El Hierro Biosphere Reserve

With a total area of 278 square kilometres, El Hierro is the smallest of the Canary Islands. Its small territory is home to diverse landscapes and ecosystems. This fact, together with the implementation of a sustainable development programme, secured its declaration as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in the year 2000.

El Hierro is located at the western end of the Canary archipelago. Over the centuries, its volcanic origin developed into great landscape diversity: from the fertile farmlands of El Golfo and the steep coastal cliffs in the north, to the incredible geological formations of lavas and cones in the south, to the exuberant vegetation that dominates the entire island centre. The island is home to enormous biodiversity. At higher altitude, you can find the laurel forests, an authentic vegetal vestige of the Tertiary Era. Holm oaks and beeches mostly grow in the fire tree forest, while dense forests of Canary pine and junipers also abound, the latter species present in the west of the island. The coast sees concentrations of scrubland and provides valuable marine habitats, such as the La Restinga-Mar de las Calmas Marine Reserve. El Hierro has been energy self-sufficient since 2014 with a mixed electricity generation system based on wind and hydroelectric power. More information about the Gorona del Viento project (www.goronadelviento.es).