Manuel Nogales, representative of the Center for Higher Scientific Research (CSIC) in the Canary Islands, expressed his concerns about possible losses. endemic flora species and invertebrates as a result of the fire that has affected the Tenerife Forest Crown since Tuesday. Specifically, Nogales focuses on six affected endemic flora species, with a possible seventh to be added: cabezón de Añavingo, pico de paloma, alamillo de Acentejo—three species native to the island—cedro canaria, garbancera canaria, and the orchid of the Añavingo valley.
Remember, all these species have some degree of protection, being vulnerable or critically endangered. What worries the most pigeon beakIt is in pine woodlands with only three recorded natural populations on the island, all affected by wildfire, so it is believed that many of the remaining specimens may have been lost.
Nogales, Efe agency in the area affected by the fire three large living spaces: Canary pine forest, scattered along the entire mountain range and forming the main forest reserve of the island; a mixed forest of Canary pine – mainly holly, laurel and faults – with elements of laurel forest; and an ancient strip of laurel forest that once connected Teno to Anaga at an altitude of 400 to 700 meters above sea level.
Of particular concern is the loss of this laurel forest. only a few well-preserved bastions remained At Anaga and Teno, at both ends, but also on the slope of Tigaiga, at Los Realejos and other points that have “recovered a lot in recent years” and are probably on fire.
animals in danger
As for vertebrates, the expert thinks that “things are getting pretty complicated” because There are nearly twenty endemic species of the island and the Canary Islands living in the fire zone. “We have at least five or six species of bats, some endemic, such as the Canarian long-eared bat or the Madeira bat, which is only found in Tenerife, La Palma, and El Hierro and often lives in pine forests. long-eared or forest bat. », details.
as far as reptiles Related to this, all three species that could see their habitats destroyed are endemic to the Canary Islands: the typhoon lizard, Delalande perenquen, and the latter, the mullet, which is native to Tenerife.
And from the point of view birds are endemic to eight species threatened by llamasIncluding the blue finch, whose young specimens are still developing, “most striking because it is only native to Tenerife, as it is another subspecies in Gran Canaria”, and because it is breeding season. Besides the blue finch, the canary finch, the Great Spotted Woodpecker, and the Turqué and Rabiche pigeons are also affected. Regarding the last two, the affected area is one of the most important pigeon reserves on the island.
Nogales stresses that all these animals that can be moved to other areas will have to “adapt to all this catharsis occurring in their lifestyles.” In terms of invertebrates, Nogales admits, it’s “one of the biggest forgotten” when it comes to calibrating the effects of flora and fauna. While not a “very important” place for these animals to exist, there are about 200 endemic species that could be affected.
It is a community of invertebrates that live and survive not in the pine forests themselves, but in volcanic caves below the surface. Populations “the richest in the world”to the point of having more endemism than the canary-like Hawaii or Galapagos archipelago due to its volcanic features.
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Contact address of the environment department: [email protected]