Teide, Tenerife Island, Spain Photograph by Hessberg and Schulze   Palaearctic Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub   1,900 square miles (5,000 square kilometers) -- about the size of Delaware Critical/Endangered

· From Laurels to Lizards
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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From Laurels to Lizards

The Canary Islands contain more biodiversity than just about any temperate ecoregion on the planet. For example, each island has its own endemic species or subspecies of skink, gecko, or other lizard. Not only are more than half of the species here endemic, but evolution on these islands has produced entire categories of plants and animals found only in this ecoregion. In laurel forests, you can find relic plant species that have existed here since the Tertiary Period. And the complex variety of habitats in this ecoregion, from palm groves to heaths, is home to more than 70 distinct ecological communities. In addition to the amazing variety of life that has evolved here, the Canary Islands are also a temporary home for many migratory birds that visit from Europe each autumn, and they serve as important breeding sites for many marine birds as well. From laurel trees to giant lizards, most of the plants and animals of the Canary Islands are truly unusual.

Special Features

The amazing diversity of habitats and species in the Canary Islands is due in part to the wide range of microclimates, caused by the influence of moist sea winds called "alisios" and dry, dusty winds from the Sahara called "calimas." While densely forested mountains act as sponges by trapping moisture, they also divide the islands so that southern parts of the islands fall in a rain shadow and are therefore drier and hotter. Low-lying islands are also dry because they lack the altitude which helps rain-cloud formation, and therefore don’t have the moisture to sustain dense forests. The varied climate conditions here create habitats as diverse as palm groves, pre-steppe bush, evergreen forests, heaths, pine forests, and high mountain vegetation. In addition, thousands of years of water erosion have produced a complex system of ravines.

	The laurel forests of this ecoregion are similar to those that once covered much of the world about 20 million years ago. These humid and shady evergreen forests, with trees reaching almost 70 feet (20 m) in height, are now found in just a few areas of the world where the climate has allowed them to flourish.

Wild Side

Many of the natural habitats of the Canary Islands today are located in difficult to reach places such as cliffs, mountains, or rocky isles. Hidden away in cliffs and crevices, big lizards seek shelter from the intense sun. The critically endangered El Hierro giant lizard, found only on the island of El Hierro, is the focus of an intensive conservation and reintroduction program. Large caverns in the sides of volcanoes come alive with bats preparing to emerge into the evening skies in search of insects. Towering laurel forests shelter dark-tailed laurel pigeons and Canary Island kinglets, while blue chaffinches flit through pine forests carpeted with fungus and lichens. The forests and woodlands are filled with beetles, butterflies, and other invertebrates. Every autumn, migratory birds pass by on their way to a warmer climate and abundant food. Marine birds, such as shearwaters and storm petrels, feast on the abundant fish and crustaceans. Other marine birds, such as puffins, use the Canaries as a nesting place. Along the coast, massive leatherback turtles come ashore at night to lay their eggs in large holes they dig in the sand. Loggerhead and hawksbill turtles have also been known to lay their eggs here.

Cause for Concern

A boom of tourism in the Canary Islands in recent years has led to enormous habitat destruction, as natural areas are cleared for beach houses and resorts. As the human population has grown on the islands, there has been a rise in the numbers of both accidental and intentional fires, which have damaged extensive areas of habitat. Increases in urbanization, pollution, and uncontrolled dumping have become serious threats. Another growing problem in this ecoregion is illegal hunting. Endemic laurel pigeons are hunted for sport, and birds such as canaries, goldfinches, and warblers are captured for the pet trade. One of the gravest threats to the Canary Islands and other island ecosystems throughout the world is the introduction of invasive non-native species that prey on native species or compete with them for food and other resources. Feral cats and rats prey on native birds and reptiles. Escaped pets such as snakes, caiman turtles, and green iguanas have also been found in the wild in recent years, some with breeding populations.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.