LIFE III
LIFE and endangered plants
Conserving Europe’s threatened flora
European Commission
Environment Directorate-General
LIFE (“The Financial Instrument for the Environment”) is a programme launched by the European Commission and coordinated
by the Environment Directorate-General (LIFE Unit - E.4).
The contents of the publication “LIFE and endangered plants: Conserving Europe’s threatened flora” do not necessarily reflect
the opinions of the institutions of the European Union.
Authors: João Pedro Silva (Technical expert), Justin Toland, Wendy Jones, Jon Eldridge, Edward Thorpe, Maylis Campbell,
Eamon O’Hara (Astrale GEIE-AEIDL, Communications Team Coordinator). Managing Editor: Philip Owen, European Commission,
Environment DG, LIFE Unit – BU-9, 02/1, 200 rue de la Loi, B-1049 Brussels. LIFE Focus series coordination: Simon Goss (LIFE
Communications Coordinator), Evelyne Jussiant (DG Environment Communications Coordinator). The following people also
worked on this issue: Piotr Grzesikowski, Juan Pérez Lorenzo, Frank Vassen, Karin Zaunberger, Aixa Sopeña, Georgia Valaoras,
Lubos Halada, Mikko Tira, Michele Lischi, Chloé Weeger, Katerina Raftopoulou. Production: Monique Braem. Graphic design:
Daniel Renders, Anita Cortés (Astrale GEIE-AEIDL). Acknowledgements: Thanks to all LIFE project beneficiaries who contributed
comments, photos and other useful material for this report. Photos: Unless otherwise specified; photos are from the respective
projects. This issue of LIFE Focus is published in English with a print-run of 5,000 copies and is also available online.
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Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2007
ISBN 978-92-79-08815-5
ISSN 1725-5619
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LIFE Focus
I
LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
I
p. Patrick Murphy
Plants are vital to almost every aspect of our daily lives. They provide us with food, fibres, medicines, fuel, shelter,
clothing and the air we breathe. Many animal species are also directly dependent on plants for their survival.
Plants are essential constituents of ecosystems and play a key role in the Earth’s system.
Europe is blessed with a high rate of diversity, but, despite their undeniable importance, plants everywhere are
under threat. Some 21% of Europe’s vascular plant species (flowering plants, conifers and ferns) are classified as
threatened according to the IUCN. Half of the continent’s 4,700 vascular plant endemics are in danger of extinction and 64 have already become extinct. In a number of European countries more than two-thirds of the existing
plant habitats types are endangered. Major land-use changes from agriculture and forestry, habitat destruction,
fragmentation and degradation, direct impacts by economic activities and invasive alien species are all rapidly
eroding our plant communities. Climate change will further aggravate these pressures.
LIFE, the financial instrument for the environment, has been a cornerstone of plant conservation efforts, especially
within the boundaries of the Natura 2000 network.
In total, from 1992-2007 some 970 projects received EU co-funding under the LIFE-Nature component of the
LIFE programme. Although only 33 of these projects directly targeted the conservation of plants listed under the
annexes of the Habitats Directive, a far greater number of projects targeted plant conservation within a broader
context – for example, under habitat actions, Natura 2000 network site management plans, or more general
actions.
This brochure explores the challenges for conservation of Europe’s endangered plants and highlights the role of
the LIFE programme in helping to halt biodiversity loss, and to restore threatened habitats and natural systems.
From Romania to northern Finland, France’s Seine Valley to Spain’s Sierra Nevada mountains, the Mediterranean
to Macaronesia, LIFE has supported a range of successful projects, helping to restore habitats and protecting
endangered plants.
LIFE has also helped to promote a new concept – the plant micro-reserve (PMR) – first developed in the Spanish
region of Valencia, and since successfully implemented in Slovenia and the island of Crete (see pp. 17-22).
Now, LIFE+, with a budget of over €2 billion, will continue to offer robust support to the conservation of plant
species and of biodiversity in general across Europe.
Preventing the disappearance of so many species of plants is one of the major challenges that must be addressed
in order to achieve the goal of halting the loss of Europe’s biodiversity.
Patrick Murphy
Head of Unit – Nature & Biodiversity
European Commission, DG Environment
Background to Europe’s
wild plants.................... 3
European wild plants:
status and threats.............. 3
European biodiversity
policy and plant
conservation..................... 5
LIFE’s contribution to
EU plant conservation ..... 7
Endangered plants in
general.......................... 9
Finland: Stakeholder
participation in managing
endangered plant
populations...................... 10
Plant micro-reserves:
from concept to
implementation............... 17
Greece: Conservation
of endangered flora on
Crete............................... 20
Mediterranean flora.... 23
Cyprus: Conservation of
unique flora and
habitats........................... 24
Italy: Conserving
the ‘critically endangered’
Sicilian fir and helping to
ensure its long-term
survival........................... 27
France: Saving two
Norman plants................. 12
Spain: Protecting
extraordinary biodiversity
in the Sierra Nevada....... 30
Germany: Grassland
protection in Bavaria ...... 14
Macaronesian flora..... 31
Portugal: Managing and
preserving Asphodelus
bento-rainhae.................. 16
Spain: Conserving five
priority species in
the Canary Islands.......... 32
Portugal: Restoring
Madeira’s laurel forest.... 34
Restoration of
habitats....................... 37
Austria: Lake Constance
forget-me-not flourishes
in Bregenz once more
thanks to LIFE-Nature.... 38
Germany: Protecting and
developing the Benningen
Marsh............................. 41
Romania: Conserving
forest habitats, preventing
soil erosion and guarding
against avalanches......... 42
Czech Republic: Preserving
the beauty and biodiversity
of the Moravian Karst..... 45
Further projects
focusing on wetlands... 46
List of available LIFE
publications.................... 49
Background to Europe’s wild plants
LIFE Focus
I
LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
I
p. European wild plants:
status and threats
The disappearance and declining populations of many endangered plant species presents the
European Union with one of its greatest conservation challenges. Efforts have focused on habitat
loss and degradation, introductions of invasive alien species, pollution and disease, and climate
change.
tainous areas around the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. The floras
of Spain, Greece, Italy, Bulgaria and
Romania support the highest numbers of both endemic and endangered
plant species.
Europe’s flora is one of the best known
in the world and has been shaped by
human interventions for many hundreds of years. However, the accelerated pace of industrialisation in recent
decades, together with major land-use
changes, has resulted in European
plants today being considered among
the most threatened in the world.
According to the World Conservation
Union (IUCN), some 21% of Europe’s
vascular plant species are classified as
threatened and half of the continent’s
4,700 vascular plant endemics are in
danger of extinction. In a number of
European countries more than twothirds of the existing plant habitat
types are endangered.
Wild plants in Europe are under severe
threat, and significant losses of plant
species and habitat have taken place.
Although being a subject of concern,
plant conservation tends to receive
less media coverage than conservation of other threatened groups, such
as big mammals (for example, lynxes
and whales) and bird species. The
public is, however, concerned about
wild plants disappearing from the local
countryside.
Photo: R.Jardim, J.B.Madeira – LIFE99 NAT/P/006431
Europe’s varied geography and climate provides a vast range of habitats
that support more than 12,500 vascular plants (flowering plants, conifers
and ferns). Centres of particularly
high plant diversity include the moun-
Convolvulus massonii: highly threatened by habitat loss
Threats
The main factors that have contributed to the progressive decline of
European plant diversity are:
Habitat loss and degradation
Habitat loss is the primary cause of
species loss at local, regional and global scales. Urban development, overdrafting of groundwater, road building,
recreation, forest fires, agriculture and
tree logging all destroy and degrade
plant’s natural habitats. It is estimated
that habitat destruction from human
activity is the primary cause of risk
for 83% of endangered plant species.
Habitat loss is harmful not only to a
single species, but to whole communities and ecosystems. According to
the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), it has been estimated
that by the year 2032, more than 70%
of the land’s surface will have been
destroyed or disturbed. Habitat loss
is also a problem because it leads to
the fragmentation of the remaining
habitat resulting in further isolation of
plant populations.
Introductions of Invasive Alien
Species (IAS)
Aliens are not science fiction, but a
nature conservation fact. An “alien” is
any species that is moved by humans
to an area outside of its native range. In
the vast majority of cases, these species will not survive because they are
not adapted to the new area. Nevertheless, in a minority of cases, a
species will be able to survive in its
new location and sometimes will
even thrive in a new location. “Invasive” species are those that spread
quickly to become very common and
dominant in the new habitat, posing a
great threat to native species throughout Europe. Particularly vulnerable are
European island ecosystems (especially in the Macaronesian and Mediterranean biogeographical regions),
due to their long-standing isolation.
For example, Rhododendron ponticum
from the Iberian Peninsula and Turkey
is an ornamental flowering shrub that
has invaded the UK acid woods and
heathland causing problems in many
important oak forests on the West
coast of Scotland. In addition to the
environmental consequences, invasive
alien species may also have significant
changes on European flora – such as
changes in the distribution of species,
flowering times etc. – are forecast to
be most pronounced in mountainous
areas and in the Mediterranean and
Pannonian biogeographical regions.
Climate change poses an enormous
challenge to the conservation and
management of the plant species and
habitats both within and outside the
Natura 2000 network.
economical and social impacts.
and a vital resource (i.e., in maintaining carbon dioxide and oxygen equilibrium in the atmosphere). In addition
to the small number of crop plants
used for basic food and fibres, many
thousands of wild plants have considerable economic and cultural importance and potential, providing food,
fuel, clothing, shelter and medicine.
Pollution and disease
Pollution is the release of chemical,
physical, biological or radioactive
contaminants in the environment. It is
sometimes not visible to the naked eye
and can disperse through air, water and
other mediums into which it is emitted.
As a result, its direct effects, especially
on plant life, can sometimes be hard
to spot. Pollution is a big problem for
plants. For example, Pesticides are
designed to allow farmers to increase
their yields (and gardeners to keep
out weeds), but their misuse and
over-application can adversely affect
wild plants in the area. The misuse of
insecticides also affects plants, as it
can impact on the populations of pollinators (such as bees) that some plants
need to reproduce. Soils can also be
contaminated with heavy metals, which
few plants can tolerate. At the very least
contamination will cause reduced plant
production and ecosystems become
more vulnerable to other threats.
Climate change
More recently, Europe’s plants are
facing an unequivocal warming of the
climate. According to the latest projections more than half of the plant species
assessed could be vulnerable or threatened by 2080. The impact of climatic
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et al. (2005) “Climate change
threats to plant diversity in Europe”.
Importance of plants: their
goods and services
Plants are universally recognised as
an essential part of biological diversity
An estimated 50,000 - 70,000 plant
species are used in medicines
throughout the world. They make an
essential contribution to healthcare
and provide an important source of
income in rural areas.
Photo: LIFE
Background to Europe’s wild plants
Plants are valued for many reasons,
including aesthetics: Lady’s slipper
orchid (Cypripedium calceolus)
The vast majority of medicinal and
aromatic plant species used today
is collected from the wild. Unfortunately, such a practice can sometimes
result in unsustainable practices. For
example, wolf’s bane (Arnica montana), used to treat sprains, bruises,
and muscle aches, and great yellow
gentian (Gentiana lutea) are harvested
throughout Europe (especially in Bulgaria and Romania). These plants
are included in Annex V of the Habitats Directive, which identifies plants
(and animals) requiring management
measures because of exploitation
concerns.
Effects of climate change on plant diversity:
Species are ‘left behind’ as they are unable to change their distribution fast enough.
Species with long life cycles and/or slow dispersal are particularly vulnerable.
Some isolated species are particularly vulnerable, as they may have ‘nowhere
to go’. These include:
l A rctic and alpine species, and island endemics.
l C oastal species which are ‘squeezed’ between human settlements and rising
sea levels.
l P lant genetic composition may change in response to the selection pressure
of climate change.
l S ome plant communities or species associations may be lost as species
move and adapt at different rates.
l Increased invasions by alien species may occur, as conditions become more
suitable for exotic species while native species become less suited to their
environment.
l M any plant communities act as ‘sinks’ (store carbon), which helps to offset
carbon emissions. However, over the next 70 years, the effects of climate
change on plants mean many terrestrial sinks may become sources, for
example the bogs.
Background to Europe’s wild plants
LIFE Focus
I
LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
I
p. European Biodiversity Policy
and plant conservation
The EU has introduced a framework for action and made key pledges to safeguard the continent’s rich biodiversity. It has created a network of protected sites, Natura 2000, which focuses
on endangered plant species, and recently outlined its commitment to halting the loss of biodiversity in the EU and to restoring habitats and natural systems.
European heads of state agreed at
the 2001 summit in Gothenburg to
halt biodiversity loss by 2010. The
following year, the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
and some 130 world leaders commit-
sites, and that effective conservation
and sustainable use of biodiversity,
and the maintenance of essential
ecosystem services, also requires
action in the wider countryside. For
plants, such action is provided for by
loss by 2010. Many of the biodiversityrich habitats in need of conservation
are situated in, or close to, agricultural
land, where inappropriate agricultural
practices have reduced biological
diversity. The presence of some plant
ted themselves to a significant reduction in the rate of biodiversity loss by
the same target date. A Commission
Communication of May 2006, “Halting the Loss of Biodiversity by 2010
– and Beyond”, [COM(2006)216 .
reconfirmed Europe’s commitment to
implementation of the CBD.
specific requirements in the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and more
generally by the integration of biodiversity concerns into agricultural and
other policies.
species and habitats that are dependent on extensive farming, for example,
has declined in recent decades.
Two particular threats to EU biodiversity are highlighted in the Communication. First, “spatial development”, for
which Member States have a particular
responsibility, through improved planning, to reconcile development needs
with the conservation of biodiversity
and maintenance of ecosystem services. The second threat is the potential
impact of climate change, where rising
temperatures are already having a biological impact, including earlier timing
of spring events, and poleward and
upward shifts in ranges in plant, as well
as animal species.
The EU approach recognises that biodiversity is not evenly spread, and that
certain species are more at risk than
others. Consequently, it affords special attention to the protection of sites
of highest nature value and species
most at risk included in the Habitats
and Birds directives. However, this
approach also recognises that much
biodiversity resides outside these
� http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/
biodiversity/comm2006/index_en.htm
The 2001 Biodiversity Action Plan for
Agriculture (COM/2001/0162) aims to
reduce the negative impacts of farming
practices by promoting the sustainable
use of biological resources. It is one
of the four biodiversity action plans,
covering 1) conservation of natural
resources, 2) agriculture, 3) fisheries,
and 4) economic and development cooperation outside Europe, included in
the EU’s Sixth Environmental Action
Programme (6th EAP), approved by
the Council of Ministers in 2001. It also
has the goal of stemming biodiversity
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LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:1992L0043:
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l28024.htm
EU Rural Development Policy (Council
Reg (EC) No.1257/1999) aims to reconcile agriculture with the objectives of
the EU nature conservation policy. This
goal is achieved by financing agri-environmental measures that go beyond
the usual good farming practices and
that have a direct impact on the conservation of European flora, particularly
through the maintenance of extensive
� http://www.ndp.ie/documents/publications/reg_cir/CR12571999.pdf
Bogs: a priority for conservation habitat
important for certain plant species,
such as the insectivorous sundew
(Drosera rotundifolia)
Background to Europe’s wild plants
As well as the plant species included
II of the directive, there are
habitats that are characterised by high
rates of endemic plants, which are nor areas. These
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Annexes I (natural
tend to be dominated by a particular
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plant species and often
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and
plant species of Community interfied as “priority natural habitat types”
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under the directive. For example, the
endangered golden oak (Quercus
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Figure II: Annex II plant species
by biogeographical region
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Source: European Topic Centre for Biodiversity (ETC), 2007
)NVERTEBRATES
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Source: ETC, 2004 - excludes Black Sea & Steppic regions (Bulgaria, Romania)
Figure I: EU-27 plant and animal species listed
in Annex II of the Habitats Directive
)NVERTEBRATES
Finally, Article 13 of the Habitats Directive requires that Member States should
also establish both within and outside
the Natura 2000 network, a system of
strict protection of endangered plant
species included in Annex lV (b) by prohibiting the “deliberate picking, collecting, cutting, uprooting or destruction”
of such plants in their natural range in
the wild; and the “keeping, transport
and sale or exchange” of specimens
of such species taken in the wild.
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in Annex
0LANTS
considered a priority for conservation.
For example, important endangered
orchid species (e.g., genus Ophrys)
are dependent on calcareous substrate
semi-natural dry grasslands or forests
(e.g., Cypripedium calceolus).
-EDITERRANEAN
The Habitats Directive has focused on
the requirement of Member States to
establish a network of special areas
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(SACs) that, together
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the special protection areas
(SPAs) designated under the Birds
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Natura 2000 network.
across Europe is not even. A full 60%
of the plant species included in Annex
II occur within the Mediterranean and
Macaronesian regions, according to
the reference lists for biogeographical
regions (EU-25).
