Macaronesia is the collective name given to five chains of islands situated in the west central area of the North Atlantic Ocean. The islands are: the Azores, Madeira, the Selvagens, the Canary Islands and Cape Verde.

According to the former C.E.I.C. (Icona Canary Island Ecological Centre) data from March, 1984, there are a total of 1919 species of plants in Spain, of which 505 are endemic Canary Island species.

Concerning the fauna, in the Canary Islands, there are more than 6000 species of invertebrates and 109 species of vertebrates, 20 of these latter species were introduced by man.

Despite its small size (2034 Km2), even though it is the largest of the group, Tenerife has a surprisingly rich biological diversity due to its special climate.The rugged terrain of the island locally modifies the general weather conditions, generating a wide range of micro-climates.

The abundance of micro-climates, and, therefore, natural habitats, is clearly reflected in the rich and varied vegetation to be found on the island (1400 species of higher plants, including many species endemic to the Canary Islands (200) and to Tenerife (140).

A heritage of 140 plant species that are exclusive to Tenerife gives the island the greatest wealth of endemic species in the whole of Macaronesia.

The combined action of all the different weather-related agents on the variety of volcanic materials has also led to a wide range of soil types.

The influence of all these different factors has generated a whole variety of habitats that shelter many different communities of plants and animals, whose interactions constitute the outstanding ecosystems of Tenerife.