Protected nature and biodiversity

Laurisilva, endemic flora, national parks and conservation of Canarian natural heritage.

Nature

This collection gathers readings on island ecosystems, forests, endemism and protected areas that explain the environmental singularity of the Canaries.

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Timeline milestones

1842Creation of the first Botanical Garden in Tenerife.1964Creation of Timanfaya National Park in Lanzarote.1982Creation of Teide National Park in Tenerife.1997Declaration of Caldera de Taburiente National Park in La Palma.2012Garajonay National Park in La Gomera is declared a World Heritage Site.

Related figures

César Manrique
Art

César Manrique

Visual artist and landscape activist

1919 - 1992

Meet figures
Sabin Berthelot
Science

Sabin Berthelot

Naturalist

1794 - 1880

Meet figures

Flora and fauna profiles

Dragon treeDracaena draco

An emblematic tree of the Canarian landscape, recorded by BIOTA as securely native and not endemic.

Canary Island date palmPhoenix canariensis

An endemic palm of the archipelago and one of the islands’ most characteristic plant silhouettes.

Canary Island pinePinus canariensis

An endemic conifer shaping pine forests in uplands and high mid-elevation zones of several islands.

Red buglossEchium wildpretii

A visually striking endemic plant especially associated with Tenerife’s high mountain landscapes.

Canary Island spurgeEuphorbia canariensis

An endemic spurge that names the cardonal, a key plant formation of the Canarian basal belt.

ViñátigoPersea indica

A tree of the Canarian laurel forest, securely native according to BIOTA and not endemic to the archipelago.

Tenerife blue chaffinchFringilla teydea

An endemic bird of Tenerife linked to Canary pine forest.

Gran Canaria blue chaffinchFringilla polatzeki

An endemic bird of Gran Canaria and one of the island’s most distinctive forest species.

El Hierro giant lizardGallotia simonyi

An endemic reptile of El Hierro and a symbol of threatened island fauna.

Canary houbara bustardChlamydotis undulata fuertaventurae

An endemic subspecies of steppe-like and semi-desert habitats on Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.

Laurel pigeonColumba junoniae

An endemic pigeon associated with Canarian laurel forest and monteverde.

Bolle’s pigeonColumba bollii

An endemic pigeon of Canarian monteverde, closely tied to humid forests.

Canary laurelLaurus novocanariensis

A key tree of Canarian laurel forest.

Canary hollyIlex canariensis

A characteristic tree of monteverde.

Canary tree heathErica canariensis

A common component of fayal-brezal woodland.

Canary fayaMorella faya

A representative tree of fayal-brezal woodland.

Canary cedarJuniperus cedrus

A conifer of high summits and crags.

Canary juniperJuniperus turbinata canariensis

A juniper of thermophilous woodland formations.

Canary wild oliveOlea cerasiformis

A thermophilous tree of dry Canarian landscapes.

Canary aeoniumAeonium canariense

An emblematic crassula of cliffs and slopes.

Marguerite daisyArgyranthemum frutescens

A conspicuous wild daisy of island flora.

Canary bellflowerCanarina canariensis

An endemic climber with orange flowers.

VerodeKleinia neriifolia

A succulent shrub common in dry habitats.

Sweet tabaibaEuphorbia balsamifera

A characteristic spurge of coastal tabaibal.

Purple Canary spurgeEuphorbia atropurpurea

An endemic tabaiba of strong landscape value.

Canary ceropegiaCeropegia dichotoma

A succulent plant linked to dry slopes.

BaloPlocama pendula

A shrub of ravines and dry habitats.

Mountain bencomiaBencomia caudata

An endemic shrub of humid woodland habitats.

Canary sideritisSideritis canariensis

An endemic mint-family plant of scrub and woodland zones.

Parrot’s beakLotus berthelotii

An endemic legume recognised by its striking flowers.

Gran Canaria giant lizardGallotia stehlini

An emblematic endemic reptile of Gran Canaria.

Atlantic lizardGallotia atlantica

A characteristic lizard of the eastern islands.

Delalande’s geckoTarentola delalandii

A nocturnal gecko of island habitats.

La Gomera geckoTarentola gomerensis

An endemic gecko of La Gomera.

Gran Canaria skinkChalcides sexlineatus

An endemic skink of Gran Canaria.

Spotted Canary skinkChalcides coeruleopunctatus

An island skink of the western islands.

Canary shrewCrocidura canariensis

An endemic mammal of the eastern islands.

Canary long-eared batPlecotus teneriffae

An endemic bat of strong island interest.

Madeira pipistrellePipistrellus maderensis

A Macaronesian bat present in the Canary Islands.

Fuerteventura stonechatSaxicola dacotiae

An endemic bird of eastern arid habitats.

Canary Islands chiffchaffPhylloscopus canariensis

A small endemic bird common in wooded and scrub habitats.

Atlantic canarySerinus canaria

A Macaronesian bird behind the domestic canary.

Canary chaffinchFringilla canariensis

An island chaffinch associated with forests and mid-elevations.

Barolo shearwaterPuffinus baroli

A seabird characteristic of Atlantic waters and islets.

