Article

Assays of introduction and screening of woody plant species were initiated on Porto Santo in January 1990. The aims of the project were: (l) to find suitable species for afforestation in order to diversify the existing, almost monospecific plantations of Pinus halepensis; (2) to find species that could be used to control soil erosion; (3) to enrich the assortment of omamental species for gardening and landscaping; and (4) to compare the performance of autochthonous species and those already adapted to the conditions of Porto Santo with that of newly introduced exotic woody plants. The preliminary results are presented, potentially usefui species are identified, and problems related to the introduction of exotics, such as the risk of uncontrolled dissemination, are discussed.