Background In August 2010, a large wildfire destroyed approximately 2 800 ha, or 80% of the SPA, Maciço Montanhoso Oriental (MMO) (PTZPE0041), on the island of Madeira. This SPA is part of the Natura 2000 site, Maciço Montanhoso Central (MMC) (PTMAD0002). Understandably, the recovery of the natural environment has been slow, and the spread of several aggressive invasive species in burned areas poses a significant threat to the normal recovery of the indigenous flora, fauna and habitats. Objectives The goal of this project is to facilitate the regeneration and conservation of the fragile natural ecosystem of the MMO, including the recovery of plant, snail and bird communities within selected areas of the habitats. These include several endemic Madeiran species, 13 of which are listed in the Birds and Habitats Directives. Ecological, environmental and genetic information will be gathered and used to produce habitat and species management plans, as well as to support the recovery of degraded habitats and create new populations of endangered species. This project targets three priority habitats for conservation: endemic Macaronesian heaths, endemic forests with Juniperus spp., and European yew (Taxus baccata) woods. It will also target 11 plant species included in the Annex II of the Habitats Directive and Annex I of the Birds Directive, such as Zino’s petrel (Pterodroma madeira) and the Madeiran land snail (Leiostyla cassida), the distribution of which is mostly or completely restricted to the MMO. Specific objectives include: Regenerate target habitats through the control and eradication of invasive species, and the establishment of indigenous plant and snail communities; Reintroduce and/or reinforce populations of the target species that were destroyed by wildfire, or create new populations using, in the case of plants, seeds of the same populations previously collected and kept in the Jardim Botânico da Madeira Eng.º Rui Vieira (JBM), or collected in nearby wild populations; Update the inventory of the distribution of species and habitats listed in the Habitats Directive, as well as other rare endemic species occurring in the MMO; Monitor the listed target populations, species and communities and the progress of the recovery actions (reintroduction, reinforcement and introduction); Develop an environmental awareness programme targeting the general public and highlighting the importance of the MMO, the threats it faces and its conservation needs. Expected results: A conservation programme of measures for species and habitats of Community interest with unfavourable conservation status; Increased knowledge on the ecology of endemic and indigenous species of Community interest; A conservation programme for the regeneration of priority habitats in burned areas and in areas dominated by invasive species; Greater public awareness of and support for the conservation of species and habitats in the MMO.