Zona Especial de Conservación Monteverde de Don Pedro-Juan Adalid

Zona Especial de Conservación Monteverde de Don Pedro-Juan Adalid is a protected natural area covering 483 hectares in the municipality of Garafía, in the northwestern part of La Palma in the Canary Islands. It forms part of the European Natura 2000 network under the code ES7020090 and was designated primarily to protect endemic Macaronesian heathlands, along with remaining patches of laurel forest (laurisilva) typical of the archipelago's humid, mountainous zones.

What does the landscape look like?

The terrain of Monteverde de Don Pedro-Juan Adalid is steep and cut through by deep ravines, giving the area a fragmented, "boxed-in" character shaped by numerous barrancos descending toward the coast. The land was historically exploited for timber, which left a visible mark on the vegetation structure. Today the dominant plant community is fayal-brezal scrubland, composed mainly of faya (Myrica faya) and tree heather (Erica arborea), which has replaced much of the original laurel forest in large portions of the site.

What species can be found here?

Despite this transformation, the area retains enough ecological value to have been included in the Natura 2000 network. Two fern species of community importance stand out: Woodwardia radicans, locally known as "píjara," and Vandenboschia speciosa, the so-called glass fern (helecho de cristal), a species that depends on very high air humidity, found in the shaded corners of the ravines. The presence of these ferns points to microclimatic conditions close to those of an original cloud forest, even though the laurel canopy itself now survives only in fragments.

Why is this area protected?

The primary reason for protection is the presence of endemic Macaronesian heathlands, a habitat unique to the Canary Islands, Madeira and the Azores, and recognized as a priority habitat under the EU Habitats Directive. A secondary but still significant reason is the presence of laurel forest, a relict plant formation that covered much of southern Europe during the Tertiary period and now survives almost exclusively on the humid slopes of the Macaronesian islands. Protecting this site aims to secure the survival of both these rare habitats and the plant species associated with them.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is this area located? In the municipality of Garafía, at the northwestern edge of La Palma, in a heavily eroded landscape marked by numerous ravines.

How large is the protected area? It covers 483 hectares.

Can visitors still find original laurel forest here? Only in fragments — most of the surface is covered by fayal-brezal scrubland that developed after historical logging, though rare ferns tied to cloud-forest conditions still survive in the humid ravine corners.

What is the conservation status of this area? It is a Zona Especial de Conservación (ZEC) within the Natura 2000 network, coded ES7020090.

Which species receive special protection here? Two ferns of community importance: Woodwardia radicans ("píjara") and Vandenboschia speciosa (glass fern).