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-ACARONESIAN
The distribution of plant diversity
Natura 2000 network and
plant conservation
Other habitat types with broader distribution are also very important for some
plant species such as orchids. The dry
to semi-dry calcareous grasslands habitat (6210), which is widely distributed
around Europe, can be home to important populations of rare orchid species.
Where this is the case, the habitat is
#ONTINENTAL
Annex II identifies 324 animal species
whose conservation requires the designation of SACs. However, the number
of plant species listed is much higher
– 587, or 64%, of the total (see Fig.1).
Moreover, some 204 (80%) of listed
plant species are priority – compared
with just 51 for animals.
and low forest vegetation with Quercus
alnifolia (9390*); the rock rose (Cistus
palhinhae) is the main species within
maritime wet heath formations (5140*)
in the southwest of Portugal; and sea
grass (Posidonia oceanica) is the main
species within Mediterranean sea
grass habitats (1120*).
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The recent reforms of the Common
Agricultural Policy (CAP) have also enabled further integration of biodiversity
concerns into agricultural policy and
the 2008 review of the CAP provides
an important opportunity to further
strengthen and support measures for
farmland and forest biodiversity. For
example, national statutory requirements derived from EU directives covering birds, habitats, nitrates and pesticides are now included in the accepted
standards for good farming practice.
est) to the Habitats Directive list the
habitats and species whose conservation requires the designation of SACs.
Some of them are defined as “priority”
habitats or species (in danger of disappearing).
!TLANTIC
systems and support for agriculture in
Natura 2000 zones.
Background to Europe’s wild plants
LIFE Focus
I
LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
I
p. LIFE’s contribution
to EU plant conservation
Since its beginning in 1992, LIFE1, the financial instrument for the environment, has been a cornerstone of plant conservation efforts in Europe, especially within the boundaries of the Natura 2000
network of protected sites. Now with the launch of LIFE+2, the new financial instrument for the
environment, with an overall budget of €2 billion, LIFE will continue to offer robust support to the
protection of plant species in Europe.
the conservation of plants listed under
the annexes of the Habitats Directive, a far greater number of projects
targeted plant conservation within a
broader context – for example, under
habitat actions, Natura 2000 network
site management plans, or more general actions.
Under LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity,
projects targeting plants and habitats
within and outside Natura 2000 may
be financed. ‘LIFE+ Nature’ will cofinance best practice or demonstration projects contributing to the implementation of the Birds and Habitats
directives; and ‘LIFE+ Biodiversity’
will co-finance innovative or demonstration projects contributing to the
implementation of the objectives of
the Commission’s 2006 Communication “Halting the loss of biodiversity by
2010 – and beyond”.
Geographic distribution of
LIFE projects targeting plants
As mentioned in the previous article,
‘European Biodiversity Policy and
plant conservation’ (pp.5-6), the distribution of plant diversity across Europe
is not even – almost two-thirds of the
plant species listed under Annex II of
the Habitats Directive are restricted
to the Mediterranean and Macaronesian biogeographical regions. It is
no surprise therefore that the largest
contribution of LIFE projects targeting
objectives often involves carrying out
complex actions, which differ considerably according to each individual plant
species targeted by the project. As a
consequence, a number of the projects
Photo: LIFE00 NAT/IT/007239
In total, from 1992-2006 some 970
projects received EU co-funding
under the LIFE-Nature component of
the LIFE programme. Although only
33 of these projects directly targeted
featured over the following pages benefited from close collaboration with
stakeholders and from national and
international partnerships.
LIFE projects often target more than
one endangered plant species
plant species is located in the southern European countries.
LIFE plant project actions
A particular characteristic of LIFE plant
projects, a number of which have been
selected to highlight the different sections of this brochure, is that such
projects typically have highly specific
objectives (e.g. many target endemic,
or very rare species). Meeting these
Some common characteristics of
LIFE-Nature projects targeting plants
are projects:
l targeting several plant species – with
different ecological requirements,
habitats and locations
l ������������������������������������
focusing on very restricted species
populations – with few individuals
and often targeting very small areas
e.g. one Natura 2000 site or a group
of sites
1 LIFE I, II and III (1992-2006)
2 LIFE+ (2007-2013)
LIFE and Invasive Alien Species (IAS)
Invasive alien species (IAS) are acknowledged as one of the main threats to biodiversity, together with habitats loss and fragmentation. Reducing the impact on EU
biodiversity of invasive species is one of the objectives identified in the European
Commission’s Communication on Biodiversity.
The issue of invasive species was specifically addressed by a LIFE-Nature project
in Madeira, Portugal that involved the removal of over 850 tonnes of Kahili ginger
(Hedychium gardnerianum) plant material from an area covering 165 ha. The Kahili
ginger is an ornamental plant introduced to local gardens in Madeira in the 1930s,
but which now runs wild throughout the island, displacing the native Macaronesian
laurel forest, a priority Natura 2000 habitat. Like the Kahili ginger, the Carpobrotus
edulis from South Africa, with its beautiful flowers, was planted in gardens very
far away from its native soil. The diverse coastal plant habitats of Minorca, Spain
have been particularly hard hit by this uncontrolled IAS. Thanks to a Spanish LIFENature project (LIFE00 NAT/E/007339) this invasive plant was successfully eliminated from the island’s Natura 2000 sites.
Background to Europe’s wild plants
the targeted species or habitats. But
in general, the projects include:
l P reparatory actions: such as
the preparation of surveys, mapping, definition of seedling protocols, genetic analysis, etc. These
actions help to further knowledge
of the targeted species and set out
improved conservation measures.
Projects typically involve partnerships with research institutions
– mainly European botanical gar
dens and the botany departments
of European universities. For
example, the French project LIFE99
NAT/F/006332 contributed to an
increased knowledge of the dry
grasslands of the Seine and Eure
valley habitat of the endangered
monitoring during the project
periods and after-LIFE in order to
assess the longer-term impacts.
Some projects also included species and habitats surveillance (forest fires/collecting/grazing).
l N
etworking: several projects
organised expert meetings dealing with plant conservation and
established contacts with other
LIFE project beneficiaries both on
a national and European level. LIFE
funding also played an important
role in the establishment of partnerships between stakeholders,
managers and scientific personnel, resulting in the establishment
of management and conservation
plans with local support and pro-ACARONESIAN
0ANNONIAN
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#ONTINENTAL
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!TLANTIC
0ROJECTTARGETEDPLANTS
-EDITERRANEAN
Financed actions vary considerably,
depending on the characteristics of
plant species Viola hispida and
Biscutella neustriaca and as a result
the definition of new Natura 2000
sites and management plans.
l L
and or rights acquisition: actions
targeting the protection of plant
populations and conservation of
their habitats in certain locations.
l D
irect conservation actions: for
the conservation of plant species
and their habitats: ex situ – creation
of nurseries, in-vitro propagation,
germoplasm banks – and in situ –
recovery of degraded areas, habitat
restoration, alien species eradication, establishment of fences, etc.
l M
onitoring: included scientific
����������������������������������
combining
local conservation measures (in situ) and off-site actions (ex
situ) such as plant nurseries
l �����������������������������������
increasing plant species knowledge
- by gathering scientific knowledge
(new populations, genetic studies,
etc.) to be used in the development
and implementation of protection,
management or recovery plans
l ��������������������������������
increasing public awareness and
knowledge of plant species – (normally very low) together with the
establishment of partnerships with
stakeholders at local level.
l
viding future sustainability for the
conservation of plant and habitats
within the Natura 2000 network.
l A w a re n e s s - r a i s i n g :
several
projects produced leaflets, monographs or manuals. Projects also
implemented traineeship schemes
and raised awareness among local
stakeholders (farmers, environment
agents, etc), schools and the general public. These actions helped
to improve general knowledge
of Europe’s plant species and to
improve awareness of the importance of their conservation.
LIFE also co-funded the purchase of
equipment needed for plant conservation actions, helping to fund, for
example, the building of nurseries
and the supply of tools and resources
of vital importance to continued local
plant conservation.
Annex II identifies 587 plant species
whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation that together with the special
protection areas designated under
the Birds Directive, make up the
Natura 2000 network. Of these, some
204 (80%) of plant species are priority. Thus looking to the future, under
the new LIFE+ programme there are
plenty of opportunities for LIFE project
applications targeting plants.
.ŽOF0ROJECTS
Figure III: LIFE Nature projects targeting
Annex II plant species
Figure IV: Number of projects by
Biogeographical region (1992-2006)
Only EU member states with projects targeting plant species
0ROJECTTARGETEDPLANTS
.ŽOF0ROJECTS
-ACARONESIAN
-EDITERRANEAN
0ANNONIAN
!LPINE
#ONTINENTAL
!TLANTIC
!USTRIA
(UNGARY
&INLAND
#ZECH2EPUBLIC
3LOVENIA
.ŽOF0ROJECTS
Source: LIFE projects database
.ŽOF!NNEX))TARGETEDPLANTS
'ERMANY
#YPRUS
2OMANIA
&RANCE
)TALY
'REECE
0ORTUGAL
3PAIN
Source: LIFE projects database
"OREAL
LIFE Focus
I
LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
Europe’s native plants have been declining at an alarming rate. They face an
ever-increasing range of threats, from the fragmentation of their habitats to pressures resulting from agriculture, forestry and urban sprawl. Climate change and
the spread of invasive alien species are additional threats. Across Europe, LIFE
Nature has been contributing to the conservation of endangered plant species by
maintaining and restoring their habitats, as well as implementing management
and recovery plans within the framework of the Natura 2000 network. Here we
present some LIFE project examples that are helping combat the loss of Europe’s
plant diversity.
I
p. Endangered plants in general
Finland: Stakeholder participation
in managing endangered
plant populations
An integrated package of proactive LIFE-Nature management measures in Lapland has resulted
in the successful restoration of prioritised biotypes and improved conservation status for two of
Europe’s endangered plant species – lady’s slipper (Cypripedium calceolus) and yellow marsh
saxifrage (Saxifraga hirculus).
Northern Finland is renowned for its
unusual environment that experiences
the midnight sun in summer and a
harsh Arctic chill during winter. These
Europe’s yellow marsh saxifrage is
very sensitive to hydrological changes
and the plant has disappeared from
extensive areas in central and north-
Natura 2000 sites in Kainuu, Northern
Ostrobothnia, and southern and central Lapland.
climatic extremes create a distinctive
set of conditions where a variety of
flora and fauna have thrived in a mix
of different habitats, ranging from wild
boreal forests to treeless alkaline fens
and mires. Recent expansion of commercial forestry is now threatening
some of these natural habitats and
the plant species that they support,
such as the lady’s slipper (Cypripedium calceolus) and yellow marsh
saxifrage (Saxifraga hirculus). Both of
these plants are listed under Annex
IV of the EU Habitats Directive as
important species that require strict
protection.
ern Europe. The lady’s slipper has also
suffered population decline from clear
cutting, soil preparation and plant collection. Loss of marsh habitats and
herb-rich woodland has been particularly problematic and the fate of these
species has been further threatened
in Finland as woodland meadows
become overgrown or taken over by
the spruce (Picea abies).
What did LIFE do?
Population numbers and distribution
of these species have declined steeply
throughout Europe and this trend had,
until recently, continued in Lapland
as habitats were destroyed by forest
clearances or drainage of nutrient-rich
fens for timber production.
Lapland’s Natural Heritage government agency, Metsähallitus, recognised these problems and acknowledged that it had special international
responsibility for the two species,
since Northern Finland hosted a
significant proportion of the plants’
remaining European population. A
LIFE-Nature proposal was developed
to tackle the key issue of habitat loss
and Metsähallitus’s project has had
success in reversing the decline of
these endangered plant species at
Mowing (left) was one of the key actions to recover the populations of S. hirculus (right)
Metsähallitus was aware of the importance of partnership approaches for
securing sustainable benefits from
habitat restoration work and so an
integrated proposal was designed
to include the project’s main stakeholders.
Four main project elements were
developed, covering the following
activities:
l Inventories and restoration plans;
l Land purchase;
l Biotope management actions; and
l Stakeholder awareness.
Preparation work
Inventories were prepared during the
LIFE project’s initial stages, which
identified the location and status of 465
yellow marsh saxifrage colonies and
632 lady’s slipper colonies. This baseline information was then converted
into restoration plans for 19 areas.
The inventory process also generated
important data on other priority plant
species, such as slender green feathermoss (Hamatocaulis vernicosus) and
fairy slipper (Calypso bulbosa).
Preparation of the restoration plans
confirmed the relevance of acquiring
land to ensure appropriate habitat management procedures. A total of 2,172
ha of biotopes was obtained, involving
Endangered plants in general
LIFE Focus
I
LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
I
p. 11
explained. Lady’s slipper’s popularity in Finland was considered to help
engender a positive attitude towards
the commitments required for both
plants’ conservation.
Training materials were distributed to
forestry schools to help broaden the
LIFE project’s benefits and a series
of public information materials were
also produced including interpretation
facilities for visitors at the Natura 2000
sites. Two detailed scientific reports
were prepared, which mapped each
plant’s conservation status and identified a set of recommendations to
improve unfavourable conditions for
both species.
Tree ring barking (left) to reduce shadow and population monitoring of C.calceoulus
What was the outcome?
purchase of 76 plots and swapping of
19 plots. Protection agreements were
acquired on an additional 24 plots to
reinforce the Natura 2000 areas’ ecological unity and provide a firm foundation for the habitat restoration work to
build on.
Conservation in action
Different biotype management actions
were established during the LIFE
project and each action was carefully
tailored to the individual target areas.
A key target referred to rehabilitation of wetland mire habitats, which
involved restoring original hydrological conditions by filling and damming
ditches on land that had previously
been drained for forestry. Some 167
ha of land was restored in this way,
creating considerable coverage of
new natural habitat opportunities for
both lady’s slipper and yellow marsh
saxifrage.
Mowing and clearing of overgrown
sites formed another core component of the LIFE project’s plans.
This involved removal and control
of spruce to open up canopies and
reduce shading. Mowing was carried
out manually in sensitive areas and by
mechanical mowers on larger sites.
Mowing was carefully timed in June
to avoid damage to flower stems that
emerge later in the summer.
These experimental measures generated positive results in terms of
increased numbers of lady’s slipper
flowering shoots in thinned woodlands and broader coverage of yellow marsh saxifrage in the project’s
mowed areas.
Stakeholder commitment
Sustaining the benefits from these
pro-active conservation measures
requires good understanding amongst
all stakeholders about the environmental rationale and practical techniques involved. Metsähallitus was
keen to implement an effective partnership approach to the LIFE project
and exceeded its original intentions
regarding support from the forestry
sector and awareness of the project
amongst the public and media.
Cooperation with forestry stakeholders was strong throughout the project
and this can be highlighted as an
important success factor. Mutual
respect and appreciation were reinforced during special training events
for 350 landowners and forestry
professionals where conservation
techniques for both species were
Metsähallitus considers this LIFENature project to have had a rewarding
and worthwhile outcome. Investments
have been delivered in a carefully
coordinated manner to encourage
on-going sustainability of the conservation work. Stakeholder commitment
has been secured through constructive cooperation with Forest Centres
in North Ostrobothnia, Kainuu and
Lapland. Monitoring of the plant populations will continue as an on-going
activity and results are anticipated to
show that LIFE-Nature support has
been successful in its objective of
stabilising the populations of two of
Europe’s endangered plant species.
Project Number:
LIFE00 NAT/FIN/007059
Title: Conservation of Cypripedium
calceolus and Saxifraga hirculus in
Northern Finland
Beneficiary: Metsähallitus, Natural
Heritage Service Northern Finland
(public authority)
Contact: Arja Vasama
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.metsa.fi/luo/
projektit/lettorikko/
Period: Dec-2000 to May-2005
Total Budget: e 1,900,000
LIFE Contribution: e 950,000
Endangered plants in general
France: Saving two Norman plants
A project to conserve two endangered wildflowers in Normandy significantly raised the level of
interest in these native species and hopes for their long-term survival. It brought together a range
of partners to stop the decline in populations of these species.
ings through traditional grazing up
until the 1960s but have since been
abandoned with the introduction of
modern farming practices. The habitats are home to a wide range of flora
including orchids.
The first step of the project was to
conduct a survey of the populations of
the target species. According to Carine Douville of the Conservatoire des
Sites Naturels de Haute-Normandie,
the project beneficiary, the violet was
particularly threatened and would
have already become extinct without
the intervention of the project. Some
Photo: Arehn
Listed in the Habitats directive, the
endangered species, the Violet of
Rouen (Viola hispida) and Biscutelle
of Neustrie (Biscutella neustriaca), are
found in the calcareous grasslands and
scree on the slopes of the Seine valley. Encroaching brush and woodland
has reduced the size of these habitats. They were maintained as clear-
France’s Seine valley – the unique location of these two plants species
1,500 individuals were found at 10
sites, while a total population of 2,000
Biscutelle was identified at 40 sites. To
be sustainable, the violet would need
to increase its population to 5,000 individuals with at least 100 at each site;
the Biscutelle would require 50 per site.
