Sites - Important Bird Areas (IBAs)

Ornithological information One of the most important areas in the Canary Islands for Columba junoniae. The site is also important for other endemic birds.

Site description A large mountainous area in the north-east of La Palma with deep gullies, exposed bedrock, inland cliffs, laurel Laurus forest and agricultural land. There are few villages and roads in the area. Human activities include livestock-farming.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Protected areas

Protected area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
Barlovento, Garafa, El Paso y Tijarafe - ES7020084	Habitats Directive	5,562	protected area contained by site	5,562
Barranco de las Angustias - ES7020021	Habitats Directive	1,699	protected area overlaps with site	522
Barranco del Agua	Site of Scientific Interest	75	protected area contained by site	75
Barranco del Agua - ES7020025	Habitats Directive	74	protected area overlaps with site	5
Breña Alta - ES7020087	Habitats Directive	61	protected area contained by site	61
Caldera de Taburiente - ES0000043	Birds Directive	4,355	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Cumbre Vieja	Nature Park	7,500	protected area overlaps with site	600
Cumbre Vieja - ES7020011	Habitats Directive	7,522	protected area overlaps with site	463
Cumbres y acantilados del norte de La Palma - ES0000114	Birds Directive	22,701	protected area overlaps with site	9,911
El Paso y Santa Cruz de La Palma - ES7020085	Habitats Directive	1,390	protected area overlaps with site	118
El Tablao	Protected Landscape	222	protected area contained by site	222
Guelguén - ES7020009	Habitats Directive	1,062	protected area overlaps with site	415
Guelguen	Special Nature Reserve	1,074	protected area overlaps with site	450
Juan Mayor - ES7020024	Habitats Directive	28	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Las Nieves	Nature Park	5,094	protected area contained by site	5,094
Las Nieves - ES7020010	Habitats Directive	5,115	protected area overlaps with site	2,314
Los Sables - ES7020064	Habitats Directive	3	protected area contained by site	3
Monteverde de Barranco Seco-Barranco del Agua - ES7020093	Habitats Directive	1,939	protected area overlaps with site	885
Monteverde de Breña Alta - ES7020094	Habitats Directive	823	protected area contained by site	823
Monteverde de Don Pedro-Juan Adalid - ES7020090	Habitats Directive	483	protected area contained by site	483
Monteverde de Gallegos-Franceses - ES7020091	Habitats Directive	1,409	protected area contained by site	1,409
Monteverde de Lomo Grande - ES7020092	Habitats Directive	495	protected area overlaps with site	226
Pinar de Garafa - ES7020008	Habitats Directive	1,028	protected area contained by site	1,028
Pinar de Garafía	Integral Natural Reserve	984	protected area overlaps with site	984
Sabinar de La Galga - ES7020089	Habitats Directive	81	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Santa Cruz de La Palma - ES7020086	Habitats Directive	216	protected area contained by site	216
Tablado - ES7020020	Habitats Directive	224	protected area contained by site	224

Habitats

Land use

Management considerations Forest fires (some man-made) pose a major threat. Although agricultural activity is on the decrease in forested areas, the cutting of branches for use in tomato/banana cultivation continues to have a large impact on the laurel forest. Illegal hunting and predation by introduced rats Rattus greatly affect both species of Columba. Parts of the site form a game reserve. Various censuses, studies and conservation campaigns have centred on the two Columba species.

Protection status National Partial International Partial75 ha of IBA covered by Site of Scientific Interest (Barranco del Agua, 75 ha). 600 ha of IBA covered by Natural Park (Cumbre Vieja, 7,499 ha). 222 ha of IBA covered by Protected Landscape (El Tablao, 222 ha). 450 ha of IBA covered by Special Natural Reserve (Guelguén, 1,074 ha). 5,094 ha of IBA covered by Natural Park (Las Nieves, 5,094 ha). 984 ha of IBA covered by Integral Nature Reserve (Pinar de Garafía, 984 ha). 4,067 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Monte de los Sauces, Punta Llana y Pinar de Garafía, 4,067 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: La Palma laurel forest. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013

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