex perado|Azorean holly]] (''Ilex perado'' subsp. ''azorica''), ''[[Viburnum treleasei]]'', and [[Vaccinium cylindraceum|Azores blueberry]] (''Vaccinium cylindraceum''), a tall shrub with showy dark-pink flowers. ''[[Clethra arborea]]'', a [[Madeira]]n native introduced to the islands by humans, has become common in the evergreen forests.<ref name = wwf/>

Diverse highland peat bogs are found on the islands of Flores and Terceira.

==Fauna==
There are 36 species of birds that breed on the islands. The [[Azores bullfinch]] or Priolo (''Pyrrhula murina'') is [[Endemism|endemic]].

The Azores have three native mammals, all bats – the [[greater mouse-eared bat]] (''Myotis myotis''), the [[Madeira pipistrelle]] (''Pipistrellus maderensis'') and the endemic [[Azores noctule]] (''Nyctalus azoreum''). The islands have no native land mammals.<ref name = wwf>{{WWF ecoregion|name=Azores temperate mixed forests|id=pa0403}}</ref>

==Conservation and threats==
The Azores were discovered and settled by Portuguese mariners in the 15th century. Prior to settlement the islands were mostly covered in forest. The settlers cleared most of the islands' forests for agriculture and pasture. Domesticated cattle, sheep, and goats were introduced to the islands, along with the [[brown rat]] (''Rattus norvegicus''), [[black rat]] (''R. rattus''), [[Mus musculus domesticus|Western European house mouse]] (''Mus musculus domesticus''), [[European hedgehog]] (''Erinaceus europaeus''), [[European rabbit]] (''Oryctolagus cuniculus''), [[least weasel]] (''Mustela nivalis''), and [[ferret]] (''M. putorius furo''). The introduced herbivores altered the island's ecology through grazing, and the introduced predators preyed on native species, particularly birds and their eggs, which were unadapted to predation.<ref name = wwf/>

Exotic plants originally introduced for timber, windbreaks, and garden plants, including [[Cryptomeria|Japanese red cedar]] (''Cryptomeria japonica''), [[Pittosporum undulatum|Australian cheesewood]] (''Pittosporum undulatum''), [[Hedychium gardnerianum|kahili ginger]] (''Hedychium gardnerianum''), [[Carpobrotus edulis|ice plant]] (''Carpobrotus edulis''), ''[[Gunnera tinctoria]]'', [[Hydrangea macrophylla|bigleaf hydrangea]] (''Hydrangea macrophylla'') and the [[Madeira evergreen forests|Madeiran]] native ''[[Clethra arborea]]'', have spread into wild areas where they displace native plants and alter habitat for native animals.<ref name = wwf/> The Azores bullfinch relies on a few native plants for food – Azores blueberry and [[Leontodon filii|Azorean hawkbit]] (''Leontodon filii'') in August and September, and Azorean holly in March and April. Loss of these food plants contributed to the species' declining population. Between 2003 and 2008 an EU-funded project removed exotic species and replanted native food plants in the Pico da Vara/Ribeira do Guilherme Special Protection Area on São Miguel, and the local Azores bullfinch population subsequently rebounded.<ref>BirdLife International (2010). "Habitat restoration has led to the recovery of the Azores Bullfinch". Accessed 16 September 2020.</ref>

==Protected areas==
{{main|Protected areas of the Azores}}

620&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (26%) of the ecoregion is in [[protected area]]s. Another 20% is forested and outside protected areas.<ref name = dinerstein/>

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{WWF ecoregion|name=Azores temperate mixed forests|id=pa0403}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Paleartic temperate broadleaf and mixed forests}}

[[Category:Ecoregions of Portugal]]
[[Category:Environment of the Azores]]
[[Category:Macaronesia]]
[[Category:Palearctic ecoregions]]
[[Category:Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests]]
[[Category:Biota of the Azores]]