About the wildflowers
The Violet of Rouen is an annual flowering plant of
5-15 cm high. Its leaves are dark green and covered with tiny short white hairs that give the plant a
velvet-like appearance. Its flowers, which are about
1.5-2 cm high, consist of five petals. The superior
petals are slightly darker and the base of the inferior petal striated black on a
white background. Seeds are contained in a three-valve capsule that opens
when ripe.
The Biscutelle of Neustrie is a perennial with a thick root and is 20-40 cm
in height. The root may divide into several branches creeping under ground
and giving birth to several rosettes of leaves. Its leaves are dark green covered with tiny short, rough,
but not glandulous, hairs. Flowers are about 5 mm
long, bright yellow and consist of four petals and
four sepals, typically crossed. Two big flat seeds
are contained in each fruit. When ripe, seeds fall to
a short distance from the parent plant.
These sites are mostly in the department of Upper Normandy but some are
in Ile-de-France.
What did LIFE do?
EU funding was a major factor in
attracting partners to the conservation
of these habitats. The beneficiary was
supported by the Vexin regional park,
the National Botanical Conservatories
of Bailleul and Bassin, the University
of Rouen and the Agency for Green
Spaces in Île-de-France��������������
���������������������������
. The project
allowed the beneficiary to reintroduce
beneficial grazing practices in sections of grassland that are still in good
condition or that were to be restored.
Restoring sites entailed manually cutting away scrub and trees. On the ����
Île�de-France site, however, the project
partner, the Vexin regional park, purchased a rotary shredder to remove
dense vegetation. Though the grasslands would be grazed using existing
flocks of sheep for the most part, the
project allowed the beneficiary to buy
an additional flock of 100, and where
Endangered plants in general
LIFE Focus
I
LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
I
p. 13
local stockbreeders are still present,
agreements were concluded. “Local
farmers and landowners were cooperative,” says Douville. “Those that look
after the sheep are compensated by
the fencing and maintenance that the
project has provided.”
As well as habitat restoration, the
project planned to attempt conservation of the violet ex situ, and
reintroduce individuals to their former
sites. This aspect of the project was
conducted in partnership with the
National Botanical Conservatories.
One of the major results of the project
has been a significant improvement in
knowledge of dry grassland habitats
in the region. Some 3,000 ha of land
was inventoried in the lower Seine
and Eure valleys, and as a result the
project provided precise and useful data to managers and competent
authorities. Moreover, a further 800 ha
of grassland was added to the Natura
2000 network. Management plans
(called “Documents d’objectifs” in
French) were finalised for several
Natura 2000 sites including coteaux
d’Orival and coteaux de Saint Adrien.
In Normandy, the project purchased
167.5 ha of dry grassland and established management agreements for
a further 334 ha. The biodiversity hot
spots for these orchid-rich habitats
are now under active management.
As a result of the habitat restoration
efforts, 297 ha of land are now grazed.
The populations in all the existing sites
were monitored closely each year the
project ran.
A biological study of the two species
was carried out in order to develop
a suitable conservation strategy. It
was discovered that the violet seeds
have a good germination power even
after a long time. Stripping scree to
recreate favourable conditions for the
violet was tested successfully in one
old site, and will be extended to other
sites corresponding to the species’
historical range. By contrast, seeds
The calcareous screes (left) and grasslands (right) are maintained through grazing and
removal of vegetation
of Biscutelle do not last, so it is not
possible to restore populations on old
sites through the use of the seed bank
remaining in the soil.
One satisfying outcome of the project,
says Douville of the Conservatoire des
Sites Naturels de Haute-Normandie,
is the number of old people that have
commented on how the restoration
of the habitats has brought back
fond memories of how the landscape
used to appear. She also says that
the demand for guided visits to the
areas has steadily increased. The
Conservatoire has erected information display panels and responded to
a high level of media interest in the
project. More than 50 newspaper articles have been written on the conservation work including two articles in
national newspapers. Local television
also reported on the project.
Life after LIFE
The longer term management of
these sites is now being financed by
FEDER, crédits Etat-Région, Ministry of the Environment and Contacts
N2000. However, at the end of the
project, the two target species were
still endangered and, as a result,
preparations for a second LIFE
project began. The main objective of
the follow-on project, which is ongoing, is to ensure the long-term pres-
ervation of the two target species. As
well as restoring and managing their
current habitat locations, it is establishing new locations by restoring
potential sites.
Restoration work includes clearing and grazing some 37 ha of
grassland for Biscutella neustriaca.
For Viola hispida, the restoration
involves carefully removing by hand
vegetation to make the scree mobile,
scorching the remaining vegetation,
and removing the larger stones to
leave only fine scree. Where necessary, individuals will be introduced
to reinforce sparse populations or to
constitute new populations. Isolated
locations will be connected by clearing and grazing 16 ha of “ecologic
corridors”.
Project Number:
LIFE99 NAT/F/006332
Title: Priority species, chalk grasslands and scree in the lower Seine
valley catchment area
Beneficiary: Conservatoire des
Sites Naturels de Haute-Normandie
Contact: Carine Douville
Email:
[email protected]
Period:
April-1999 to September-2003
Total Budget: e 1,166,000
LIFE Contribution: e 1,103,000
Endangered plants in general
Bavaria: Sand grassland protection
Home to the priority species Jurinea cyanoides, the sandy Bavarian grasslands along the great
bend of the River Main, though ecologically rich, are under threat. A LIFE project increased the
available habitats for the priority species, thereby ensuring its survival.
The aim of the LIFE project was to
increase the available habitats for
Jurinea cyanoides so as to ensure
the survival of this species and to
increase the population size. This
goal would be achieved through land
purchase of surrounding properties.
The project focused on two small
areas that are both partly nature
reserves: the Astheimer Dürringswasen and the Sandgrasheiden am
Elgersheimer Hof.
The level of soil nutrients was reduced by a system of crop cycling
Depending on the condition, sections
of land would be left to either natural succession, mowed, ploughed or
scoriated to accelerate the leaching
of nutrients and then in some cases
sowed with Jurinea cyanoides seeds.
In certain places sand would also be
deposited on the land. Public access
to the sites was to be restricted.
What did LIFE do?
In order to refine management options,
the project started by conducting several studies:
l Genetic
��������������������������������������
fingerprinting to clarify the
taxonomic status of central European Jurinea cyanoides vis-à-vis
Russian specimens;
l ����������������������������������������
Soil analysis to determine nutrient and
mineral levels and monitor the success
of actions to reduce nutrients; and
l Analysis of invertebrates associated
with Jurinea cyanoides and its habitat.
Photo: Otto Elsner
vulnerable. It is surrounded by pinewoods, orchards and sandy arable
lands where asparagus is grown. As a
result expansion is difficult and plans
to quarry sand in the vicinity have
posed an added problem.
Photo: Otto Elsner
The habitat of Jurinea cyanoides,
known as Silberscharte in German and
a priority species listed in the Habitats
Directive, is dry sandy, steppic grassland (Koelerion glaucae), which is
criss-crossed by lichens and isolated
twisted pines. The only significant site
in Bavaria – near the town Volkach
– is just a few hectares and extremely
Jurinea cyanoides is found in dry
sandy grasslands
Permanent monitoring plots were
also established to track the evolution
of vegetation.
The beneficiary, the Ministry for the
Environment, the competent authority for nature conservation in Bavaria,
along with project partner, the municipality of Volkach, purchased 6.4 ha of
land to re-colonise the species. Since
the project site was in an area where
there is intense competition for land
from the agricultural sector (asparagus cultivation, fruit tree plantations
and vineyards) and the gravel industry, a rural land consolidation procedure was used: land was bought
where sellers could be found and
then swapped against the required
sections of land via the consolidation
procedure. In this way enclaves and
bridgeheads for Jurinea cyanoides
could be created, many of them
adjoining the existing nature reserve.
The following actions were taken to
improve the soil and general habitat
conditions to ensure re-establishment
and long-term survival of the species
on the land acquired:
l �������������������������������
The removal of objects such as
fences and huts;
l ���������������������������������������
An increase in the proportion of bare,
steppe-type land through the clearing of hedges and bushes, mowing
tall grass and pruning or felling of
fruit trees;
l ������������������������������������
The reduction of the level of nutrients in the soil (especially in former
asparagus fields) by a system of
crop cycling (sunflowers, linseed,
flax and rye);
l ����������������������������������
The improvement of the soil structure by ploughing and/or adding
sand; and
l ����������������������������������
The boosting of natural re-colonisation by sowing seeds over the
treated land.
In those sections where Jurinea
cyanoides has been re-established,
long-term management is carried out
through mowing. Monitoring of the
success of the project actions began
during the project and will continue
afterwards.
What was the outcome?
Local authorities initiated the conservation measures for this endangered
plant species around 1990, but it was
only with LIFE support that significant
advances could be made to reach the
long-term conservation objectives.
First results at the end of the LIFE
project were very encouraging: where
they had been sown manually, the Jurinea seeds germinated very successfully and the local range of the plant
steadily expanded. Where there was
no sowing, colonisation took longer
but by the end of the project individual specimens had already appeared.
Through the creation of the new habitat for Jurinea cyanoides, the project
made the Volkach area a stronghold
for this species in the EU. LIFE has
focused much local attention on the
presence and conservation needs
of this species, thereby ensuring the
long-term management of the Natura
2000 sites around Volkach. Local farmers were involved and benefited indi-
LIFE Focus
I
LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
I
p. 15
Photo: Otto Elsner
Endangered plants in general
Sowing seeds over the treated land boosted the natural re-colonisation process
rectly as they were paid for the biotope
measures, which they had been contracted to do on both project sub-sites.
The strategies and techniques used
could serve as a model for other
projects that target point endemics or
endangered species with geographically restricted populations. The
project also illustrated the need to
take the taxonomic issues into consideration when dealing with conservation projects for geographically
isolated species. Conservationists
are still unsure whether the German-Czech populations belong
to the same species as the Russian and Asiatic populations.
Another important outcome of the
project was the agreement between
the competent authorities and the
local gravel industry. The project initiated talks between these stakeholders
at the end of which the gravel industry agreed to refrain from extending its
quarrying area inside the core areas
of Jurinea cyanoides. This agreement
will result in greater landscape protection and increased value for local
recreation.
old fruit trees needed to be explained
to the local inhabitants. Excursions
were held for inhabitants and foresters (maintenance of forest clearings
is important for Jurinea cyanoides
conservation locally). In addition, four
information panels were set up. Finally, the project established networking opportunities with other plant
conservationists in Central Europe as
well as visiting sites where Jurinea
cyanoides occurs in other parts of
Germany. It produced a brochure in
German, French and English detailing
contacts with authorities in Mecklenburg Western Pomerania, SaxonyAnhalt, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate,
Lower Austria and Poland.
Project Number:
LIFE96 NAT/D/003042
Title: Protection and Development of
the Population of Jurinea cyanoides
(Silberscharte) in the typical plan
association on continental dunes
(Sandgrasheiden) near Volkach
Beneficiary: Bayerisches
Staatsministerium für Umwelt,
Gesundheit und Verbraucherschutz
Contact: Otto Elsner
Email: [email protected]
An appropriate public-awareness campaign for what might be considered a
plant species with a low conservation
profile was carried out. A mobile exhibition toured the municipalities affected
by the project – notably the felling of tall
Website: http://www.ivl-web.de/jurinea/frame_jur.html
Period: Jan-1997 to Dec-2000
Total Budget: e 600,000
LIFE Contribution: e 240,000
Endangered plants in general
Portugal: Managing and preserving
Asphodelus bento-rainhae
Asphodelus bento-rainhae is an endangered plant found only in a 700 ha site on the northern
slopes of Portugal’s Serra da Gardunha. The LIFE “Asphodelus” project set out to reverse a
declining trend in the plant’s population by restoring its habitat
Asphodelus bento-rainhae is listed
as a priority species in the Annex II of
the Habitats Directive. It occurs along
the edges of oak (Quercus robur and
Quercus pyrenaica) and chestnut
(Castanea sativa) forests in a small
area of eastern Portugal. When the
in the second year. This was probably
the result of genetic factors within the
plants rather than anything specific to
the project.
LIFE project began, the endangered
plant’s habitat was being destroyed
at a rate of 7% per annum as a result
of forest fires and the conversion of
woodland into cherry orchards, and
the fruit growers’ extensive use of
herbicides has been accelerating the
reduction and fragmentation of the
surviving Asphodelus population.
guished during the course of the
project, however, on two occasions the
pSCI was slightly damaged by fire.
LIFE, together with the local municipality and various private individuals
living in the district, provided funding
for the NGO ADESGAR to carry out
urgent conservation measures.
What did LIFE do?
The main objective of the project was
to reverse the declining trend in the
Asphodelus population by restoring
its habitat, shoring up the recently isolated population nuclei and preventing
forest fires.
ADESGAR used part of the LIFE funding to lease and purchase land (32 ha).
Other habitat restoration measures
included planting Asphodelus from
seeds cultivated in nurseries, controlling the development of forest undergrowth, regulating public access to
sensitive areas, and gardening.
Forest fire prevention was the subject of
an information campaign aimed mainly
at farmers, and also at local residents
and visitors. Another information cam-
Photo: João Pedro Silva
In terms of forest fire prevention, several blazes were detected and extin-
Asphodelus bento-rainhae: found
only in 7 km2 of the north slopes of
Portugal’s Gardunha mountains
paign showed farmers how to make
agricultural practices more compatible with the protection of the region’s
natural heritage. A key component of
this was the promotion of alternatives
to the use of herbicides.
What was the outcome?
The project achieved several goals
aiming at the conservation of the pSCI
and the target species. The distribution
of the main Asphodelus bento-rainhae
nuclei was mapped. This enabled the
pSCI to be enlarged to incorporate the
20% of key Asphodelus nuclei located
outside its boundaries.
A total of five farmers participated in
a programme encouraging the diversification of forest uses and reduced
use of agro-chemicals and fertilisers.
However, this represented only 3% of
the cherry producers in the area.
The project made an essential contribution to the Natura 2000 network,
both by enlarging the pSCI to include
key nuclei of the target species
located outside its boundaries and
by establishing a management plan
for the species. The local authority
intends to incorporate this management plan into its land use regulations
by 2010.
Project Number:
LIFE98 NAT/P/005229
Title: Asphodelus bento-rainhae –
Measures to manage and preserve it
Beneficiary: ADESGAR (Associação de Defesa e Desenvolvimento
da Serra da Gardunha)
Contact: João Pedro Silva
Various techniques of species interspersion were tried: while the direct
transplant of individuals coming from
high density nuclei was successful,
the seedlings transplanted from the
seed collection that had germinated in
nurseries showed a high mortality rate
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.gardunha.com
Period:
Aug-1998 to Jul-2003
Total Budget: e 556,000
LIFE Contribution: e 446,000
Endangered plants in general
LIFE Focus
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LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
I
p. 17
Plant micro-reserves:
from concept to implementation
A plant micro-reserve (PMR) is a small plot of land (up to 20 ha – there is no minimum size) that
is of peak value in terms of plant richness endemism or rarity. The PMR is a permanent, statutory reserve given over to long-term monitoring of plant species and vegetation types. As well
as providing strong protection to plants and substrate, traditional activities compatible with plant
conservation are allowed within the micro-reserve.
Europe’s first plant micro-reserves
were set up in 1994 by the Regional
Wildlife Service of the Generalitat
Valenciana, the autonomous government of the Valencia region, with the
support of the LIFE programme.
The success of each PMR is measured by the rate of incorporation of
three indicators: priority habitats,
endemic taxa and threatened taxa.
Plant micro-reserves allow a close
monitoring of target species by
trained staff and the development of
conservation actions tailored to their
needs across a whole territory. Since
a PMR can be proclaimed for a single
target species, it can pinpoint isolated
areas of high botanical value. The aim
is to provide a small-scale and flexible
approach to plant conservation and to
act as a complement to large Natural
Protected Areas.
The Valencia region has a great diversity of plant species. Twelve of its 355
endemic plant species are included
in Annexes II and IV of the Habitats
Directive; and 150 species are considered rare or threatened. Much of this
The final aim of PMRs is not protection itself but inventory and monitoring of plant diversity.
Valencia pioneers the PMR
Photo: E.Laguna
A PMR in Muntanya Cavall, Valencia
flora appears in micro-populations
fragmented throughout the whole
region. These areas of high botanic
value also include 33 habitats listed
in Annexe I of the Habitats Directive,
of which 15 are priority habitats.
Many of these plants and habitats
are threatened by urban development
and changes in land use, particularly
on Valencia’s coastal fringe and in its
wetlands.
Valencia was therefore an ideal
location for Europe’s first network
of PMRs, a project included in the
UNESCO-MAB Programme in 1991
because of its scientific importance.
LIFE-Nature supported a two-phase
project to create a network of flora
micro-reserves in Valencia. The first
phase (LIFE93 NAT/E/011100) ran
Endangered plants in general
Exceeding the objectives
The project surpassed
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expectation, succeeding in establishing a
total of 158 microreserves, covering
286 ha. A total of 77
of these PMRs were
granted a formal declaration of legal protection for both the plants
and the physical habitat by
Valencia’s Regional Environment
Minister.
