Biosphere Reserve

A Biosphere Reserve is an area of terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems, or these in combination, whose unique value, due to its biological and cultural diversity, requires that it be preserved and that harmony be found between conserving this space and that the human population and its activities (social and economic) be integrated without damaging it. The reserves are spaces where sustainable development is studied through the integration of the population with nature.

The first biosphere reserves were established in 1976, although they have subsequently evolved in concept and approach. In Spain, there is a reserve network of 52 recognized reserves. In the Canary Islands, we have seven! One of them is the Anaga Rural Park Biosphere Reserve.

The Anaga Massif is the lung of the metropolitan area of the island of Tenerife, it has a unique and incomparable beauty that we are fortunate to find just a few minutes from the urban area. Its natural, social and ethnographic diversity offers visitors countless options to enjoy. As soon we can find a pleasant chat with its people, in any of the hamlets, as stroll through any of the network of trails that make up the area or just enjoy the scenery, rugged mountains, rocks and black sand beaches make the Reserve a must, both for tourists and visitors as for the inhabitants of Tenerife.

June 9, 2005 is the date on which the Anaga Massif was named a Biosphere Reserve. This area is located between the municipalities of Santa Cruz, La Laguna and Tegueste.

Anaga has differentiated itself by maintaining its traditions, a living example of agriculture, livestock, fishing and handicrafts. At present, it stands out for its dynamics and projects for the recovery of crops and tourism. It should be noted that within the Reserve there are three “figures”, the Anaga Rural Park, three nature reserves – El Pijaral, Los Roques de Anaga and Ijuana – as well as two Special Protection Areas for Birds, four terrestrial and two marine Special Conservation Areas (SCAs), and finally, eight Sites of Cultural Interest (BICs).

The Massif is a volcanic edifice, one of the oldest on the island, and is home to a diversity of species and ecosystems, as well as the marine strip that surrounds it. Erosive activity has caused the area to be made up of numerous ravines.

The Monteverde de Anaga is formed by laurel and fayal-brezal, and the area also has thermophilic forests (palm groves in San Andrés) and samples of cardonal-tabaibal on the coast. Its cultivated species are so particular that we have named them in their corresponding sections (old vines, sweet potatoes, borralla potatoes, mangos, avocados, …). The fauna stands out for its high composition of different species, with a great variety of birds, reptiles, fish and mammals.