Clima Zone Pine Woods Laurisilva Forests Banana

1. Clima Zone

Even if La Palma covers only a very small surface, there are very different clima as well as vegetation zones. This is supported from the different levels of altitude.

We can split them roughly into those fife zones:

1.1. Cost

In this zone you can find the "Siempreviva del mar, lechuga de mar as well as Tajinastes.

1.2. 100 - 200 msl (300-600ft)

This zone hosts a lot of different euphorbias .

1.3. 200 - 1000 msl (600-3000ft)

This zone is the host of a very broad population such as asparagus, ficus euphorbias, cactus, palm trees as well as the famous dragos.

1.4. 1000 - 1800 msl (3000-5400 ft)

This is the zone of the canarian pine woods.

1.5. > 1800 msl (>5400 ft)

Alpine zone with only few canarian pine trees .

2. Pine Woods

After the conquest of the island la Palma after the year 1493, the pine forests underwent a deforstation. This very good wood has been used to build churches, houses and boats. Also the need for more land for cultivation purposes did support this deforstation and resulted finally in what we see today, the pine forests are mainly in altitudes of > 1000msl (3000 ft). hardly to imagine that those forests once covered all vegetation zones down to the sea.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, this deforstation was slowed down and is totally prohibited as of today. This prohibition is only valid for the canarian pine forests but not for all other forests. You will find the real old pine wood forests in the National reserve Caldera. Due to the shape of the caldera, it was close to impossible to use those forests commercially.

The canarian pine wood is growing very fast and it is very resistant. Even after heavy burning, it is starting to live again shortly afterwards.

The Laurisilva forests is a real relic. It is of great botanical interes but is also very important for the water recources of the island. The leaves of the trees in contact with the frequent mists and in addition with the combination of the wind does support the so called horizontal rain. This is very importand to supply the many springs with the neccessary water supply.

The Laurisilva forests are maily in the nord- east of the island. They are also hosting a very broad range of other plants. To hike in the shadow of those trees in not only very nice during hot days.

The special shape of the island is resulting in good water recources and this is the base for the many Banana farmers on the island. Bananas are monocultivated at many places. Unfortunately, they use a lot of insecticides as well as other chemical agents to grow the plants. If you take into condiseration that one kg of Bananas needs 1000 l of water, you should raise the question whether this monocultic farming makes sense or should be bether done in tropical regions. Palma Bananas are relatively small but very sweet. They are much more sensitive for transport than the caribian once. This is why they are onle be sold in the european comunity. The eurpean comunity is in addition supporting the farmers with grants.

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