The municipality of Granadilla de Abona, in the southern part of Tenerife, is home to the protected area known as the Montaa Roja special nature reserve. It is one of the best instances of inorganic sand ecosystems on the island, where wetlands are also present, and has a surface area of 166 ha. The Montaa Roja volcano, which is 171 metres tall, stands out among the other volcanoes in the reserve. The recent volcanic cone and the vast sand dunes and beaches that spread out throughout the region form an ensemble that has significant landscape significance.

With more than 136 plant species, some of which are endangered, the reserve has significant floristic value. The balancón, a species that frequently grows on the coastal dunes, the lechetreznas, which are diminutive tabaibas, the meleras, the treintanudos, etc., are among the species in the area. Cardoncillos, sweet tabaib, and some cardones are among the tabaibal vegetation.

Sandpipers (Calidris alpina), plovers (Charadrius alexandrinus), godwits (Limosa lapponica), curlews (Numenius phaeopus), and other waders use the coastal strip, which is dominated by beaches, shallows, and supralittoral lagoons, as major wintering and migrating grounds (Tringa totanus). Little egrets (Egretta garzetta), terns (Sterna), and various gull species (Larus) can also be observed.

With frequent sightings of the Tawny Pipit (Anthus berthelotii), Black-winged Warbler (Sylvia conspicillata), Hoopoe (Upupa epops), Bullfinch (Bucanetes githagineus), and Rufous-rumped Sandpiper (Lanius meridionalis), the interior is home to an interesting avifauna typical of dry regions (Calandrella rufescens). Here, the Cursorius cursor (Cursorius cursor) and the curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) have both been seen sometimes.

Given that this species has vanished from the Los Cristianos and Las Américas coasts due to habitat destruction and human presence, this region is the last remaining bastion where the kentish plover can breed in the province.

Invertebrates, many of which are indigenous, are also abundant in the fauna. Particularly noteworthy are the Pimelia beetle species that are unique to this region.