Special Nature Reserves
Reserva Natural Especial de Las Palomas
Description
The Las Palomas Special Nature Reserve is located within the Las Lagunetas Protected Landscape, in the north-west of the island, and is characterised by high humidity and natural biodiversity.
Recommended time to visit: Autumn
Geology
The reserve occupies a forested mountainside intersected by several ravines, some of which are very steep, such as Barranco de Bensa.
The almost permanent sea of clouds brings with it horizontal precipitation and high humidity levels for much of the year. This favours the monteverde cloud forest, which covers most of the area, and pine forest with monteverde undergrowth, which covers the rest of the reserve.
In addition, these climatic conditions play a fundamental role in aquifer recharge.
Flora and fauna
The reserve is home to all types of monteverde species:
- The dry monteverde consists of madroño (Arbutus canariensis), mocán (Visneamocanera), acebiño (Ilex canariensis) and sanguino (Rhamnus glandulosa).
- In the humid monteverde, most of the trees are over 6 m high and dominant species include laurel (Laurus novocanariensis), follao (Viburnum rigidum), viñatigo (Persea indica) and Canary laurel or barbusano (Apolloniasbarbujana).
- The hygrophilous monteverde grows in wetter areas, such as watercourses and streams, and here you will find a less common tree, the til (Ocotea foetens).
- The fayal-brezal (Morella-Erica heath) is the product of human action – felling, fires and traditional grazing – and is dominated by faya (Morella faya) and tree heath (Erica arborea).
The rest of the plant life consists of pine forests, of which only 1% is natural, while the rest is the result of reforestation efforts with Canary Island pine and Monterey pine.
As is the case throughout the island, invertebrates account for the majority of animal species that inhabit these forests. Although they are little studied within the reserve, species of note are: Tenerife green bush-cricket (Calliphonakoenigi), chiripadorada (Phyllodromicabrullei), escarabajo pintado del pino (Buprestisbertheloti), the Canary speckled wood butterfly (Parargexiphioides), the Canary blue butterfly (Leptoteswebbianus); and two flies endemic to the archipelago, moscacobrizacanaria (Calliphora splendens) and moscacernidora de monte (Chrysotoxumtriarcuatum).
Among the vertebrates, the Tenerife lizard is the easiest reptile to spot.
As for bats, the only native mammals, the most common is the Madeira pipistrelle. However, in several of the reserve’s galleries you may also spot the Canary long-eared bat and the rare barbastelle bat.
However, one of the main reasons for protecting this area is the presence here of one of the largest populations of the two laurel forest pigeons: Bolle’s pigeon and laurel pigeon.
Other forest birds also inhabit these forests, such as the blue chaffinch, the great spotted woodpecker and the sparrowhawk.
Technical information sheet
Surface area
584 ha (0.3% of the island).
Species of interest
Madroño (Arbutus canariensis), mocán (Visneamocanera), acebiño (Ilex canariensis), sanguino (Rhamnus glandulosa), laurel (Laurus novocanariensis), follao (Viburnum rigidum), viñatigo (Persea indica), Canary laurel or barbusano (Apolloniasbarbujana), til (Ocotea foetens), naranjerosilvestre (Ilex perado), faya (Morella faya), tree heath (Erica arborea), Canary Island pine, Tenerife lizard, Madeira pipistrelle, Canary long-eared bat, barbastelle bat, Bolle’s pigeon, laurel pigeon, blue chaffinch, great spotted woodpecker, sparrowhawk.
Ecosystems
Pine forest, monteverde.
Places of interest
Barranco de Bensa, Barranco del Pino, Barranco del Madroño.
Regulations
To consult permits for use and updated regulations for this Protected Natural Area, visit the official website of the Government of the Canary Islands.
Municipalities
- La Victoria de Acentejo
- Santa Úrsula
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