Biodiversidad Terrestre

Terrestrial Threats

1. VOLUNTARY OR ACCIDENTAL INTRODUCTION OF INVASIVE VEGETAL OR ANIMAL SPECIES

Until today there are no report stating that any animal species has been introduced accidentally to the island. However, it is very important that tourist visitors and the Navy personal be very careful when landing with their personal belongings and the food in order to prevent such threat. We don’t know, for example, if the fern species was introduced in the 60s decade. According to the information provided by the people that had visited the island in the past , the fern was not present in the island before.

2. ROCK EROSION CAUSED BY ROCK CLIMBING AND WALKS

Even though main causes of erosion in the island are the strong winds, the rain, and the effect of waves on the rocks. It is necessary to clarify that rock climbing and walks may increase the threat.

3. VOLUNTARY DEGRADATION

There were graffitis made in the past by the fishing boats and by members of the navy that were performing national sovereignty commissions before the area was declared protected. The paints that are used to do such graffitis are not only damaging the seascape,they also don´t permit the growth of moss, algae, líchens and other vegetal species, that are so important for the development of the other species such as insects, crabs, lizards, and geckos. Without this escarse vegetation, part of the fauna in the island couldn´t exist. Walking through the vegetation is also a threat for the preservation of the terrestrial fauna. Nowadays, this is a past threat since the Navy personnelis receiving training regarding the environmental importance of the island and these practices are no longer performed.

4. TERRESTRIAL FAUNA PERTURBATION

Disturbing the fauna and the habitat where species reproduce themselves in the island is a big threat for the conservation of the local environment. It can directly affect the new births of the resident populations

5. WASTE MANAGEMENT

If not treated well, garbage generated by Navy personnel can cause some problems to the resident fauna. Because food is scarce in the Island, crabs, birds and lizard can easily eat anthropogenic trash. This cause a change not only in their behavior, but also in their eating habits. Today the garbage produced in the island is getting sorted and returned to the mainland to be processed in the Naval base in Malaga.

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