Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A group of five rocky islands that support drought-resistant vegetation: La Graciosa (coordinates as above), Montaña Clara (29°17'N, 13°32'W), Roque del Este (29°18'N, 13°31'W), Roque del Oeste (29°16'N, 13°20'W) and Alegranza (29°23'N, 13°30'W). Human activities are mainly related to conservation and research, and fishing.
The site holds some of the highest numbers of breeding seabirds and raptors in the Canaries.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Feral cats
Felis catus, introduced rabbits
Oryctolagus cuniculus and illegal hunting pose the main threats to breeding birds. Some 2,000-3,000
Calonectris diomedea chicks are poached every year, which impacts heavily on the local population. The area is a game refuge. La Laguna University undertakes research work, and monitoring of bird numbers is ongoing.
National High
International Partial4,000 ha of IBA covered by Natural Park (Archipiélago Chinijo, 9,112 ha). 165 ha of IBA covered by Integral Nature Reserve (Los Islotes, 165 ha). 1,722 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Islotes del Norte de Lanzarote y Riscos de Famara, 1,722 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lanzarote islets (Spain). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lanzarote-islets-iba-spain on 23/12/2024.