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The project was also able to draw up
propagation protocols for 20 endangered native species and recovery
plans were put in place for a number
of species – Limonium dufourii,
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Chaenorhinum tenellum, Petrocoptis
pardoi and Silene diclinis. Conservation programmes were established for
the genus Biscutella, terrestrial and
aquatic cryptograms, the labiate genus
Teucrium (germanders), Satureja (savories), Linaria (toadflax), Chaenorrhinum
and Sideritis (ironwort).
bling sites of high botanical interest to
be incorporated into the network that
would otherwise remain outside it. Private landowners are compensated for
transferring management rights to the
regional authority and are also eligible
for grants and subsidies to maintain
the PMR.
Species conservation involved both in
situ and ex situ measures. The former
included land purchase agreements
and habitat management plans, the
latter included implementation of a
seed bank, ‘in vitro’ propagation of
species and cultivation of plants in
greenhouses.
T S
Two further LIFE-Nature projects
in Valencia have complemented
the network of flora micro-reserves
established by the original project.
“Conservation of priority habitats in
the Valencian community” (LIFE99
NAT/E/006417) ran from July 1999
to the end of 2003 with the principal
C
Expanding the network
The Valencia micro-reserve network
has expanded significantly following
the conclusion of the LIFE project in
1999. As of 2005, it consists of 247
plots, with a total surface area of
1,684 ha (the densest network of protected sites for plant conservation in
the world). Some 80% of the microreserves are on public land, with the
remainder owned by private individuals, NGOs or municipal authorities. For
the Generalitat Valenciana, these private micro-reserves play an important
dual role – on the one hand getting
individuals directly involved in plant
conservation, and on the other ena-
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&
from 1994-96 and the second phase
(LIFE95 NAT/E/00856) started in
January 1997, ending in December
1999. The aim of the projects was to
set up a network of some 100 small
botanical reserves (with an average
size of two hectares) that would be
representative of the main endemic
plant communities found in Valencia.
In addition, a further 1,000 ha of land
of prime botanical interest would be
purchased for long-term research and
monitoring in plant ecology.
objective of conserving the vegetation
in 17 priority habitats in the 38 sites
proposed for inclusion in the Natura
2000 network; “Management and
increasing appreciation of three high
mountain priority habitats in Valencia” (LIFE03 NAT/E/0064) ran from
2004-2006 with the goal of improving the conservation status of three
priority habitats: endemic black pine
forests, endemic juniper forests and
yew woods.
The mountain habitats project aimed
to stop the widespread decline of yew
and juniper woods through measures
such as eradicating invasive species, preserving monumental trees
The PMR projects also involved ex-situ conservation actions – In-vitro reproduction of yew (left), Silene hifacensis seedlings in a
nursery (centre) and Helianthemum caput-felis (right)
LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
of the best yew formations of the
Alicante province were successfully
eradicated. In the Pegunta ravine,
specimens of the non-native poplar Populus nigra x Canadensis were
felled and the trunks turned into
drinking troughs. These troughs were
one of the methods used to attract
potential animal dispersers of seeds
(along with the planting of fruit-bearing plant species and the installation
of ecological beehives) with the aim of
improving the low propagation rate of
the targeted tree species.
reserves. The Minorcan government
and regional government (Govern Balear) are now working on implementing
this network of PMRs.
The LIFE project “Conservation of
areas with threatened plant species
in Minorca (Spain)” (LIFE00 NAT/
E/007355) ran from 2001-4. In it, the
government of Minorca (Consell Insular) developed a set of comprehensive
actions to recover the plant species
and priority habitats protected by the
Habitats Directive, including the drafting of a network of 24 plant micro-
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Photo: E.Laguna
Photos: E.Laguna
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Invasive species such as
Robinia pseudoacacia that
threatened to colonise one
Planta Europa, the network of independent organisations, non-governmental and governmental, working
together to conserve European wild
plants and fungi, adopted the initial
LIFE micro-reserves project in Valencia as a pilot scheme to evaluate the
possible creation of a pan-European
micro-reserves network. Steps have
now been taken towards establishing
such a network.
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The Botanical Garden of
the University of Valencia
collected 195 lots of seeds
of the most characteristic
plants of high mountain
habitats for storage in a
germplasm bank.
Exporting the concept
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Some 21,000 seedlings of 23 species
were planted to improve the conservation state of the habitats and
encourage their natural regeneration.
Demographic analysis of yew tree
populations revealed that there are
6,451 specimens within the five sites
where works were carried out during
the project – a sevenfold
increase in the number of
trees compared with previous data for the whole of
Valencia.
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Slovenia was the first
country outside Spain
to go down the
micro-reserve path.
In the LIFE-Nature
project “Conservation of endangered
species/habitats in the
future Karst Park (Slovenia)” (LIFE02 NAT/SLO/008587)
that ran from 2002-5, the Science and
Research Centre (ZRS) at the University of Primorska in the port city of
Koper set up a network of 30 microreserves for rare and endangered wild
plants, as well as for priority habitats
protected by the Habitats Directive,
mainly focused on small ponds, calcareous screes, rocky slopes and
grasslands. All the sites are within the
boundaries of the Karst Edge, to be
included in the future Regional Park
of the Slovenian Karst.
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and encouraging economic activities
linked to the natural habitats and their
conservation.
Information panels describing the
flora and habitats on view were added
to eight mountain trails with the aim
both of promoting knowledge of the
natural environment and of attracting
visitors to the area, one of a number
of dissemination activities carried out
during the project.
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Monitoring of plant species populations
is vital for assessing their conservation
status
p. 19
Silene hifacensis: a priority Annex II
plant species included in the Valencian
PMR projects
Nurseries were established for the
cultivation of endemic aromatic plants
and 2,500 examples of each of, six
) &
aromatic plant species native to the
project habitats were given away free
to visitors and local inhabitants.
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Photo: E.Laguna
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LIFE Focus
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Endangered plants in general
Since 2004, LIFE has been supporting the “CRETAPLANT” project (“A
pilot network of plant micro-reserves
in Western Crete (Greece)” – LIFE04
NAT/GR/000104). Developed by the
(Mediterranean Agronomic Institute
of Chania (MAICh) and the National
and Kapodistrian University of Athens
(NKUA), its aim is to adapt the PMR
concept to the province of Chania in
Western Crete. As the feature article
on the following pages shows, results
have been impressive.
Endangered plants in general
Greece: Conservation
of endangered Cretan flora
On the island of Crete, home to one of the richest floras of all the Mediterranean islands, a LIFEfunded project has established plant micro-reserves (PMRs) as a conservation measure for
seven rare plant species. Modelled on PMRs in Spain, the success of the project demonstrates
how this methodology can be transferred to other plant-rich Natura 2000 sites in Europe.
The Mediterranean bio-geographical region is the most bio-diverse
in the European Union, with a high
endemic floristic diversity concentrated on the islands and
mountains of the Medi-
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terranean Sea. Crete
in particular, is cons i d e re d t o h a v e
one of the richest diversities of
plants in Europe,
with an especially
high concentration of
endemic plant species.
The main threats to these
plants stem from human activities, such as tourism, farming and
the grazing of farm animals, as well
as uncontrolled access to important
habitats, fires, and habitat modification through deforestation, drainage
and climate change.
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Androcymbium rechingeri: a very rare Cretan endemic flower
Crete has 14 plant species included in
Annex II of the Habitats Directive, with
eight of these having priority conservation status, and the Greek authorities have proposed 38 Natura 2000
sites that include populations of these
plant species. Within the framework of
the LIFE project, the University of Athens, in collaboration with the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania
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Table 1- Priority plant species targeted by the LIFE project in western Crete
Plant name
Description and location
Androcymbium rechingeri
This plant species grows on the west coast of Crete, in Falassarna and the islets of Imeri Gramvousa and Elafonisi (only known world locations). It is a small bulbous plant that flowers from December to February.
Anthemis glaberrima
This small annual plant, similar to chamomile, grows among calcareous coastal rocks on the islets of Imeri and
Agria Gramvousa and is found nowhere else in the world. It is particularly threatened by tourism activities.
Bupleurum
kakiskalae
This plant was first described in 1967 by the Swiss botanist Greuner. It grows on a single steep limestone cliff
at Linoseli, in the Lefka Ori mountains (recently, a second population was discovered). It has the peculiarity of
flowering once, after about 12 years of producing leaves, and then it dies.
Cephalanthera cucullata
This orchid only grows in the mountainous forest areas of Crete and is threatened by overgrazing.
Hypericum aciferum
This short, creeping shrub grows only on the coastal cliffs of Sphakia (between Sougia and Agia Roumeli), in
the southwestern part of Crete.
Nepeta sphaciotica
This small shrub only grows on a mountainous slope, at an altitude of 2,300 metres on the northern side of
the Svourichti summit of Lefka Ori. The small population of this unique plant species is susceptible to various
threats, especially climate change.
Phoenix theophrasti
This palm tree is found only in Crete and southwest Turkey, mostly in moist sandy valleys or rocky areas in close
proximity to the sea. It is known by the common names Phinikas or Vagi, and the largest known population is
located in Vai, eastern Crete, an area already targeted by another LIFE project (LIFE98 NAT/GR/005264). This
plant is included in Annex I and Annex II of the Habitats Directive as part of the priority habitat palm groves of
Phoenix (habitat number 9370 of the Habitats Directive).
Endangered plants in general
(MAICh) and the Region of Crete-Forest Directorate of Chania, proposed
the establishment of a pilot network of
PMRs in western Crete (the prefecture
of Chania) to support the conservation of seven endemic priority plant
species found in three of these Natura
2000 sites.
PMRs for seven endangered
species
The main objective of this LIFE project
was to promote the conservation of
seven threatened plant species that
are endemic to the island of Crete (see
table 1). As the distribution range of the
targeted species was so narrow, the
PMR was considered to be the most
appropriate conservation and management tool. This approach was first
tested in 1994, in Valencia, Spain, and
had already been successfully applied
in other LIFE projects (see pp. 17-19).
The project proposed establishing a
network of PMRs in small land parcels
(less than 20 ha), as defined by the
original methodology.
This network of small protected areas
constitutes a management tool that
complements the management plans
for larger areas, such as those for Natura 2000 sites, which require conservation actions and strategies at a wider
landscape level.
This was the first experience of PMRs
in Greece, but it was also recognised
that, if successful, it could be more
widely applied in other parts of Crete
or the Greek mainland.
The first step was to gather all available information in order to establish
the location and estimate the population size of the seven targeted species. It was then possible to define
the number of PMRs required and to
decide on their location and the area
to be covered. The information collected showed that the plant species
were restricted to very small areas, and
were generally found in low-to-medium
densities. The project pre-selected 14
LIFE Focus
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LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
I
p. 21
potential PMR areas and from these it
was decided to establish seven PMRs,
one for each of the target species.
A detailed inventory and mapping was
carried out for each PMR, including
the location and densities of each species. This information was then used
to develop a management plan for each
PMR. Unlike other LIFE projects concerned with PMRs, this project did not
foresee the purchase of land: The PMR
areas were already in public ownership.
“This was very important,” stresses the
project manager, Professor Costas
Thanos, “as the owner of the land is the
State (represented by the Chania Forestry Service, which was also a project
partner).” This fact simplified both the
bureaucratic processes of acquiring
permits and the implementation of the
subsequent actions.
All the PMRs were delimited and
marked with signs and posts to discourage trespassing and to raise
awareness of the presence of the
threatened species. The B. kakiskalae and C. cucullata PMRs were also
fenced off in order to avoid damage
from grazing. A vehicle barrier was
erected at the P. theophrasti PMR,
since the area was being used to park
vehicles.
Fences protect against grazing, note
the difference between the right side
(grazed) and left side (ungrazed)
Along with these actions, long term
monitoring plans were prepared for
each species in order to determine the
factors that affect their conservation.
Some of the parameters monitored
included: climate conditions; soil
characteristics; interaction with other
plants; the presence of animals; and
human activities. The project established permanent monitoring plots,
with meteorological and environmental sensors (with dataloggers) and, in
collaboration with the Chania Forestry
Service, also hired a warden to guard
each PMR.
To complement the in-situ actions,
the project also implemented
A lobster pot protects the highly endangered C. cucullata
against grazing
Endangered plants in general
certain ex-situ ones, including the collection and study of the germination
of seeds from the target species in
the University of Athens, in order to
evaluate their viability. The seeds were
also stored in the MAICh seed bank
and seedling plantations were established in the MAICh botanical garden, in the Alpine Botanical Garden
at Omalos (mountains of Lefka Ori)
and in the Information Centre of the
Forest Directorate of Chania. These
ex-situ conservation measures acted
as a backup, as the seeds and plants
could be used in future to restore or
reinforce the natural populations of
the target species.
The project also developed an information campaign (local events, post-
Species
PMR locations and area covered
Androcymbium rechingeri
Elafonisi islet (2 ha)
Anthemis glaberrima
Agria Gramvousa islet (4.5 ha)
Bupleurum kakiskalae
Linoseli (1 ha)*
Cephalanthera cucullata
Koustogerako – Mountain range of Lefka Ori (12 ha)
Hypericum aciferum
Fournoti (6.5 ha)
Nepeta sphaciotica
Svourichti summit at Lefka Ori mountain (4.8 ha)*
Phoenix theophrasti
Chrisoskalitissa (2.2 ha)
* The only known worldwide populations
ers, leaflets and t-shirts) targeting the
general public, in particular children,
and local authorities. The campaign
focused on the PMRs, highlighting
their importance in conserving the
flora of Crete. Key actions included
blocks vehicle access to the PMR
and reduces the risk of fire.
the LIFE-funded Visitor Centre at the
Botanical Garden of MAICh and the
Alpine Botanical Garden created at
Omalos.
project, the beneficiary and partners
have continued to monitor and survey
the PMRs. The increased knowledge of
the ecology of the target species, combined with the ex-situ actions allows
for a better and quicker response to
the different threats. The definition of
a legal status and the implementation
of the management plans by the Chania Forestry Service (Region of Crete)
will also guarantee the conservation of
these species in the future.
Bupleurum kakiskalae
Observed population growth
Although, the conservation procedures implemented by the project
were based on ‘mild’ actions (fencing, wardening, installing signs and
boards) and did not involve heavy
restoration measures, the project
achieved good results in terms of
guaranteeing the long term conservation of the target species. Along
with the implementation of management plans and continuous monitoring of the plant populations, the
project defined the legal status of
PMRs in Greek law, along with the
Natura 2000 sites. The proclamation
of the PMRs as “wildlife refuges” is
currently being approved by the
Regional authority of Crete.
Two species: B. kakiskalae and C.
cucullata, which were particularly
threatened by grazing, benefited significantly from the fencing actions. In
2006, the entire population amounted
to 69 B. kakiskalae individuals while
in 2007, within the fenced area,
an additional 100 seedlings were
recorded. In relation to P. theophrasti,
the population increased from 49 to
55 individuals thanks to the planting
of offshoots and the barrier that now
Life after LIFE
Since the completion of the LIFE
In summary, LIFE funding was crucial
for the conservation of seven unique
and rare plant species on the verge of
extinction. Without the support of LIFE,
the application of a new plant conservation methodology – PMRs – would
not have been tested or transferred
as an effective conservation tool in
Europe.
Project Number:
LIFE04 NAT/GR/000104
Title: A pilot network of plant microreserves in western Crete
Beneficiary: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Contact: Prof. Costas Thanos
Email: [email protected]
Website:
http://cretaplant.biol.uoa.gr
Period: Sep-2004 to Dec-2007
Total Budget: e 932,000
LIFE Contribution: e 699,000
LIFE Focus
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LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
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The Mediterranean region is home to more than 24,000 vascular plant species and
includes approximately 10% of all known plant species on Earth. More than half the
plant species are endemic and 80% of all European plant endemics are found in the
Mediterranean. The region is nearly as rich in endemics as tropical Africa, even though
the latter is some four times larger.
However, this plant biodiversity is threatened by the rapid urbanisation of coastal zones
for tourism, increasing conflicts over the use of land, the growing risk of desertification, water scarcity and forest fires. Furthermore, climate change is already affecting
flora, in particular the endemic Mediterranean mountain flora.
LIFE has been funding projects that aim to improve the conservation status of the
region’s unique habitats and plant species, which are considered a priority for conservation at European level.
p. 23
Mediterranean flora
Cyprus: conservation of
unique flora and habitats
The first LIFE Nature project to be undertaken in Cyprus aimed to conserve unique habitats and
plant species in Europe while promoting the implementation of the Natura 2000 network.
Natura 2000 network. Despite the
current protection given by the Natura 2000 network sites designation,
the past and current pressures have
continued to contribute to the degradation of the habitats in Annex I of
the Habitats directive. These include
the Cyprus endemic forest habitats of
Troodos mountains peat grasslands – unique habitats
Cyprus has a high diversity of habitats
and species, ranging from semi-desert
habitats to peat grasslands, and pine
and oak forests in the mountains.
