SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, September 1 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Tenerife fire, which began on August 15 in Arafo and has affected 14,624 hectares, distributed in 12 municipalities, could have affected more than 60 protected species, as reported by the Government of the Canary Islands.
In this way, the general director of Natural Spaces and Biodiversity, Miguel Ángel Morcuende, has pointed out that from an environmental point of view, the impact of fire on unique species in the Canary Islands has been “very important.”
“According to the reports we have available, the fire has affected more than 60 protected species,” he said, adding that among them, the one that is most worrying is the so-called Cheirolophus metlecsicsii (Añavingo bighead).
He added here that it is an endangered species, which only had two population centers in the world.
The first of them was in Arico and burned in 2021. So far, according to technicians from the Ministry, no specimens have been located in that area again. The remaining nucleus was located in Añavingo, in Arafo, and has undoubtedly been affected by the fire.
There are also other populations, in danger of extinction, such as the Himantoglossum metlecsisianum or Tenerife Orchid, an endemic plant, growing seasonally between the months of December and February, that have suffered the consequences of the fire.
Equally in danger of extinction, in this case due to predation by rabbits, competition with other plant species and human action; is the Agache jarrilla, Helianthemum teneriffae.
It is a cystaceae endemic to the island of Tenerife. It is known from a single locality in the southeast of the island, in Güímar, in the area of the Corona Forestal Natural Park.
A PERIMETER OF 88 KM
For its part, the fire has burned a perimeter of 88 kilometers belonging to the Corona Forestal natural park.
This area of pine forest mass, both natural and reforested, and high mountain vegetation, practically surrounds the Teide National Park. A total of 46,613 hectares make it the largest protected area in the Canary Islands.
The Forest Crown is the natural habitat of a large number of endemisms that are threatened. It is estimated that the fire has affected 3,033.63 hectares of endemic Canarian pine forests out of 9,360.
1,860.03 hectares of 4,090 hectares of endemic Oro-Mediterranean heaths with gorse and 703.42 hectares of endemic Macaronesian heaths have also been affected. In addition, 172.06 hectares of 9,360 hectares of endemic Macaronesian laurel forests must be accounted for.
These species are all habitats of community interest. With its destruction occurs that of the ecosystems where different species of fungi, bacteria, invertebrates and birds live. Some of special protection such as the accipiter nisus granti (hawk), the asio otus (long-eared owl) or the barbastella barbastellus (Canary bat).
Finally, among the Canarian pine forests, both natural and reforested, a vulnerable species also usually lives: the blue finch. It generally lives at an altitude above 1,000 meters, among the most mature pines and brooms.
