The Biosphere Reserve of Gran Canaria It occupies 46% of the island surface. It is organized around a nucleus zone composed of the Inagua Integral Nature Reserve and the Güigüi Special Nature Reserve. The buffer zone is composed of the Rural Park of Nublo, Tamadaba Natural Park, PILANCONES NATURAL PARK and a small 500 -meter strip around the land nucleus of Güigüi.
Finally, the municipalities of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Mogán, Artenara, San Mateo, Valle de la Aldea de San Nicolás, and part of the municipality of Agaete, They constitute the transition zone.
Gran Canaria has a natural heritage of extraordinary valuedespite its relatively reduced dimensions. The uniqueness of its ecosystems, as well as its flora and fauna, rich in exclusive species, and its geology, have led to the declaration of numerous protected natural spaces throughout the island, which represent approximately 43% of the island surface.
Redefine the Biosphere Reserve of Gran Canaria
Researchers from the Botanical Garden Viera and Clavijo de Gran Canaria have proposed the redefinition and expansion of the Insular Biosphere Reserve after analyzing more than 200 plants and detect that the current division does not match the areas that require more conservation.
«Through the genetic, phylogenetic and spatial analysis usedthe investigation has detected a mismatch between the current administrative zoning and the areas with the greatest floristic and evolutionary wealth and, therefore, of priority conservation, ”explained the insular council in a statement sent on Wednesday.
The researchers of the Botanical Garden Viera and Clavijo, associated unit of R & D & I to the Higher Center for Scientific Research (CSIC) and dependent on the island council, have made this proposal after carry out a study that has been published in the international magazine ‘Conservation Science and Practice‘.
The study Identify key areas for plant biodiversity conservation Endemic to the Biosphere Reserve of Gran Canaria, declared by UNESCO in 2005, after performing the cartography for the first time to a resolution of 500 square meters of the evolutionary diversity of more than 200 species of endemic plants. For this, indices of diversity and phylogenetic endemicity have been used, which allow identifying areas that house unique and high evolutionary lineages.
The Cabildo explained that it is a «Integrative approach that goes beyond the abundance of species or number of endemisms“, Since” authentic hot biodiversity points have been detected, where both old lineages and recent diversification live. “
In it Article is integrated genetics, evolutionary history and cartography Identifying different elements that also help optimize the management of this natural space and it proposes a redefinition of the zoning of this reserve that would imply the expansion of the current buffer zone and the creation of a new nucleus zone, indicates the note.
For the island institution, This study «marks a milestone in the scientific planning of natural spacesproviding valuable tools to address the challenges derived from climate change, loss of habitats and human pressure on island ecosystems ».
In addition, he added, It positions the Biosphere Reserve of Gran Canaria «as an extrapolable model for the most efficient management and conservation of biosphere reserves nationally and internationally ». The biosphere reserve covers 42 % of the island territory and includes some of the oldest, steep and higher natural values of the island.
«Throughout its 20 years of existence, progress has been made in their protection, but this article shows that there is still work to do to guarantee the Effective conservation of the most important and vulnerable flora species and habitats«, The Cabildo said. The IPNA-CSIC researchers of La Laguna, the Entomological Research Group of Tenerife and the Botany Department of the University of Granada have also participated in the article. EFE / ECOticias.com