This diversity is boosted by a varying landscape and relative isolation,
which has resulted in a high rate of
endemic species.
But human impact on Cyprus has contributed to the depletion of the island’s
landscape and the degradation of its
natural habitats. As a result, much of
the flora of Cyprus – considered one
of the richest in the eastern Mediterranean – is endangered. The main
threats come from past and present
human activity including: building
roads, agriculture, water extraction,
tourism and forest fires.
When Cyprus joined the European
Union in 2004, seven Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and 36 Sites of
Community Importance (SCIs) were
proposed to be integrated into the
Cedrus brevifolia and Quercus alnifolia, and the – unique to the EU – Quercus infectoria forests and the peat
and serpentinophilous grasslands
habitats of the Troodos mountains, as
well as four Annex II priority plant species (Scilla morrisii, Arabis kennedyae,
Chionodoxa lochiae and Pinguicula
crystallina). A range of human threats
has critically endangered all these
unique habitats and species.
With the aim of establishing conservation actions that could secure the
favourable conservation status of
these unique habitats and species in
five Natura 2000 sites, the Environ-
�����������������������������������������
Species that tolerate heavy metal rich
concentration soils derived from the mineral serpentine
Table 1- Description of the main Natura 2000 sites targeted with project actions
Natura 2000 site
Site description
Troodos National Forest Park
This SCI, considered the most important area for biodiversity in Cyprus, contains a variety of habitat types (11
Annex I habitats) including four priority and endangered habitats (Pinus nigra ssp. pallasiana, Quercus alnifolia,
and serpentinophilus and peat grasslands). It hosts 10 Annex II species (three of them plant priority species:
Arabis kennedyae, Chionodoxa lochiae and Pinguicula crystallina) and another 262 relevant plant and animal
species, including a large number of endemic plants and the priority snake Columber cypriensis.
Kavo (cape) Gkreko
This SCI presents 11 Annex I habitats, including the priority Zizyphus lotus mattorals, vernal pools, and the
marine Posidonia beds. It hosts 400 plant species, 15 of them endemics and 71 fauna species, including the
dolphins Tursiops truncatus and Stenella coeruleoalba.
Vouni Panagias
The site includes eight Annex I habitat types (including the Quercus infectoria woodland) and two plant species
listed in Annex II (including the priority Scilla morrissi). The site also hosts one of the known populations of the
endemic snake Coluber cypriensis (Annex II priority species).
Mediterranean flora
LIFE Focus
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LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
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p. 25
Since approximately 75% of the terrestrial part of the Natura 2000 network in Cyprus is state forest land, the
Forest Department was the obvious
main partner,” says Thomas Kyriacou,
an FD official responsible for some of
the project actions.
Arabis kennedyae: a critically endangered plant species endemic to Cyprus
targeted by the project
ment Service (Ministry of Agriculture,
Natural Resources and Environment)
proposed the first LIFE Nature project
for Cyprus.
What did LIFE do?
The LIFE project implemented a variety of conservation actions that targeted several habitats and species.
In total, the project focused on five
sites, but the most relevant actions
targeting endemic habitats and species were developed in three sites
(see table 1).
Each project action was planned and
implemented according to the specific requirements of each habitat and
species and with the involvement of
several partners. The project manager Christina Pantazi says that the
coordination of this project posed a
challenge, because of the complexity of the actions to be implemented
and the diversity of the targeted species and habitats. “We had to rely on
the knowledge of our partners,” she
explains. “However, this is a small
country and we all know each other,
and that simplified the coordination
task,” she adds. The project partner
responsible for the bulk of the actions
was the Forest Department (FD),
which is responsible for the management of Cyprus’s state forest land.
The majority of the actions targeting endemic plants and habitats were
implemented in the Troodos Mountains
SCI. The mountains are highly attractive both during summer, because of
the fresher temperatures, and winter,
because of the snow. However, visitors
to the area posed serious threats and
needed to be managed. The project
erected fences around the priority peat
grasslands habitat to keep out people
and vehicles, and it removed 20 picnic
tables. Signposts were put up on the
serpentinophilous grasslands to highlight the importance of the habitats and
prevent destructive trespassing. The
populations of the critically endangered
plants C. lochiae, the insectivorous P.
crystallina and A. kennedyae were
mapped and marked with signposts.
During the mapping process one new
large (actually the largest) population of
A. kennedyae was found. Plant seeds
were collected, and the A. kennedyae
and P.crystallina populations reinforced
by sowing. The project in Troodos also
enhanced the natural regeneration of
Pinus nigra ssp. pallasiana and planted
new seedlings from the FD nurseries on
recent burned areas, as well as alleviating the competition pressure exerted
by the aggressive congener P. brutia
on P. nigra, by removing all seedlings
and saplings of the latter species from
Vernal pools contain a high diversity of
plant species
The insectivorous Pinguicula crystallina
the forest sublevel. The P. nigra forests
are located on the top of the Troodos
mountains and are normally covered by
snow during winter. The project added
fences to prevent winter sports activities taking place on the areas of the P.
nigra habitat and restored areas.
In the Kavo Gkreko SCI, the project
implemented the rehabilitation of
Zizyphus lotus mattoral by eliminating
the invasive alien plant species Acacia
and Eucalyptus. Z. lotus seeds were
collected and germinated for planting later in three distinct areas. Also
in the same SCI, the project delimited
and monitored three areas containing another priority habitat, the vernal
pools, which is characterised by small
temporary ponds only visible during
the rainy season that contain rare
water-related plant species.
At Vouni Panagias the project restored
an area of more than 10 ha of Quercus
infectoria oak woodland. The restoration land was granted by the monastery of Chrysorrogiatissa, where it was
possible to plant 4,000 oaks. The area
was fenced and a watering system
was built to increase the viability of
the trees during summer. In the same
area as the Q.infectoria woodland,
the habitat of the endemic plant Scilla
morrisii can be found. Seeds were
collected and 50 plants were planted
Mediterranean flora
2000 sites. These guidelines were
used to establish management plans
for four Natura 2000 sites targeted in
the project (Koilada Diarizou, Vouni
Panagias, Troodos National Forest
Park and Kavo Gkreco).
Q.infectoria plantation with watering system – this stand is now the largest continuous
area of Q. infectoria in the EU
in three sites, as part of the recovery
taking place with the help of the
plan for the species.
planted seedlings and reduced disturbance. Signposts pointing to the
presence of the natural values mean
that tourists and locals tend to avoid
these areas, or at least are aware of
the importance of the unique habitats and species. A seed bank for P.
nigra seeds was also established for
ex-situ conservation of the species’
genetic diversity.
In Koilada Diarizou, in an area of
approximately 5 ha, the project promoted the natural regeneration of
Alnus orientalis, mainly through fencing, in order to halt the overgrazing of
this riverside tree species. Also, at the
same time the Forest Department contacted local farmers and explained the
importance of the habitat and asked
for their cooperation.
The actions have been subject to a
monitoring program developed by the
project in order to access the effectiveness of the project actions and
to evaluate the conservation status
of the targeted species and habitats
before and after the project actions.
What was the outcome?
All these actions, targeting a diversity
of sites, habitats and species all over
Cyprus, were very successful, especially those involving the restoration
of the Q.infectoria woodland and the
management of the human activities
in the Troodos mountains.
The peat grassland area is now completely safe from trespassing and
there are no longer visible human
activities. This has helped habitat
recovery greatly. The P. nigra habitats
also have benefitted from the fencing,
and natural regeneration is already
The restored Q.infectoria woodland
is now the largest area of this habitat in Europe, and represents the
most important area for the endemic
S.morrisii. In the A. orientalis riverside
forest it is possible to see very strong
natural regeneration. Local shepherds
have been working with the FD with
regards to the fenced areas. In Kavo
Gkreko, the 650 Z. lotus plants that
were planted now cover more than
0.8 ha where previously there were
only three plants.
The project also established guidelines for the drawing up of management plans for all of Cyprus’s Natura
Overall, the project substantially contributed to the conservation of unique
habitats and species on Cyprus and
raised awareness about the Natura
2000 network and nature conservation issues in the country. At the
same time, this first involvement of
local authorities with a LIFE project
enhanced their capacity and laid
the groundwork for the continuation
of nature conservation activities on
Cyprus.
Life after LIFE
The FD and the beneficiary – which
is also in charge of implementing the
Cyprus Natura 2000 network�������
– ����
are
now responsible for managing the
former project areas. The monitoring
of habitats and species will continue,
along with some of the project activities, which will be developed by the
FD with the help of national funds.
These activities include promoting the
regeneration of P. nigra; maintaining
the Q. infectoria woodland; eliminating alien plant species; and monitoring the peatland and serpentinophilous grasslands and plant species.
Project Number:
LIFE04 NAT/CY/000013
Title: Conservation management in
Natura 2000 sites of Cyprus*
Beneficiary: Environment
Service, Ministry of Agriculture
Natural Resources and Environment
Contact: Christina Pantazi
* The habitats – with Habitats Directive reference number in parentheses������������
– included
���������
Quercus infectoria (93A0), Quercus alnifolia (9390), Cedrus brevifolia (9590), the
peat (6460) and serpentinophilous (62B0)
grasslands habitats of the Troodos mountains, as well as the vernal pools (3170).
Email: [email protected].
gov.cy
Website:
http://life-natura-sites.cy.net
Period: Nov-2004 to Apr-2008
Total Budget: e 2,551,000
LIFE Contribution: e 1,531,000
Mediterranean flora
LIFE Focus
I
LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
I
p. 27
Italy: Conserving the ‘critically
endangered’ Sicilian fir and helping
to ensure its long-term survival
Photo: Michele Lischi
The mountainous area of Polizzi Generosa within the regional park of Madonie in north-central
Sicily is host to the world’s only population of the Sicilian fir (Abies nebrodensis) – a critically
endangered species whose numbers by 2000 were estimated at only around 30 adult trees. The
project’s achievements were twofold: firstly, during the project period (2001-2005) to effectively
conserve the few remaining individuals; and secondly to substantially develop the population to
help ensure its long-term survival.
A Sicilian fir tree (one of 30 remaining adult individuals of Abies nebrodensis) in the Madonie Regional Park
The high rocky peaks of the Madonie
mountains were once covered by the
Sicilian fir, an endemic conifer, which
grows at around 1,500 metres on
limestone soil. The wood of the species can be seen used in the doors
and the roof-beams of local churches.
By 1900 however, the species was
considered extinct, due to extensive
logging and erosion. It was rediscov-
ered in 1957, but confined only to a
small area, just a few kilometres from
Polizzi Generosa. Because of its rarity, this relic species is included as a
priority species in Annex II of the EU
Habitats Directive.
Once rediscovered, foresters immediately initiated conservation measures
to help preserve the Sicilian fir. How-
ever soil degradation of its natural
habitat has made re-introduction difficult. Other major threats to the species include the poor health of specimens propagated in tree nurseries,
the limited population size, and the
danger of forest fire. Additional threats
include hybridisation with non-native
firs resulting in genetic contamination,
and global warming.
Mediterranean flora
A nursery was developed using the
seeds from the local population in
order to maintain and propagate
the genetic heritage of the species.
A database and an information centre
were also established, the former providing for the future monitoring and
management of the species and the
latter helping to promote increased
awareness of the problems related to
its conservation.
Photo: Michele Lischi
What was the outcome?
Seedlings of A.nebrodensis are cultivated in a nursery since the survival rate in nature
is so low
What did LIFE do?
Among the actions carried out in the
field was the fencing of the individual
trees: each tree was fenced within an
average area of 300 m2 and a padlocked gate was placed along one
side of the enclosure. Stonewalls were
built, or restored, downhill from the
plants using local stones, in order to
reduce soil erosion. A trail that represented a threat to one of the trees was
moved uphill. Infested vegetation was
removed by hand within the fenced
areas and with the aid of machinery
outside those areas.
The four-year “Nebrodensis” project
was run by the park of Madonie,
the project beneficiary, working
with several stakeholders including
researchers from Palermo University,
Italy (department of botany), and the
botanical garden of Valencia, Spain.
Its objective was to conserve and
manage in situ the existing population of the Sicilian fir and to expand
it through ex situ management operations. The location of the population within the 40,000-ha Madonie
park SPA (Special Protection Area)
included in the Natura 2000 network,
guarantees some level of protection
for the individual trees, helping to
improve their long-term viability.
29 remaining individuals and helping
to improve the survival rate based on
natural reproduction (i.e. of the 30 or
so wildlings, or plantlets, found in the
vicinity of the mother trees).
In situ – the establishment of 22
experimental plots enabled researchers to identify the most suitable areas
for the trees to be reproduced and
grown. ���������������������������
The plots were established
at different altitudes, soil and exposure conditions������������������������
within the native area
and at other sites within the regional
park.�
Ex situ ­ – ���������������������������
since the survival rate in
nature is so low, an increase of the
cultivated stock was secured through
Sicilian fir planted on the previously established experimental plots
Photo: Michele Lischi
The work involved the drawing up of
guidelines for the conservation of the
target species, its propagation, and
the grafting of exotic fir trees. Sample
areas for monitoring and observing
particularly vulnerable stands were
identified. In addition, measures were
adopted to manage and improve the
general conservation conditions of the
habitat, to support the existing population and to increase the survival rate
of natural regeneration.
The project was very successful on a
technical level, helping to secure the
effective protection and survival of the
Mediterranean flora
LIFE Focus
I
LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
I
p. 29
the controlled use of individual nurseries, private and foreign partners,
working actively in the action of conservation. For instance, the cooperation with the Spanish partner was
particularly successful, enabling the
transfer of a number of plantlets to the
botanical garden of Valencia, where
they continue to be regularly monitored. In addition, anyone can ask
for a seedling of Sicilian fir, provided
that the proposed transplantation
site matches the required ecological
conditions. The form to request the
seedlings is available on the project
website (see box).
Life after LIFE
In order to check on the survival
rate of the trees and to assess the
long-term indicators, a post-project
follow-up report was carried out in
November 2007 by the LIFE external
monitoring team. It showed the reproductive potential of the target species
has greatly improved. In fact the fertile adult individuals have increased
by one unit (from 29 to 30) and the
number of inventoried wildlings
found close to the mother trees has
increased from around 30 to more than
80. Each of the trees and wildlings is
labelled, protected with micro stone
walls and regularly monitored. The
wildings remain quite small for many
years, therefore the micro stone walls
built around the plantlets help to protect them from accidental stomping,
and clearly indicate their location (e.g.
to repeat periodical measurements).
Moreover the micro stone walls protect the wildings from erosion.
According to the beneficiary, periodical checks on the dimensions and on
the expansion of the tree crowns have
revealed that they are in good health.
However, despite these highly promising indicators, the beneficiary remains
cautious, stating that a few more
years are needed before their survival
is ensured. The genetic diversity has
increased thanks to the controlled
cross-pollination carried out among
Mapping and monitoring the ‘health’ of each individual
the fertile adult individuals.
Monitoring activities continued after
the end of the project, namely of the
growth and health of the adult individuals, of the natural regeneration and
of the seedlings raised in the nursery.
Particular care was dedicated to monitoring the seedlings transplanted in
the experimental plots. This revealed
that the conservation status of the
target species (intended as isolated
individuals, natural regeneration and
transplanted seedlings) has significantly improved since the end of the
project. There are now more than
3,000 seedlings available in the local
nursery and the vegetation and health
status of the plants is judged “good to
excellent”.
A number of scientific publications
on the species have been published
by the project. Details of these are
available from the project website
(���������
see box��
).
Finally, the increased awareness of
the threats to the Sicilian fir favored
the establishment of social initia-
tives within the park’s territory, such
as guided tours, schools visits and
tourism in general. (See the “database” section of the project website
for details of the visits to the project
during its duration). This produced,
among others, the effect of boosting the accommodation business in
the area. Indeed, several “Bed and
Breakfast” enterprises have been
established recently. These initiatives appear to be sustainable in the
longer term.
Project Number:
LIFE00 NAT/IT/007228
Title: Conservation of Abies nebrodensis in situ and ex situ
Beneficiary: Ente Parco delle
Madonie
Contact: Salvatore Carollo
Email:
[email protected]
Website: http://www.kalliope.it/
parcodellemadonie/progettolife/
Period: Sep-2001 to Aug-2005
Total Budget: e 1,161,000
LIFE Contribution: e 871,000
Mediterranean flora
Spain: Protecting extraordinary
biodiversity in the Sierra Nevada
This highly successful restoration and conservation project, located in the biodiversity-rich Sierra
Nevada mountain range, helped to safeguard the habitats of 11 endangered plants and propagated
most of the targeted plant species for reintroduction to their natural habitat. The LIFE team also established the management plans necessary to ensure the long-term protection of the endangered flora.