Cory’s shearwaterCalonectris borealis

A highly representative seabird of the Canarian coast.

Barbary falconFalco peregrinus pelegrinoides

A raptor of crags and cliffs, strongly tied to island landscapes.

Sand pimelia beetlePimelia granulicollis

An endemic beetle associated with sandy habitats.

La Palma stick grasshopperAcrostira euphorbiae

An endemic La Palma insect linked to dry scrub.

Adenocarpus foliolosusAdenocarpus foliolosus

Endemic legume with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Adenocarpus ombriosusAdenocarpus ombriosus

Endemic legume with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Aeonium appendiculatumAeonium appendiculatum

Endemic crassula with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Aeonium balsamiferumAeonium balsamiferum

Endemic crassula with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Aichryson bituminosumAichryson bituminosum

Endemic crassula with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Aichryson bolleiAichryson bollei

Endemic crassula with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Allagopappus viscosissimusAllagopappus viscosissimus

Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Anagyris latifoliaAnagyris latifolia

Endemic legume with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Androcymbium hierrenseAndrocymbium hierrense

Endemic geophyte with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Andryala pereziiAndryala perezii

Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Arbutus canariensisArbutus canariensis

Endemic tree or shrub with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Argyranthemum broussonetiiArgyranthemum broussonetii

Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Argyranthemum coronopifoliumArgyranthemum coronopifolium

Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Argyrolobium armindaeArgyrolobium armindae

Endemic legume with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Arrhenatherum calderaeArrhenatherum calderae

Endemic grass with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Artemisia ramosaArtemisia ramosa

Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Artemisia thusculaArtemisia thuscula

Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Asparagus arborescensAsparagus arborescens

Endemic Asparagaceae plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Asparagus fallaxAsparagus fallax

Endemic Asparagaceae plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Asteriscus intermediusAsteriscus intermedius

Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Asteriscus sericeusAsteriscus sericeus

Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Athamanta montanaAthamanta montana

Endemic umbellifer with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Atractylis preauxianaAtractylis preauxiana

Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Autonoe anagensisAutonoe anagensis

Endemic Asparagaceae plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Avena canariensisAvena canariensis

Endemic grass with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Bencomia brachystachyaBencomia brachystachya

Endemic rose-family plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Bencomia exstipulataBencomia exstipulata

Endemic rose-family plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Bethencourtia rupicolaBethencourtia rupicola

Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Bosea yervamoraBosea yervamora

Endemic shrub with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Brachypodium arbusculaBrachypodium arbuscula

Endemic grass with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Brassica bourgeauiBrassica bourgeaui

Endemic crucifer with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Bryonia verrucosaBryonia verrucosa

Endemic climber with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Bupleurum handienseBupleurum handiense

Endemic umbellifer with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Bystropogon canariensisBystropogon canariensis

Endemic mint-family plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Bystropogon odoratissimusBystropogon odoratissimus

Endemic mint-family plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Calendula ricardoiCalendula ricardoi

Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Calendula sventeniiCalendula sventenii

Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Camptoloma canarienseCamptoloma canariense

Endemic figwort-family plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Campylanthus salsoloidesCampylanthus salsoloides

Endemic plantain-family plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Carduus clavulatusCarduus clavulatus

Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Carduus volutarioidesCarduus volutarioides

Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Carex canariensisCarex canariensis

Endemic sedge with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Carex perraudierianaCarex perraudieriana

Endemic sedge with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Carlina canariensisCarlina canariensis

Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Carlina falcataCarlina falcata

Endemic composite plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Cedronella canariensisCedronella canariensis

Endemic mint-family plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Cerastium sventeniiCerastium sventenii

Endemic plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Ceropegia fuscaCeropegia fusca

Endemic dogbane-family plant with a verified BIOTA record and Endémicas Canarias profile.

Key terms

LaurisilvaA humid subtropical forest of high ecological value, associated with Canarian monteverde.Sea of cloudsA cloud layer associated with the trade winds that shapes humidity, vegetation and ecological belts on several islands.MonteverdeA humid mid-elevation Canarian forest formation that includes laurisilva and fayal-brezal woodland.Lluvia horizontalWater capture from mist and clouds by vegetation, crucial for laurisilva humidity and water recharge.MacaronesiaAtlantic island region that includes the Canary Islands and acted as a biogeographic refuge for laurisilva.EndemismoCondition of a species restricted to a limited territory, highly relevant to Canarian island biodiversity.Piso basalLow, dry vegetation belt of the islands, dominated by communities adapted to heat, sunlight and aridity.TilCharacteristic tree of Canarian laurisilva, cited among the representative species of this humid forest.ViñátigoTree typical of laurisilva, part of the humid communities of Canarian monteverde.Paloma rabicheEndemic bird associated with laurisilva forests, where it feeds on their fruits.Paloma turquéEndemic bird linked to Canarian laurisilva and the availability of humid-forest fruits.Dragon treeAn emblematic Canarian plant, especially associated with Tenerife, with strong natural, cultural and symbolic value.TabaibaCommon name applied to several euphorbia species characteristic of Canarian landscapes and island vocabulary.MalpaísA volcanic landscape of rough lava terrain that is difficult to cross, common on several islands.

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