Mijas Forrest

The massive forest inthe Sierra de Mijas is composed of a pine forest repopulated in themid-twentieth century, with mesquite, oak and olive trees and typicalMediterranean scrub: thyme; rosemary; almoraduz; matagallo; lavender; fennel;gordolobo; and palmito. Among the highlights are clear forest orchids

The fauna of theforest are great tits, robins, piquituertos, herrerillos, other small birds,and owls. Inhabiting the peaks are kestrels and golden eagles and alongside theroads are mammals represented by the genet, the dormouse and the ibex.

The coast of Mijas contains a substance which promotes a large marinebiodiversity in species that coexist in European, African, Mediterraneanand Atlantic waters. The seabed of Calahonda was listed as a Site of CommunityInterest (SCI) in June 2006 to ensure conservation of habitats and species, andfor this reason measures which are preventive, remedial and compensatory are inplace.

The coast of Calahonda ishighlighted by the importance and richness of flowering meadows. Also, thisbeach is home to unspoiled stretches where vegetation flourishes, especiallyPosidonia Oceanica. Sierra de Mijas and other parts of the municipal territory have sufferedfrequent fires, both accidental and intentional.

Urban pressures are the mainthreats to nature conservation land of Mijena. For its part,the planned construction of a marina in the town and the future desalinationpresents the greatest risk to marine ecology.