The Sierra Nevada National Park
around Granada in southern Spain
contains 7% of all Mediterranean flora,
boasting over 2,100 plant species,
including more than 80 unique to the
region. The particularity of this undulat-
screes, stony wastes, meadows and
pine and oak woods.
ing, mountainous terrain provides an
amazing diversity of habitats that have
enabled this wealth of biodiversity.
mented restoration and conservation
measures. The six target localities
were included within the National Park
of Sierra Nevada, thereby enjoying a
high protection status. A high altitude
(1,900 m) Botanical Garden was also
created, holding specimens of all
regional flora. Interestingly, this idea
was replicated by another Mediterranean LIFE-Nature project (LIFE04
NAT/GR/000104) featured in this publication (see pp. 20-22).
Most of these endangered habitats
and species are protected by the
Habitats Directive. The Sierra Nevada
is a designated pSCI (proposed Site of
Community Interest) within the Natura
2000 network. Nevertheless, factors
such as overgrazing (by wildlife and
domestic cattle), unsustainable forestry activities, forest fires, illegal harvesting and leisure activities are negatively affecting the Sierra’s diverse
flora. Now, 115 species, including 35
that are endemic to the region, are
threatened with extinction.
What did LIFE do?
The four-year “Sierra Nevada” project,
led by the Andalusian Environment
Ministry, worked to safeguard the
habitats of 11 endangered plants
included in Annex II of the Habitats
Directive: Narcisus nevadensis; Arenaria nevadensis; Artemisia granatensis; Centaurea gadorensis; Erigeron
frigidus; Senecio elodes; Senecio
nevadensis; Erodium astragaloides;
Erodium rupicola; Odontites granatensis; and Laserpitium longiradium.
The project covered six sites in Sierra
Nevada encompassing high-lying
Mulhacén-Alcazaba, Poqueira river,
Monachil river woodlands, Collado de las
Sabinas, Alayos de Dílar and Trevenque
The project evaluated the plants’ conservation status, established management plans for each site and imple-
Seeds and other vegetative material
from 203 threatened species were
collected and stored in germplasm
banks; propagation protocols were
obtained for 56 of them. Seedling
trials were conducted on site to reinforce or reintroduce the populations in
targeted areas.
The project ran an information campaign to improve awareness of the
threatened species and habitats.
Saxifraga nevadensis
by 2002; and the 600 re-introduced
Senecio elodes showed survival rates
of more than 80%.
Significantly, the project established,
through the management plans, a
framework for the long-term protection
of biodiversity in the targeted sites.
The project increased knowledge and
awareness about flora conservation
among the general public and relevant
professionals. Notably, it generated
successful co-operation with local
farmers and LEADER programmes
around the cultivation programme
for Artemisia granatensis, a species
threatened by over-collection because
of its alleged health properties.
What was the outcome?
Project Number:
LIFE98 NAT/E/005358
The project successfully propagated
most of the plant species targeted for
re-introduction to their natural habitat.
The situation of each of the 11 targeted species considerably improved
during the project and progress
was made towards reducing their
endangered status. For example, the
Odontites granatensis increased from
440 samples in 1995 to over 100,000
Title: Recovery of areas of threatened flora in Sierra Nevada
Beneficiary: Consejería de Medio
Ambiente de la Junta de Andalucía
Contact: Rafael Silva Lopez
Email: [email protected]
Period: Jan-1999 to Dec-2002
Total Budget: e 835,000
LIFE Contribution: e 501,000
LIFE Focus
I
LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
I
Within the EU, the Macaronesian region consists of three volcanic archipelagos: the
Azores, Madeira (both Portugal) and the Canaries (Spain). The contrasting landscape
and mild climate have created an ideal environment for a particularly rich flora and
habitats, many of which are endemic. Although representing less than 0.3% of EU
territory, the Macaronesian region contains 207 SCIs and hosts around 19% of the
habitat types in Annex I of the Habitats Directive and 28% of the plants in Annex II.
LIFE has been funding a number of projects for these particular habitats and species
in the Atlantic islands.
p. 31
Macaronesian flora
Conserving five priority species
in the Canary Islands
The monteverde forest regions of the Canary Islands are home to five priority species listed in the
Birds and Habitats directives. A LIFE project was carried out to reduce the risks to these species
and ensure their long-term survival.
The monteverde regions consist of
laurel forests and heathlands with
fayal/brezal (Myrica faya and Erica
arborea forests), rich habitats for the
targeted species: Dorycnium spectabile, Myrica rivas-martinezii, Sambucus palmensis, Sideritis discolour
What did LIFE do?
The project was carried out on the
islands of La Gomera, Hierro, La
Palma, Tenerife and Gran Canaria in
10 Natura 2000 sites. Its objectives
were to:
• Improve knowledge about the species���������������������������������
and their habitats to draft the
relevant management measures.
• Increase the long-term chance of
survival of the targeted species.
• Reduce the impact of threats to the
existing populations.
������������
To achieve these objectives, the particular bio-climates where the species occur were analysed along with
the genetic variability of the populations. Reproduction and propagation
techniques were then studied, and
nurseries and germplasm banks were
created. Population numbers would
be increased through reinforcements,
reintroductions and introductions.
Photo: Elizabeth Ojeda
and Isoplexis chalcantha. The main
threats are urban development and
traditional wood exploitation, which
has led to degeneration and reduction of this habitat. It now occupies
barely one-third of its original surface
area, and the five plant species are
especially vulnerable on account of
their limited distribution. The lowering
of the water table, grazing and illegal
collection of specimens are also significant threats.
Dorycnium spectabile habitat in Tenerife
The project beneficiary, the regional
authority, also foresaw habitat management and control of land uses in
critical areas. Finally, measures to
make traditional uses compatible with
conservation were also included.
What was the outcome?
The number of plants in the wild
increased dramatically as a result of
the project’s actions. Targets were
clearly surpassed. Adequate habitat
management measures were implemented to improve the status of
populations.
Also, a comprehensive survey was
done on every island with monteverde
habitat in search of unknown populations of the target species. The project
found new populations of all of the
target species, and the project actions
led to an increase in the number of
individuals: Dorycnium spectabile was
increased by a factor of three; Sideritis discolour and Myrica rivas-martinezii by a factor of five.
The future conservation of the genetic
diversity was also boosted by establishing two germplasm banks for
storing seeds. They were set up in
accordance with scientific and conservation criteria, following systematic
methods that guaranteed the storage
of the maximum representation of the
genetic diversity of species.
LIFE Focus
The project’s germination trials and
propagation studies also achieved
very satisfactory results for three species. While valid protocols were not
obtained for Sambucus palmesis or
Myrica rivas-martinezii, protocols for
vegetative reproduction are available
that will allow existing genetic features to be preserved. Genetics studies were successful for all species
(except Sambucus palmesis), providing important practical conclusions
for their future management. The first
results were attained in detailed bioclimatic modelling, which will continue
in the future as long series of data are
needed to attain reliable results.
I
LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
ronment and has already been used
by competent authorities. The beneficiary has advised other institutions
involved in conservation projects such
as university departments, Natural
and National Parks and other islands
administrations. It has also proposed
that the target species, which are
already listed in regional and international lists of endangered species, be
included in the Spanish National List
of Endangered Species.
Dissemination activities included a
successful television publicity campaign. Potential conflicts with private
landowners were avoided by working
mainly in public areas. Such a policy
will ease future monitoring activities
and the habitat management initiated
by the project.
The project produced a huge amount
of new information that furthered
knowledge on the status, biology,
ecology, threats and conservation
needs of the species and their populations. The infrastructure generated
by the project guarantees the continuity of many of the activities carried out
and made it possible to extend similar activities to other species in the
Canary Islands listed as priority in the
Habitats Directive. Most require similar measures to those started in this
project, and the experience gained
through this LIFE project will ease the
huge amount of work to be done.
Life after LIFE
Since the project ended, the structure
of nature conservation has completely
changed in the Canary Islands. Decision-making power, which was centralised at the regional government
level during the project implementation, has largely been transferred to
the “cabildos” (island governments).
In spite of these changes, monitoring of the species status continues
through regular censuses carried
out by the regional government of
all threatened species in the Canary
Islands. Monitoring is carried out in
the framework of several projects
(AFA, SEGA, initiative for climate
change, etc) and is centralised in a
system called SEGAS.
The methodology developed and
put into practise during the project is
relevant for other flora conservation
projects in this Macaronesian envi-
Photo: Elizabeth Ojeda
Dorycnium spectabile plantation in its
natural habitat
An ex-post mission reported that
recovery plans had been drafted for
all the species of the project though
none has yet been approved. However, since the LIFE project ended,
these drafts have been used to draw
up “Methodological guidelines for the
elaboration of plans for threatened
species in the Canary Islands”, a
reference document for the management of other endangered species.
Fifteen recovery plans (including 11
I
p. 33
Photo: Elizabeth Ojeda
Macaronesian flora
Sambucus palmesis flowers
on plants) based on these guidelines
have been approved to date.
“The project was a key milestone for
the kick-off of flora conservation in the
Canary Islands. Previous activities had
implied reacting to urgent measures
needed for specific species or areas
and were not structured in a planned
or organised fashion. This was also
due to the fact that there the regional
government counted on very scarce
resources for nature conservation.
With the LIFE project, an important
boost to resources and personnel was
attained and kept afterwards, helping
to maintain a line of action that continues at present in flora conservation,”
the report concluded.
Project Number:
LIFE97 NAT/E/004165
Title: Conservation of 5 species of
the Monteverde in Canaries
Beneficiary:
Consejeria de Política Territorial
Gobierno de Canarias
Contact: Manuel González Martín
Email: manuel.gonzalezmartin@
gobiernodecanarias.org
Website: http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/cmayot/medioambiente/
medionatural/biodiversidad/vidasilvestre/life9.html
Period:
Jan-1998 to Dec-2000
Total Budget: e 599,000
LIFE Contribution: e 449,000
Macaronesian flora
Portugal: Restoring the laurel forest
of Madeira
The Madeira Archipelago contains a large area of native laurel forest, a priority habitat according to the Habitats Directive and home to several endemic and priority fauna species. Five LIFE
projects have helped to restore this forest, which is threatened by land conversion for agriculture,
woodcutting, cattle grazing, forest fires and invasive species.
Laurissilva (laurel forest) is considered primeval forest and dates
back to the Tertiary period when it
covered vast expanses of southern
Europe and North Africa. The ice
ages brought about a drastic reduc-
rea, supports flora and fauna of
outstanding value, including several
species endemic to Macaronesia
and Madeira, such as the Madeira
laurel pigeon, Columba trocaz.
Rats not only live on food resources
from the forest (plants, shoots, berries and seeds) but also prey heavily on birds, the main vehicle for
spreading seeds and consequently
one of the natural mechanisms of
tion in the area of distribution, now
confined to the islands in the biogeographical region of Macaronesia and
certain pockets in southern Morocco
and on the coast of West Africa.
The area of forest has shrunk progressively since the discovery of the archipelago. To reverse this trend, the main
pockets of laurel forest are now protected as part of the Madeira nature
reserve and a proposed Natura 2000
site (pSCI Laurissilva da Madeira).
forest regeneration.
Nowadays the most extensive and
best preserved expanse of laurel forest is found on the island of Madeira.
Found at an altitude of 300 to 1,300
m, the laurel forest grows in parts of
the island where thick fogs are frequent and rainfall and humidity are
high (minimum of 1,700 mm/year
and average 85%, respectively).
This biotope, frequently dominated
by Laurus azorica and Clethra arbo-
Yet despite being a priority habitat
according to the Habitats Directive,
serious dangers still threaten the forest’s existence. One set of threats
comes from human activities, including land conversion for agriculture,
illegal wood extraction and intensive
grazing by livestock (as well as forest
fires). A second set of threats includes
the spread of non native fauna (rats)
and invasive alien plants.
In the late 1990s, the invading exotic
plant Kahili ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum) went through a phase of
rapid colonisation of new and extensive areas along the lower border of
the forest, endangering its regeneration and expansion. These points of
degradation also hindered the native
fauna.
Laurissilva forest on the north slopes
of Madeira island
Macaronesian flora
I
LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
I
p. 35
Photos: R.Jardim, JB Madeira
LIFE Focus
Andryala crithmifolia (left) and Chamaemeles coriacea (right): plant species targeted by LIFE99 NAT/P/006431
What did LIFE do?
Recovering seeds in Pico Branco,
Porto Santo island
This project partly achieved its
objectives: the most invasive of the
exotics, Hedychium gardnerianum,
was removed both from the laurel
Photo: R.Jardim, JB Madeira
Between 1994 and 2003, LIFE supported five separate projects for the
conservation and restoration of areas
of Madeira’s native laurel forest, and
its flora and fauna . As part of the
initial project (“Urgent measures for
the conservation and recovery of
species and habitats of important
community interest of the Madeira
Archipelago” – LIFE94/P/A222/
P/01052/MAD) 350 ha of excellent
quality laurel forest was purchased
with a view to implementing management measures for the preservation of this priority habitat. The LIFE
project “Recovery of priority habitats
and species of Madeira” (LIFE98
NAT/P/005236), which ran from
October 1998 to September 2000,
was a continuation of the first project
and aimed to improve on some of its
actions. Measures taken included
the purchase of 325 ha of land with
good quality forest, the management
of herding and tourism activities and
the creation of a surveillance centre
in a strategic location.
Partly running in parallel with this
project, the LIFE project “Measures
for the management and conservation of the laurel forest of Madeira”
(LIFE97 NAT/P/004082 – February
1998 to January 2000) aimed to
eradicate the main invading plant
species and assess the extent of
damage caused by rats.
forest and from key areas outside
it. However, the aim of total eradication from a “sanitary belt” around
the forest was not achieved, nor
was the whole set of exotics tackled. However, three jobs were created as a consequence of LIFE and
a permanent exotics fighting team
(supported by national funds) is now
at work on this task, helped by the
Portuguese army. The assessment
of damages caused by rats was not
concluded and only preliminary conclusions were drawn.
Photos: R.Jardim, JB Madeira
Macaronesian flora
Endangered plant species of the Madeira laurel forest: Cheirolophus massonianus (left) Jasminum azoricum (centre) and Pittosporum
coriaceum (right)
Other flora in the forest
The laurel forest is also home to other
rare flora. The LIFE project “Conservation of priority and rare plant species
of Madeira” (LIFE99 NAT/P/006431
– October 1999 to September 2003)
set out to save eight priority rare and
endemic species from extinction.
These species were:
• Aichryson dumosum
• Andryala crithmifolia
• Chamaemeles coriacea
• Cheirolophus massonianus
• Madeira morning glory (Convolvulus massonii)
• Geranium maderense
• Azores jasmine (Jasminum azoricum)
• Pittosporum coriaceum.
The Funduras project
The project successfully established
a germplasm bank containing seed
and vegetative material of the eight
priority species, thereby helping to
conserve genetic variability.
The fifth LIFE Nature project ran from
January 2000 to December 2003. The
aims of “Restoration of the laurel forest
in Funduras” (LIFE99 NAT/P/006436)
included protecting the local ecosystem against the collection of species
and tree cutting, reducing the risk of
forest fires, and disseminating the
native biological heritage and raising
awareness about the importance of its
conservation.
Two species, Jasminum azoricum
and Cheirolophus massonianus,
were successfully reintroduced in
the wild, while a third, Aichryson
domusum, was found to be present
in such numbers that reintroduction
was deemed unnecessary. It was
however reproduced in the Botanical Garden of Madeira for research
purposes.
As a result of an agreement with the
local rangers that survey the area,
together with a technician hired by
the project and integrated into the
regional forestry department, species collection has been successfully
avoided.
The project also succeeded in partially
restoring the habitat in Pico Branco
that houses many of the species.
Aichryson dumosum: found only on a cliff on the south slope of Madeira island
This LIFE project has also increased
the local population’s knowledge of
the importance of the area of laurel forest and two INTERREG III-B
projects have since taken place with
the aims of promoting walking tourism
and describing in detail the Funduras
area within the Natura 2000 network.
Photo: R.Jardim, JB Madeira
Life after LIFE
It should be noted that the restoration of areas invaded by alien species is a slow and long-term task.
However, with the support of LIFE,
Madeira is taking strides towards
achieving that long-term goal.
LIFE Focus
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LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
I
p. 37
Restoration
of of
habitats
Restoration
habitats
Many endangered plant species are narrow-range endemic species with special habitat requirements. Their conservation status is highly dependent on the status of the
habitat. Thus, the restoration and management of their habitats is crucial for their survival. Some LIFE projects have been restoring endangered plant species habitats, and
at the same time promoting conservation actions on- and off-site in order to guarantee
the long-range conservation of the plant species.
Restoration of habitats
Austria: Lake Constance forget-menot flourishes in Bregenz once more
thanks to LIFE-Nature
Restoration and renaturation works by an Austrian LIFE-Nature project along a stretch of the Lake
Constance shoreline have helped to ensure the long-term survival of Myosotis rehsteineri – a forget-me-not species endemic to the region. The designated Natura 2000 site gained its regional
protection status in 2003. The work carried out by the LIFE team was commended in accompanying documentation for this process.
