Garajonay National Park

World Heritage Research

Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Garajonay National Park from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.

• Emergent human–water interactions through the lens of the pluralistic water research approach—the case of the Garajonay National Park (La Gomera, Spain)

  Garajonay National Park's resilience hinges on the interplay between its dense ecohydrological connectivity, which supports fog-dependent water recharge and forest functioning under normal conditions, and its vulnerability to disturbances like wildfires and drought. However, social and institutional connections within the park are weak and fragmented, limiting coordinated responses across sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and protected cloud-forest systems. The study applies the Pluralistic Water Research (PWR) approach to analyze emergent human-water interactions before and after a major wildfire in 2012, combining document analysis, stakeholder interviews, and an eDPSIR-based causal mapping approach. It identifies five feedback structures linking land abandonment, wildfire risk, water scarcity, pollution, ecosystem degradation, and stewardship, as well as five clusters of stakeholder responses related to education, ecotourism, mobility regulation, landscape management, and water governance.

  García-Santos, G., Höllermann, B., Aboagye, P. D., López, Á. F., & Evers, M. (2026). Emergent human–water interactions through the lens of the pluralistic water research approach—the case of the Garajonay National Park (La Gomera, Spain). Frontiers in Water, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2026.1844384

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• Los briófitos como bioindicadores de efectos del fuego en la laurisilva canaria

  Bryophytes, such as mosses and liverworts, serve as sensitive bioindicators of environmental changes, including fire effects on laurel forests. A study conducted in Garajonay National Park, one of the best-preserved Canarian laurel forests, found that post-fire recolonization patterns are not uniform and are significantly influenced by climate and forest structure rather than time since fire alone. Researchers analyzed bryophyte species richness and composition across a chronosequence of 5 to 57 years, comparing burnt and unburnt areas. The findings highlight the importance of microclimate dependence and high dispersal capabilities in these communities, deepening the understanding of their ecological dynamics.

  CEDRÉS-PERDOMO, R. D., & GONZÁLEZ-MANCEBO, J. M. (2023). Bryophytes as bioindicators of fire effects on the Canarian laurel forest. Conservación Vegetal, (27), 19–23. https://doi.org/10.15366/cv2023.27.005

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• Multiple responses of bryophytes in a chronosequence of burnt areas in non-fire prone subtropical cloud forests

  Post-fire recovery of bryophyte communities in non-fire-prone subtropical cloud forests does not follow a general pattern, as recolonization varies significantly among ecological and phylogenetic groups. A study conducted in Garajonay National Park analyzed 1158 samples across a chronosequence of burnt areas (5 to 57 years post-fire) and compared them with old-growth unburnt stands. The research found that climate and forest structure play crucial roles in recolonization, often overshadowing the time since fire as the primary influential factor. Bryophytes, key regulators of water cycling and microclimate, exhibit distinct responses to fire events, highlighting their importance in post-fire management and understanding ecosystem resilience.

  Cedrés-Perdomo, R. D., Hernández-Hernández, R., Emerson, B. C., & González-Mancebo, J. M. (2023). Multiple responses of bryophytes in a chronosequence of burnt areas in non-fire prone subtropical cloud forests. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 58, 125702. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppees.2022.125702

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• Ecological assembly of natural soundscapes in the Garajonay National Park (Spain)

  Soundscapes in Garajonay National Park, home to Europe's only well-preserved primary cloud forests, reveal nuanced acoustic assembly mechanisms that differ between mature and transitional forests. Mature forests exhibit stronger acoustic aggregation and niche partitioning, with higher acoustic diversity indices (ADI), while transitional forests show elevated lower-frequency sound levels. Notably, acoustic niche partitioning weakens as ADI increases, suggesting less temporal avoidance of similar frequencies in more diverse soundscapes. Seasonal comparisons indicate that burned areas are most vulnerable during harsh summer conditions but resemble intact vegetation in terms of ADI and sound levels during winter. These findings underscore the potential of soundscape monitoring to inform conservation strategies and restoration efforts in this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  Ortiz-Álvarez, R., García-Puig, M., & Garate, L. (2022). Ecological assembly of natural soundscapes in the Garajonay National Park (Spain). https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.12.21.521439

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• The Soil Microbiome of the Laurel Forest in Garajonay National Park (La Gomera, Canary Islands): Comparing Unburned and Burned Habitats after a Wildfire

  A wildfire dramatically alters the soil microbiome of Garajonay National Park's laurel forest, reducing species richness and diversity while shifting bacterial community composition. Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria dominated unburned soils, but burned areas saw significant decreases in these groups alongside a surge in Betaproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes. The study compared microbial communities across two topographical positions—slope and ridge crest—in both undisturbed and post-fire habitats, revealing the fire's profound impact on this unique subtropical ecosystem.

  Villadas, P. J., Díaz-Díaz, S., Rodríguez-Rodríguez, A., del Arco-Aguilar, M., Fernández-González, A. J., Pérez-Yépez, J., Arbelo, C., González-Mancebo, J. M., Fernández-López, M., & León-Barrios, M. (2019). The Soil Microbiome of the Laurel Forest in Garajonay National Park (La Gomera, Canary Islands): Comparing Unburned and Burned Habitats after a Wildfire. Forests, 10(12), 1051. https://doi.org/10.3390/f10121051

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• The restoration of the endangered Sambucus palmensis after 30 years of conservation actions in the Garajonay National Park: genetic assessment and niche modeling

  A genetic analysis of the endangered Canary Islands endemic Sambucus palmensis reveals that 30 years of conservation efforts, primarily through translocation using cuttings, have successfully increased population heterozygosity while preserving unique genetic diversity. The study, conducted in Garajonay National Park (La Gomera), genotyped 402 samples from restored and natural populations using seven microsatellite markers. While clonal reproduction remains prevalent due to propagation methods, the Liria population emerged as a critical genetic reservoir. Species distribution modeling identified new suitable reintroduction areas, guiding future conservation strategies. The findings underscore the effectiveness of targeted reinforcement while highlighting the importance of preserving native genetic variation.

  Rodríguez-Rodríguez, P., Fernández de Castro, A. G., & Sosa, P. A. (2018). The restoration of the endangered Sambucus palmensis after 30 years of conservation actions in the Garajonay National Park: genetic assessment and niche modeling. PeerJ, 6, e4985. Portico. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.4985

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• Short‐ and long‐term effects of fire in subtropical cloud forests on an oceanic island

  Subtropical cloud forests, such as those found in Garajonay National Park on La Gomera Island, Spain, show significant vulnerability to fire with recovery taking decades. A study comparing burned and unburned plots from fires dating back to 1960 revealed that structural complexity and species composition in burned areas had only recovered to about 40% and 35%, respectively, of their pre-fire states even after long periods. Burned plots exhibited higher tree density, more pioneer species, and greater daily fluctuations in temperature and humidity. The research highlights the prolonged recovery time required for these ecosystems and suggests increased susceptibility to subsequent fires, emphasizing the need for effective fire management strategies.

  Bello‐Rodríguez, V., Gómez, L. A., Fernández López, Á., Del‐Arco‐Aguilar, M. J., Hernández‐Hernández, R., Emerson, B., & González‐Mancebo, J. M. (2018). Short‐ and long‐term effects of fire in subtropical cloud forests on an oceanic island. Land Degradation & Development, 30(4), 448–458. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.3237

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