Workshops

Workshop: Developing new plant conservation projects in Europe

Bonomi C. ¹, Azzolini S. ¹, Bacchetta G. ², Panero I. ³, Cambria V.E. ³, Villani M. ⁴, La Rosa A. ⁵, Salmeri C. ⁵, Cristaudo A. ⁶, Di Paola A.I. ⁶, Blandino C. ⁶

1 MUSE, Trento Science Museum, Italy; costantino.bonomi@muse.it
2 University of Cagliari, Italy
3 University of Rome, La sapienza, Italy
4 University of Padua, Italy
5 University of Palermo, Italy
6 University of Catania, Italy

One objective of the currently running Life Seedforce project (LIFE20/NAT/IT/001468 – Using SEED banks to restore and reinFORCE the endangered native plants of Italy), is to replicate the project approach in other areas, aiming at submitting to Life future calls 3 proposals for similar projects centred in biodiversity-rich areas of Europe in urgent need of conservation actions such as the Mediterranean, the Balkans and Macaronesia. In a nutshell Life Seedforce focus on Annex II species reported in bad conservation status and puts in place well targeted actions to improve their conservation status and reverse the bad conditions such as: plant propagation, habitat improvement and plant translocation in key sites (either reintroduction, reinforcement or introduction), having acquired essential preliminary knowledge on genetic diversity, niche requirement and change, developing the best site-adapted translocation mix.

This workshop plans to develop initiatives aimed at replicating this approach, identifying suitable areas and partners willing to develop such projects, and driving their development, offering guidance and experience from the currently running Life Seedforce project.

Participants should identify in advance of the workshop a list of target species that qualify (annex II species reported in bad conditions either U1 or U2 divided per country and per biogeographical region as detailed on the European Environmental Agency: Conservation status and trends of habitats and species portal) and a list of Natura 2000 sites where they can work on (where these species are still present or were present in the past). Participants should identify in advance per species per site the key threats that imperil the survival of the target species in these areas and devise a strategy to remove or mitigate them such as habitat improvement and/or population reinforcement. Once this preliminary background research is validated, new project ideas con be discussed and their development begin.

Keywords: Habitats Directive, conservation measures, European hotspots, reversing bad conservation status

Acknowledgements: Life Seedforce received funding by the Life Programme – The European Union funding instrument for the environment and climate action, under contract LIFE20/NAT/IT/001468