Conservation Status of the Listed Marine Fossil Sites in the Macizo de Anaga Biosphere Reserve (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain)

Owing to their characteristics and origins, palaeontological objects should indeed be considered within the scope of natural heritage, since they are natural items not arising from human action. However, in the Canary Islands, they are dependent on historical heritage legislation. The fossil record of the Canaries is exceptional and important, since it has been preserved in the context of active oceanic volcanic islands. The first fossils found in the archipelago are marine, belonging to the Jurassic period and they extend up to the Holocene. These fossil sites can be considered a non-renewable resource with a high risk of disappearance, which we should know how to conserve and protect. To this effect, the marine palaeontological sites of Anaga were assessed. Each of the sites were therefore rated in terms of scientific, sociocultural and socioeconomic value, as well as the damage risks, as part of the goal of documenting their exact present state. The heritage assessment applied 26 criteria, to maintain objectivity. Results show the high-risk level the palaeontological sites are under, as well as its general importance (they scored more than 1.9 out of 3 points). The fossil site of Tachero has the highest heritage value and stands out in most of the applied parameters. Results also contribute to the idea that palaeobiological conservation is useful to preserve current biodiversity. Aided by this assessment, the value of the palaeontological resources of the Canary Islands will help diversifying tourismand enhancing the sustainable economic growth of the archipelago.