Canary Islands

The Canarian Archipelago encompasses seven major islands and several islets and rocks. It is situated to 100 Km approximately from the African continent. Oceanic nature of these islands induces many important ecological and evolutionary processes take place there.

Negro rock in the North of La Palma Island

Anaga massif in the North of Tenerife Island

Canarian thermophilous scrubland

The flora of the thermophilous scrubland is mainly made up of plants of Mediterranean origin. In the Macaronesian Islands, this scrubland was present in the Cape Verde, Madeira, and Canary Islands archipelagos. However, this habitat is currently restricted to the Canary Islands, where only a few fragments are still well-conserved; this being the most degraded and threatened of regional habitats.

One of the best conserved thermophilous scrubland fragments at Tenerife Island

Lizards are important seed dispersers for many fleshy-fruited plant species from the thermophilous scrubland

Lesser kestrel colonies

Lesser kestrel Falco naumanni is a small migratory falcon which breeds in the Western Palearctic, from the Iberian Peninsula to China, and winters in Africa. Lesser Kestrels typically breed in urban colonies of up to 100 pairs, usually in buildings as castles or churches.

Lesser kestrel colony in a castle (Mairena, Seville province)

Lesser kestrel incubating in the colony of Purificación church (Manzanilla)