Fire in Los Campeches, Tenerife: ecological impact and response
A week ago a wildfire began in the Los Campeches area within the Tenerife municipality of Los Realejos. It has affected around 2,700 hectares, impacting important habitats and a diverse range of species. Among the species present is the Tenerife blue finch, an endemic bird considered near threatened in the Red Book of Birds of Spain. The situation remains critical for nesting and early chick development, with several fledglings observed during this season.
The fire is now closer to being controlled and has dropped to level one, according to the emergency coordination committee. The terrain is difficult to access by road, leaving only a small active front for firefighting and monitoring.
If weather conditions stay favorable, cooling by air, rather than ground activity, is expected in the coming days. This could allow the operation to shift into a fully controlled phase with reduced risk of flare-ups.
Ecologically valuable areas have been identified by SEO/BirdLife as part of Natura 2000 designated zones, including the Montes y Cumbre de Tenerife ZEPA, and other protected areas such as the Corona Forestal natural park and the protected landscapes of Campeches, Tigaiga and Ruiz. The blaze has also reached the southern part of La Fortaleza in Teide National Park, and the Ladera de Tigaiga has been designated as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area, reflecting the concentration of sensitive bird populations in the region.
Based on SEO/BirdLife assessments, the most affected area lies along the leading edge of the Tigaiga and Chanajiga slopes. Efforts to block progression toward Teide National Park progressed slowly as the fire reached the high mountain brush transitioning into pine forest.
Emergency prevention measures
Despite the resilience of the landscape, some Canary cedars in areas of high ecological value have suffered damage. Birds inhabiting forest ecosystems are affected, including species native to the Canary pine forests, such as the great spotted woodpecker and the hawk, with both endemic subspecies present. Above all, the Tenerife blue finch is near the height of its breeding period, relying on feeding offspring in the nest.
Residents of the Las Llanadas neighborhood in Los Realejos observed the northern island fire from close range. The scene was captured by local observers and reported through national news networks.
Additionally, the fire has touched areas of green and mixed pine forests where endemic pigeons such as the turqué (near threatened) and rabiche (vulnerable) find habitat, along with other forest birds like the canary tit, canary chiffchaff, simple wren, and common finch. The Red Book underscores forest fires as a major threat to these species.
In light of the broader fire events across Spain, SEO/BirdLife urges regional authorities, autonomous communities, and local administrations to implement emergency prevention measures that reflect the current climate realities. Climate change is prolonging high-risk periods through higher temperatures, droughts, storms, and strong winds. The organization advocates adapting policies and resources to strengthen preventive tasks and to ensure that, if fires occur, they do not spread with extreme violence.
Restoration and recovery of burned areas
Maintaining well-preserved and naturally managed areas year-round is essential to reducing the damage from fires and to preparing for larger events, sometimes referred to as sixth-generation fires. SEO/BirdLife emphasizes the need for rapid restoration measures and procedures to ensure the availability of necessary economic and human resources after a disaster of this scale. The aim is to restore habitats promptly to support wildlife recovery and local communities alike.
There is also emphasis on public education and proactive management to prevent repeat occurrences, with ongoing monitoring of forest structure and bird populations after restoration work. An example of Tenerife’s blue finch is shown in field guides and reports by naturalists who document its habitat preferences and feeding behavior.
The Tenerife blue finch, Fringilla teydea teydea, is an endemic subspecies that favors native and replanted forest blocks of Canarian pine and introduced Monterey pine. Its diet includes pine nuts and insects fed to chicks during the breeding season. The greatest challenge to the blue finch’s future is the loss of canary pine forests, compounded by illegal capture and trade. Recent years have seen authorities confiscating several specimens intended for illegal transport from the island.
For further reading on the Red Book of Birds of Spain, see the official publication cited by SEO/BirdLife: Red Book of Birds of Spain, which provides detailed species assessments and conservation recommendations. Source attribution: Red Book of Birds of Spain.