Myosotis rehsteineri: endemic to the gravel shores of Lake Constance
The Lake Constance forget-me-not
(Myosotis rehsteineri) as the name suggests, is found in the Lake Constance
region, which straddles Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Here, in the
lake’s natural flood plain, it thrives
on the gravel banks built up during
the postglacial period, from pebbles
washed down by the Alpine rivers.
In early spring when the Lake
Constance forget-me-not blooms
– and when lake water levels are at
their lowest – strips of the shoreline
used to be carpeted with a light blue
sheen. Unfortunately, this spectacular sight has become increasingly
rare. One reason for the species’
decline in Bregenz is that up until the
1990s, large amounts of gravel were
extracted from the lake for building
projects. Over time, the broad gravel banks that used to gently slope
down into the lakes gradually disappeared and were replaced by unstable, steep slopes where the motion
of the waves rolls the gravel to and
fro unimpeded – leaving little chance
for the delicate gravel bank flora to
take hold.
What did LIFE do?
The main objective of the LIFENature project was to restore 2,600
metres of eroding lakeshore near the
city of Bregenz in Austria, to help the
survival of Myosotis rehsteineri, as
well as to preserve other important
habitats and species found in the
erosion zone. At the same time, the
gravel deposited under water would
serve as spawning ground for fish.
The project was run by Amt der Landeshauptstadt Bregenz, the depart-
Restoration of habitats
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LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
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p. 39
ment of the Austrian city of Bregenz
responsible for environment and
conservation issues. Using a technique that had already been successfully applied on the German (western) side of the lake, as part of the
actions of an earlier LIFE-Nature
project, “Biotope-Network Westlicher Untersee – Lake Constance”
(LIFE99 NAT/D/005940), the technical restoration works to stabilise the
Bregenz shoreline were implemented
during the four winters of the project
period (April 2001 to May 2005), to
avoid damaging the sensitive plant
life on the shore.
A line of coarse pebbles was laid
along the low-water mark (to absorb
the shock of the breaking waves).
Then the space between this line and
the original shoreline was filled with a
thin layer of finer gravel, similar to the
shore sediment that was previously
found here and that had originally
been the habitat of the forget-menot. The choice of grain size of the
gravel used for the outer border and
the shallow infill depended on the
inclination of the slope and the wave
forces expected at that point. The
approximately 2,600 m long lakeshore was successfully treated using
A line of coarse pebbles was laid along the low-water mark (to absorb the shock of the
breaking waves)
this technique during the low-water
periods each winter. Completed
in 2005, the works are only visible
during times of extremely low water
levels.
Through collaboration with the local
municipal plant nursery, the project
team also demonstrated that the
The project added finer gravel, similar to the original habitat of the forget-me-not
species was easy to artificially propagate. As a result, more than 1,650
specimens were produced within a
few months. These were then reintroduced to certain sections of the
shoreline within the project’s wider
restoration actions.
Over the course of the project, the
beneficiary faced two major problems. Firstly, there was political
and social pressure to weaken the
protection status of the site, which
is situated in a popular tourist area,
partly within the city of Bregenz. And,
secondly, once the restoration was
achieved, visitor pressure increased,
generating a need for management
of these visitors to avoid trampling
and disturbance.
The project dealt with both these
problems successfully by carrying
out intensive public relations, communications and visitor guidance
work. For example, “UferNatur”, a
visitor guidance and information
programme launched at the end of
2000, was expanded considerably
under LIFE. Panels, an educational
nature trail, seasonal brochures,
Restoration of habitats
information and thematic posters,
maps and advertisements were produced informing visitors and the local
population about the protection status and the code of conduct for the
protected area. Information material
included a video film “Grillfest meets
Haubentaucher” (“Barbeque meets
Great crested grebe”), dealing with
tourist pressure and its impact on
the designated Natura 2000 site.
A project website, designed and
maintained by secondary school
students, remains open – providing
further details on the LIFE project.
What was the outcome?
In 2003, the designated Natura 2000
site gained its regional protection
status. The conservation work carried out by the LIFE-Nature team was
commended in accompanying documentation for this process. The following year, thanks to the restoration
of its habitat and the artificial propagation of the plant, some 83,000
individuals of the Lake Constance
forget-me-not species were counted
in the project area. This was evalua-
Planting Myosotis on recovered areas
ted as a stable population with “very
good” long-term prospects.
The project also brought indirect
benefits to a number of habitats listed in the Habitats Directive, including: Molinia meadows on chalk and
clay (3.61 ha); transition mires and
quaking bogs (0.05 ha); alkaline fens
(0.23 ha); residual alluvial forests
Alnion-glutionoso-incanae (1.4 ha);
and mixed oak-elm-ash forests of
great rivers (a few hectares). While all
of these habitats are scattered and
small, they host a number of Annex
II species, for example, large blues
(Maculinea) and fire-bellied toad
(Bombina) species, as well as Annex
I birds such as the bittern (Botaurus
stellaris) and the kingfisher (Alcedo
atthis). The benefits for these habitats stemmed from the reduction of
trampling and disturbance resulting
from the visitor guidance measures
implemented by the project.
Finally, other habitats (not listed in
the Habitats Directive) that benefited
from the project are reedbeds (9.12
ha; breeding and resting habitats for
bird species) and gravelly/sandy shorelines (10.23 ha), which are potential
expansion habitats for the delicate
lakeshore vegetation, and therefore
of eminent importance for the longterm maintenance of the endemic
forget-me-not.
Project Number:
LIFE00 NAT/A/007069
Title: Protecting the habitat of
Myosotis rehsteineri in Bregenz
Beneficiary:
Amt der Landeshautpstadt Bregenz
Contact: Gerold Ender
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
www.bregenz.at/index.php?id=1066
Period:
Apr-2001 to May-2005
Myosotis in bloom on previously planted
areas
Total Budget: e 2,040,000
LIFE Contribution: e 1,020,000
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LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
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p. 41
Germany: The Benningen Marsh
A LIFE-Nature project in Bavaria has successfully restored parts of the Benningen Marsh
(Benniger Ried). This ecologically valuable calcareous fen is home to rare plants, including the
world’s only confirmed population of Armeria purpurea.
The Benningen Marsh, located
between the towns of Benningen and
Memmingen in Bavaria, Southern
Germany, is a 22 ha calcareous fen
and petrifying springs complex with
expanses of water where groundwater reaches the surface. The site,
a priority habitat for conservation
included in Annex 1 of the Habitats
the core zone that he would do nature
restoration works on his property.
directive, contains rare plants such
as Armeria maritime ssp. purpurea,
a magenta-coloured wildflower found
only in this location, and the creeping
marshwort (Apium repens). However,
over decades, pressure from housing and agriculture had changed the
quality and percolation volume of
the groundwater in the area. Open
springs had become overgrown with
trees and shrubs. Tufts of black sedge
(Schoenus nigricans) formed a thick
choking mat around the Armeria and
tufa mosses (Cratoneurion).There was
practically no active management of
the site and the local population was
largely unaware of the rare habitats
and species on its doorstep.
which tufa mosses and Armeria could
spread. To further help the spread of
Armeria, the project team cut openings
in tree belts to let pollinating insects
enter the core zone.
What did LIFE do?
In 1996, the LIFE-Nature “Benningen”
project was set up to preserve and
improve the core zone as an ecologically valuable calcareous fen, while
creating a buffer zone of humid meadows around it by rehumidification.
A detailed hydrogeological survey was
used to determine the exact hydrological measures that needed to be
taken. The beneficiary and partners
purchased or leased 38 ha of land,
and an agreement was struck with
the owner of a further 11 ha of land in
This species is not included in the Habitats directive
The project removed succession overgrowth and non-indigenous trees, in
particular conifers, to reduce water loss
through evapo-transpiration. Scattered
plots of black sedge were scooped out
to create mosaics of open patches into
Public relations work was carried out to
raise awareness amongst the local community and visitors of the value of this
forgotten site. This included publishing
brochures and reports and establishing
a visitor observation point.
What was the outcome?
The LIFE project has led to a major
improvement to the site’s conservation
status.The hydrological project works
(boulder dams, groynes and a reduction in the frequency of ditch cleaning)
brought about a 10-20 cm increase in
the water level and increased calcium
carbonate precipitation, both prerequisites for the expansion of the tufa
mosses and Armeria. In the patches
where the black sedge was removed,
new growth of Cratoneurion and
Armeria was observed. Other species besides Armeria were found to
have increased in number, including
the plant Bartsia alpina, the narrowmouthed whorl snail (Vertigo angustior) and hygrophile grasshoppers.
The blue-tailed damselfly (Ischnura
pumilio) returned to the site in 2003
after a 10-year absence. Both the
dragonflies and the population of
Armeria maritime subsp. purpurea on
calcareous fens
European tree frogs (Hyla arborea)
benefited from restoration work
around their breeding ponds.
The data collected during and in
parallel with the LIFE project greatly
increased knowledge of the site. Many
rare invertebrate species were found,
such as Neumania verrucosa. The
project has also massively raised the
profile of the pSCI and its rare species
amongst the local public.
Project Number:
LIFE96 NAT/D/000304
Title: Protection and development of
Benningen Marsh (Benninger Ried)
Beneficiary: Bayerisches
Staatsministerium für Umwelt,
Gesundheit und Verbraucherschutz,
Bavaria, Germany
Contact: Harald Lippert
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
www.LIFE-natur.de (with video)
Period:
Jan-1996 to Aug-2003
Total Budget: e 386,000
LIFE Contribution: e 227,000
Restoration of habitats
Romania: Restoring forest habitats,
preventing soil erosion and guarding
against avalanches
Located in the Pietrosul Rodnei Biosphere Reserve, part of the Rodnei National Park in the
Carpathian mountains in northern Romania, this project targeted the restoration of two seriously
threatened alpine forest habitats: mixed cembra pine/spruce forests and mugo pine shrublands.
The actions were implemented on the avalanche-prone slopes of Mount Pietrosul Rodnei. In the
short term the project achieved its restoration objectives for the targeted habitats. In the longer
term the LIFE actions will play an important role in helping to guard against soil erosion and future
avalanches.
The 6,415-ha Pietrosul biosphere
Among the habitats of Community
40 over-aged trees remaining, the
reserve, now also a proposed Natura
2000 site, hosts a number of habitats
and species of Community interest,
some of which have become damaged by human activities. The main
threats include tourism (e.g. skiing,
hiking, mountaineering), selective
logging, livestock-grazing and disturbance from hunting, for example
of chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra).
interest in the reserve, forests are the
most seriously degraded, surviving
in some cases only ������������������
in ���������������
small patches.
Some tree species, such as the cembra pine (Pinus cembra) and mugo
pine (Pinus mugo) only survive at 1%
and 21% respectively, of their former
area. In the past, a large population
of cembra pine was present in the
targeted area, but with only around
species population has now become
almost extinct locally.
In Romania, the cembra pine grows,
together with mugo pine and spruce,
at high altitudes (1,600-2,000 metres).
It also occurs in the Polish, Ukrainian
and Slovak Carpathians, as well as
the Austrian, Swiss, French and Italian
Alps. The species’ habitat, which has a
Photo: Frank Vassen
Pinus mugo and Pinus cembra habitat in Pietrosul Rodnei, Oriental Carpathians
Restoration of habitats
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LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
Photo: Frank Vassen
LIFE Focus
Pinus mugo tree planted at an altitude of 1,800 m
priority status according to the Habitats
Directive, is important for a number of
reasons, including reforestation in the
sub-Alpine zone, and landscaping.
Its wood is used for the manufacture
of furniture and crafts, and its seeds
are one of the most important food
resources for the bird species, the nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes).
The distributional trend of another
priority habitat, Pinus mugo and
Rhododendron hirsutum shrubland,
is also decreasing in the Pietrosul.
When allowed to grow naturally, its
continuous carpet effect helps guard
against soil erosion. However, during
the 1970s, the P. mugo carpet was cut
over a large area in the Pietrosul to
create land for livestock grazing. As
a result, the area has become more
prone to avalanches. For example, in
1996 an avalanche killed four hikers
within the LIFE project area.
What did LIFE do?
The four-year LIFE-Nature project
was run by ICAS – the Romanian
Institute for Forest Management
and Research – and the Maramures
Forest State Administration. The
project’s main objective was the
recovery of the cembra pine/spruce
and mugo pine habitats in a 50-ha
area, located mainly on the very steep
(40-60°) northern slopes of Mt. Pietrosul Rodnei, (rising to 2,303 metres
it is the highest peak in the Rodnei
mountains). The work included the
planting of seedlings originating
from neighbouring areas within the
reserve, with similar genetic origin
and environmental requirements.
I
p. 43
The conservation of other flora and
fauna was also tackled through the
drawing up and execution of a management plan for the whole reserve,
backed up by surveillance and
monitoring. Ahead of the planting
of the seedlings, a chalet refuge was
built. During the project implementation, the chalet housed the workers, project team, and researchers
– providing shelter during activities
such as the seedlings’ plantation,
the scientific inventory of the woody,
herbaceous, bird and carnivore species and GIS measurements. Since
the project ended, the chalet has
been put to use by the National
Park, mainly by the park warden.
A GIS distribution map was also
prepared for the forest, herbaceous,
and stony habitats in the reserve.
The planting, together with its associated activities, proved to be the
most laborious and difficult of tasks.
For example, sticks and seedlings
were transported from Borsa (650 m
elevation) to the project area (1,800
m elevation) along a very treacherous path, using a primitive caterpillar
track. The sticks, used for field marking of the seedlings, were carried on
This chalet was built to shelter the LIFE project team and park warden
Restoration of habitats
workers’ back to the planting area.
Another laborious task was the digging of the seedling beds in spring
and the planting in autumn.
An awareness-raising campaign was
launched at the start of the project,
which continued throughout the
project period.
What was the outcome?
The project’s main achievement was
the successful reintroduction of cembra pine and its restoration together
with the mugo pine and spruce on
50-ha. In total, 15,500 seedlings
were used for the restoration instead
of the 10,000 foreseen. The monitoring of the restoration work confirmed
that the correct methodology was
used, as shown by the high survival
rate of seedlings.
Another major output was the management plan setting out actions
to be taken during the project and
establishing a working framework for
long-term conservation and management of the reserve. After the establishment of the national park in 2004,
the scope of this plan was extended
from the foreseen area of the biosphere reserve to the entire area of
Transporting the sticks for field marking the seedlings was an arduous task
the national park. The plan includes
economic and conservation activities for the sustainable development
of the area with special emphasis to
specific actions regarding the restoration of woody habitats and conservation of all flora and fauna habitats.
This action involved consultation with
local administrators, stakeholders
and local residents, and the organisation of three workshops, the last of
which took place in May 2007. The
Project manager Ioan Blada (left) shows the pines planted on the restored area
beneficiary also organised an international IUFRO conference (37 participants from 11 countries) focusing
on pines, including cembra pine.
Life after LIFE
The project’s after-LIFE conservation plan foresees a continuation of
activities initiated during the LIFE
project, especially maintenance of
seedlings and young plants and the
monitoring of the success of restoration actions.
Project Number:
LIFE03 NAT/RO/000027
Title: Restoration forest habitats
from Pietrosul Rodnei Biosphere
Reserve
Beneficiary:
ICAS-Forest Research and
Management Institute
Contact: Ioan Blada
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
http://www.icassv.ro/life_pietrosu/
Period:
Jun-2003 to Jun-2007
Total Budget: e 213,000
LIFE Contribution: e 107,000
Restoration of habitats
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LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
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p. 45
Czech Republic: Preserving
the beauty and biodiversity
of the Moravian Karst
Located in the southernmost part of the Moravian Karst, one of the most attractive areas in the
Czech Republic, the LIFE ‘Rupicolous’ was a complex, but highly successful project. It featured a
series of interrelated actions targeting sub-pannonic steppic grasslands that contain the endangered plant forest habitats.
Hády Hill, rising to 423 metres above
sea level, dominates the landscape to
the northeast of Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic. The site
What did LIFE do?
is situated in the southernmost part of
the Moravian Karst, a limestone area
of caves and small underground rivers,
which is one of the most beautiful and
most visited areas in the country. The
presence of lime and the flow of the
Svratka river, which cuts a deep valley,
have contributed to creating the ideal
conditions for a high concentration
of thermophilous plant species and
habitats. Several of these are included
in the Habitats Directive: Echium russicum and Pulsatilla grandis (Annex II)
and Cypripedium calceolus (Annex V),
sub-pannonic steppic grasslands, pannonian white oak woods, pannonian
oak hornbeam forests, lime alder forests of slopes, screes and ravines and
calcareous scree (all of which are listed
in Annex I). Several developments were
threatening the unique biodiversity of
this area. A move away from traditional
agriculture and grazing methods had
led to overgrowth on pastures and the
invasion of alien species such as black
locust (Robinia pseudacacia), common
ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and Norway
spruce (Picea abies). Furthermore, the
priority habitats and species were being
endangered by the existence of limestone quarries that gradually destroyed
the unique steppe grasslands. Following the closure of the quarry at Hády
in 1998, the area was abandoned and
had become overgrown.
a local nature conservation organisation. Its main objective was the restoration and sustainable management of
some 150 ha of the Hády’s natural and
semi-natural vegetation, a haven for
some very rare thermophilous plants
and habitats. This was achieved by
a series of interrelated actions. For
example, in order to safeguard the
most endangered flora and fauna, the
beneficiary purchased 5 ha of land
close to the Hády quarry. Abandoned
pastures with sub-pannonic steppic
grasslands were restored and traditional sheep grazing re-established.
Restoration actions included the
removal of invasive tree species and
scrub vegetation and the introduction
of appropriate grazing management.
Plant species that thrive in a warm environment
Credit: KingsbraeGarden
The project was managed by the
project beneficiary, Land Trust Hády,
Pulsatilla grandis: a species targeted by
the project
planting seedlings of oak, lime tree,
sycamore and common maple. Traditional grazing was also successfully reestablished to maintain the grasslands
and woodlands. On a small (2 ha) area,
Norway spruce trees were removed in
order to restore the lime alder forests
of slopes, screes and ravines and calcareous screes of hill and montane levels in lower parts of the valley.
What was the outcome?
The project was successful and its
achievements have gone beyond what
was expected at the outset – i.e. some
12 ha of land in and around the Hády
quarry was bought from the mining
company, Českomoravský Cement.
The two Annex II priority plant species
Echium russicum and Pulsatilla grandis now grow on this land. To favour
the expansion of the dry grassland
habitats and white oak forests, invasive species (in particular black locust
and common ash) were eliminated
over 56 ha ( the original proposal was
for 25 ha). The natural succession of
the vegetation was encouraged by
Project Number:
LIFE04 NAT/CZ/000015
Title: Restoration of thermophilous
habitats in the Moravian Karst
Beneficiary: Land Trust Hády (Local
Chapter of the Czech Union for
Nature Conservation)
Contact: Václav Izák
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
http://psh.ecn.cz/index2.htm
Period:
Oct-2004 to Dec-2007
Total Budget: e 550,000
LIFE Contribution: e 412,000
Further projects focusing
on endangered plants
The table below provides further examples of LIFE projects focusing on endangered plants.
For more information on individual projects, visit the online database at:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm. The database provides useful, detailed
search fields – for example under “species” users may search plant and mosses species under
“Pteridophyta”, “Lower plants”, “Gymnospermae” and ”Angiospermae”
Country
Number
Name
Annex II targeted plant
species
Austria
LIFE00 NAT/A/007069
Protecting the habitat of Myosotis rehsteineri in
Bregenz
Myosotis rehsteineri
Cyprus
LIFE04 NAT/CY/000013
Conservation management in Natura 2000 sites of Alnus orientalis¤
Cyprus
Arabis kennedyae*
Chionodoxa lochiae*
Pinguicula crystallina*
Pinus nigra subsp. pallasiana¤
Posidonia oceanica¤
Quercus alnifolia¤
Quercus infectoria¤
Scilla morrisii*
Zizyphus lotus¤
Czech
Republic
LIFE04 NAT/CZ/000015
Restoration of thermophilous habitats in the Echium russicum
Moravian Karst
Pulsatilla grandis
Finland
LIFE00 NAT/FIN/007059
Conservation of Cypripedium calceolus and Cypripedium calceolus
Saxifraga hirculus in northern Finland
Saxifraga hirculus
France
LIFE96 NAT/F/003200
The Mediterranean holm oak grove integrated
management
LIFE99 NAT/F/006332
Priority species, chalk grasslands and scree in the Viola hispida*
lower Seine valley catchment area
Biscutella neustriaca*
LIFE00 NAT/F/007273
For a conservatory management of the laricio pine
habitats
Pinus nigra subsp. laricio var.
corsicana¤
LIFE06 NAT/F/000137
Rescue of Viola hispida and Biscutella neustriaca in
the Seine valley
Viola hispida*
Biscutella neustriaca*
LIFE96 NAT/D/003042
Protection and development of the population of Jurinea cyanoides*
Jurinea cyanoides (Silberscharte) in the typical plan
association on continental dunes (Sandgrasheiden)
near Volkach
LIFE96 NAT/D/003043
Protection and development of the Benningen Apium repens
Marsh (Benniger Ried)
LIFE02 NAT/D/008457
Restoration of a freshwater section of the estuary of Oenanthe conioides*
the River Elbe especially for Oenanthe conioides
LIFE04/NAT/D/000025
Living Rhine floodplain near Karlsruhe
Marsilea quadrifolia
LIFE99 NAT/GR/006497
Amelioration and conservation of Rouva’s Forest
on Idi Mountain
Zelkova abelicea
Cephalanthera cucullata*
LIFE04 NAT/GR/000104
A pilot network of plant micro-reserves in western
Crete
Androcymbium rechingeri*
Anthemis glaberrima*
Bupleurum kakiskalae*
Cephalanthera cucullata*
Hypericum aciferum*
Nepeta sphaciotica*
Phoenix theofrasti
Germany
Greece
Centaurea corymbosa
LIFE Focus
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LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
I
Country
Number
Name
Annex II targeted plant
species
Hungary
LIFE02 NAT/H/008630
The practical protection of Angelica palustris
habitats
Angelica palustris
LIFE06 NAT/H/000104
Conservation of the Pannon endemic Dianthus
diutinus
Dianthus diutinus*
LIFE97 NAT/IT/004163
Conservation acts for Apennine Abies alba and Abies alba¤
Picea excelsa forests and Apennine beech forests Picea excelsea¤
with Abies alba
Taxus baccata¤
LIFE99 NAT/IT/006217
EOLIFE99 - Conservation of priority plant species Bassia saxicola* in the Aeolian Islands
Cytisus aeolicus* Ophrys lunulata*
Silene hicesiae*
LIFE00 NAT/IT/007228
Conservation of Abies nebrodensis (Lojac) Mattei Abies nebrodensis*
in situ and ex situ
LIFE03 NAT/IT/000160
Preservation of Taxus and Ilex central Apennine
beech-wood
Taxus baccata¤
LIFE04 NAT/IT/000182
Preservation and extension of priority habitats
damaged by agricultural activity
Aster sorrentinii*
LIFE04 NAT/IT/000190
Conservation actions in NATURA 2000 sites mana- Abies alba¤
ged by the State Forest Service
Pinus nigra subsp. laricio¤
LIFE04 NAT/IT/000191
Conservation of Apennine beech forests with Abies
alba SIC Pigelleto - M. Amiata
LIFE98 NAT/P/005229
Asphodelus bento-rainhae - measures to manage Asphodelus bento-rainhae*
and preserve it
LIFE98 NAT/P/005234
Conservation of four rare species in pSCI
(Valongo)
LIFE99 NAT/P/006431
Conservation of priority and rare plant species of Aichryson dumosum
Madeira
Andryala crithmifolia
Chamaemeles coriacea*
Cheirolophus massonianus
Convolvulus massonii*
Geranium maderense*
Jasminum azoricum
Pittosporum coriaceum*
LIFE99 NAT/P/006441
Montados of the Cabeção Site: management of
habitats and species
Halimium verticillatum
LIFE02 NAT/P/008480
National plan for conservation of endangered plants
(first phase)
Convovulus fernandesii*
Linaria ricardoi*
Marsilea quadrifolia
Narcisus scaberulus
Omphalodes kuzinskyanae
Tuberaria major*
Plantago algarbinesis
Plantago almogravensis
LIFE99 NAT/RO/006391
Conservation of a Euro-Siberian wood with oak Narcissus poeticus subsp.
(Quercus robur)
radiiflorus
LIFE03 NAT/RO/000027
Restoration forest habitats from Pietrosul Rodnei
biosphere reserve
Pinus cembra¤
Pinus mugo¤
Picea abies¤
LIFE04 NAT/RO/000225
Forests with Pinus nigra banatica - part of NATURA
2000
Pinus nigra subsp. banatica
Italy
Portugal
Romania
Abies alba¤
Taxus baccata¤
Culcita macrocarpa
Trichomanes speciosum
p. 47
Country
Number
Name
Annex II targeted plant
species
Slovenia
LIFE04 NAT/SI/000240
NATURA 2000 in Slovenia – management models
and information system
Pulsatilla grandis
Spain
LIFE96 NAT/E/003096
Conservation of 13 endangered plant species in Androsace pyrenaica
Aragon (Spain)
Boleum asperum Borderea chouardii*
Centaurea pinnata*
Cypripedium calceolus
Hamatocaulis vernicosus (moss)
Lythrum flexuosum*
Orthotrichum rogeri (moss)
Petrocoptis montsicciana
Petrocoptis pseudoviscosa
Puccinellia pungens
Riella helicophylla (moss)
Sideritis javalambrensis
Spain
LIFE97 NAT/E/004165
Conservation of five species of the Monteverde in Dorycnium spectabile*
the Canary Islands
Myrica rivas-martinezii*
Isoplexis chalcantha*
Sambucus palmensis*
Sideritis discolor*
Spain
LIFE98 NAT/E/005358
Recovery of areas of threatened flora in Sierra
Nevada
LIFE99 NAT/E/006417
Conservation of priority habitats in the Valencian Riella helicophylla (moss)
Community
Silene hifacensis*
LIFE00 NAT/E/007355
Conservation of areas with threatened species of Anthyllis hystrix
flora on the island of Minorca
Apium bermejoi*
Centaurea balearica*
Daphne rodriguezii*
LIFE03 NAT/E/0000064
Managing and adding value to three high-mountain
Valencian habitats
Juniperus sabina¤
Pinus nigra subsp. salzmannii¤
Taxus baccata¤
LIFE03 NAT/E/000059
Integral management of the habitats of Northwest
region of the Murcia Province
Pinus nigra subsp. salzmannii¤
Juniperus thurifera¤
LIFE04 NAT/E/000064
Restoration of Juniperus spp. forests on Tenerife
Juniperus turbinata subsp.
canariensis¤
LIFE04 NAT/E/0000044
Recovery of the littoral sand dunes with Juniper spp
in Valencia
Juniperus oxycedrus subsp.
macrocarpa¤
LIFE05 NAT/E/000067
Conservation and restoration of Aiako Harria LIC Soldanella villosa
(ES2120016)
* Priority species for conservation
¤
Annex I habitat
Narcisus nevadensis*
Arenaria nevadensis*
Artemisia granatensis*
Centaurea gadorensis
Erigeron frigidus
Senecio elodes*
Senecio nevadensis
Erodium astragaloides*
Erodium rupicola*
Odontites granatensis
Laserpitium longiradium
LIFE Focus
I
LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
I
p. 49
Available LIFE publications
LIFE-Focus brochures
A number of LIFE publications are
available on the LIFE website:
LIFE and Europe’s wetlands: Restoring
a vital ecosystem (2007 - 68 pp. - ISBN
978-92-79-07617-6)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/wetlands.pdf
LIFE and waste recycling: Innovative
waste management options in Europe
(2007 - 60 pp. - ISBN 978-92-79-07397-7)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/recycling.pdf
LIFE and Europe’s rivers: Protecting
and improving our water resources
(2007 – 52pp. ISBN 978-92-79-05543-0
- ISSN 1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/rivers.pdf
LIFE and Energy: Innovative solutions
for sustainable and efficient energy in
Europe (2007 – 64pp. ISBN 978 92-7904969-9 - ISSN 1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/energy_lr.pdf
LIFE and the marine environment
(2006 – 54pp. ISBN 92-79-03447-2- ISSN
1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/marine_lr.pdf
LIFE and European forests (2006 - 68pp.
ISBN 92-79-02255-5 - ISSN 1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/forest_lr.pdf
LIFE in the City: Innovative solutions
for Europe’s urban environment (2006,
64pp. - ISBN 92-79-02254-7 – ISSN
1725-5619) http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/urban_lr.pdf
Integrated management of Natura
2000 sites (2005 - 48 pp. – ISBN 92-7900388-7) http://ec.europa.eu/environment/
life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/managingnatura_lr.pdf
Other publications
LIFE, Natura 2000 and the military
(2005 - 86 pp. – ISBN 92-894-9213-9
– ISSN 1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/military_en.pdf
Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007
(2007, 44 pp.-ISBN 978-92-79-06699-3
ISSN 1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/bestprojects
documents/bestenv07.pdf
LIFE for birds: 25 years of the Birds
Directive: the contribution of LIFENature projects (2004 - 48 pp. – ISBN
92-894-7452-1 – ISSN 1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/birds_en.pdf
LIFE-Third Countries 1992-2006 (2007,
64 pp. – ISBN 978-92-79-05694-9 – ISSN
1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/TCY_lr.pdf
The air we breathe: LIFE and the European Union clean air policy (2004 - 32 pp.
– ISBN 92-894-7899-3 – ISSN 1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/lifeair_hr.pdf
LIFE-Nature: communicating with
stakeholders and the general public
– Best practice examples for Natura
2000 (2004 - 72 pp. – ISBN 92-8947898-5 – ISSN 1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/natcommunicat_lr.pdf
A cleaner, greener Europe: LIFE and
the European Union waste policy
(2004 - 28 pp. – ISBN 92-894-6018-0
– ISSN 1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/waste_en.pdf
Industrial pollution, European solutions: clean technologies – LIFE and
the Directive on integrated pollution
prevention and control (IPPC Directive) (2003 - 32 pp. – ISBN 92-8946020-2 – ISSN 1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/cleantech_en.pdf
LIFE and agri-environment supporting Natura 2000: Experience from the
LIFE programme (2003 - 72 pp. – ISBN
92-894-6023-7 – ISSN N° 1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/agrienvironment_en.pdf
Best LIFE-Environment Projects 20052006 (2006, 40 pp. ISBN 92-79-02123-0)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/bestprojects/
documents/bestenv06_lr.pdf
LIFE-Environment 1992-2004 “Demonstrating excellence in environmental innovation” (2005, 124 pp. – ISBN
92-894-7699-3 – ISSN 1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/lifeenv92_04.pdf
LIFE-Environment Projects 2006 compilation (2006, 56 pp.-ISBN 92-79-02786-7)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/
life/publications/lifepublications/
compilations/documents/envcompilation06.pdf
LIFE-Nature Projects 2006 compilation
(2006, 67 pp. – ISBN 92-79-02788-3)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/compilations/documents/natcompilation06.pdf
LIFE-Third Countries Projects 2006
compilation (2006, 20 pp. – ISBN 9279-02787-5)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/
life/publications/lifepublications/
compilations/documents/tcycompilation06.pdf
A number of printed copies of certain LIFE publications are available and can be ordered free-ofcharge at: http://ec.europa.eu/
environment/life/publications/
order.htm
LIFE “L’Instrument Financier pour l’Environnement” / The financial instrument for the environment
Period covered (LIFE III) 2000-2006.
EU funding available approximately EUR 945 million.
Type of intervention co-financing actions in favour of the environment (LIFE projects) in the Member States of
the European Union, in associated candidate countries and in certain third countries bordering the Mediterranean and
the Baltic Sea.
LIFE projects
> LIFE Nature projects improve the conservation status of endangered species and natural habitats. They support the
implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives and the Natura 2000 network.
> LIFE Environment projects contribute to the development of innovative and integrated techniques or methods to
support environmental progress.
> LIFE Third Countries projects support environmental capacity building and initiatives in non-EU countries bordering
the Mediterranean and the Baltic Sea.
“L’Instrument Financier pour l’Environnement” / The financial instrument for the environment
Period covered (LIFE+) 2007-2013.
EU funding available approximately EUR 2,143 million
Type of intervention at least 78% of the budget is for co-financing actions in favour of the environment (LIFE+
projects) in the Member States of the European Union and in certain non-EU countries.
LIFE+ projects
> LIFE Nature projects improve the conservation status of endangered species and natural habitats. They support the
implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives and the Natura 2000 network.
> LIFE+ Biodiversity projects improve biodiversity in the EU. They contribute to the implementation of the objectives of
the Commission Communication, “Halting the loss of Biodiversity by 2010 – and beyond” (COM (2006) 216 final).
> LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance projects contribute to the development and demonstration of innovative
policy approaches, technologies, methods and instruments in support of European environmental policy and legislation.
> LIFE+ Information and Communication projects are communication and awareness raising campaigns related to the
implementation, updating and development of European environmental policy and legislation, including the prevention
of forest fires and training for forest fire agents.
Further information
further information on LIFE and LIFE+ is available at http://ec.europa.eu/life.
How to apply for LIFE+ funding
The European Commission organises annual calls for proposals. Full details are
available at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/funding/lifeplus.htm
Contact
European Commission – Directorate-General for the Environment
LIFE Unit – BU-9 02/1 – B-1049 Brussels – Internet: http://ec.europa.eu/life
LIFE Focus / LIFE and endangered plants: Conserving Europe’s threatened flora
Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
2008 - 52p - 21 x 29.7 cm
ISBN 978-92-79-08815-5
ISSN 1725-5619
doi: 10.2779/99297�
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