LIFE and endangered plants: Conserving Europe's threatened flora

L I F E I I I

LIFE and endangered plants Conserving Europe’s threatened flora

colours C/M/Y/K32/49/79/21

European CommissionEnvironment 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.

Additional information on the European Union is available on the Internet.

It can be accessed through the Europa server (http://europa.eu).

Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2007

ISBN 978-92-79-08815-5

ISSN 1725-5619

doi: 10.2779/9929710.2779/99297

© European Communities, 2008

Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.

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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 extinc-

tion 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

Patrick Murphy

LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants I p. �

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

France: Saving two

Norman plants ................ 12

Germany: Grassland

protection in Bavaria ..... 14

Portugal: Managing and

preserving Asphodelus

bento-rainhae ................. 16

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

Spain: Protecting

extraordinary biodiversity

in the Sierra Nevada ...... 30

Macaronesian flora .... 31

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


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.

Europe’s varied geography and cli-

mate provides a vast range of habitats

that support more than 12,500 vascu-

lar plants (flowering plants, conifers

and ferns). Centres of particularly

high plant diversity include the moun-

tainous areas around the Mediterra-

nean and the Black Sea. The floras

of Spain, Greece, Italy, Bulgaria and

Romania support the highest num-

bers 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 hun-

dreds of years. However, the acceler-

ated 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 two-

thirds 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 conserva-

tion 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.

Threats

The main factors that have contrib-

uted 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 glo-

bal scales. Urban development, over-

drafting 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 commu-

nities and ecosystems. According to

the United Nations Environment Pro-

gramme (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 spe-

cies will not survive because they are

not adapted to the new area. Nev-

ertheless, 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. “Inva-

sive” species are those that spread

Background to Europe’s wild plants

Convolvulus massonii: highly threatened by habitat loss

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quickly to become very common and

dominant in the new habitat, posing a

great threat to native species through-

out Europe. Particularly vulnerable are

European island ecosystems (espe-

cially in the Macaronesian and Medi-

terranean 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

economical and social impacts.

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 pol-

linators (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 projec-

tions more than half of the plant species

assessed could be vulnerable or threat-

ened by 20801. The impact of climatic

�� Thuiller �. et al. (��) “Climate change Thuiller �. et al. (��) “Climate change threats to plant diversity in Europe”.

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.

Importance of plants: their goods and services

Plants are universally recognised as

an essential part of biological diversity

and a vital resource (i.e., in maintain-

ing carbon dioxide and oxygen equi-

librium in the atmosphere). In addition

to the small number of crop plants

used for basic food and fibres, many

thousands of wild plants have consid-

erable economic and cultural impor-

tance and potential, providing food,

fuel, clothing, shelter and medicine.

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.

The vast majority of medicinal and

aromatic plant species used today

is collected from the wild. Unfortu-

nately, such a practice can sometimes

result in unsustainable practices. For

example, wolf’s bane (Arnica mon-

tana), used to treat sprains, bruises,

and muscle aches, and great yellow

gentian (Gentiana lutea) are harvested

throughout Europe (especially in Bul-

garia and Romania). These plants

are included in Annex V of the Habi-

tats 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 Arctic and alpine species, and island endemics.

l Coastal species which are ‘squeezed’ between human settlements and rising

sea levels.

l Plant genetic composition may change in response to the selection pressure

of climate change.

l Some 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 Many 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.


Plants are valued for many reasons, including aesthetics: Lady’s slipper orchid (Cypripedium calceolus)

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European Biodiversity Policy and plant conservationThe EU has introduced a framework for action and made key pledges to safeguard the conti-

nent’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 biodiver-

sity 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 Con-

vention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

and some 130 world leaders commit-

ted themselves to a significant reduc-

tion in the rate of biodiversity loss by

the same target date. A Commission

Communication of May 2006, “Halt-

ing the Loss of Biodiversity by 2010

– and Beyond”, [COM(2006)2161.

reconfirmed Europe’s commitment to

implementation of the CBD.

Two particular threats to EU biodiver-

sity are highlighted in the Communica-

tion. First, “spatial development”, for

which Member States have a particular

responsibility, through improved plan-

ning, to reconcile development needs

with the conservation of biodiversity

and maintenance of ecosystem serv-

ices. The second threat is the potential

impact of climate change, where rising

temperatures are already having a bio-

logical 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 bio-

diversity is not evenly spread, and that

certain species are more at risk than

others. Consequently, it affords spe-

cial 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

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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

specific requirements in the EU Habi-

tats Directive (92/43/EEC)2 and more

generally by the integration of biodi-

versity concerns into agricultural and

other policies.

The 2001 Biodiversity Action Plan for

Agriculture (COM/2001/0162)3 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 co-

operation 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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loss by 2010. Many of the biodiversity-

rich 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

species and habitats that are depend-

ent on extensive farming, for example,

has declined in recent decades.

EU Rural Development Policy (Council

Reg (EC) No.1257/1999)4 aims to rec-

oncile agriculture with the objectives of

the EU nature conservation policy. This

goal is achieved by financing agri-envi-

ronmental measures that go beyond

the usual good farming practices and

that have a direct impact on the con-

servation of European flora, particularly

through the maintenance of extensive

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Bogs: a priority for conservation habitat important for certain plant species, such as the insectivorous sundew (Drosera rotundifolia)


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systems and support for agriculture in

Natura 2000 zones.

The recent reforms of the Common

Agricultural Policy (CAP) have also ena-

bled 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 require-

ments derived from EU directives cov-

ering birds, habitats, nitrates and pesti-

cides are now included in the accepted

standards for good farming practice.

Natura 2000 network and plant conservation

The Habitats Directive has focused on

the requirement of Member States to

establish a network of special areas

of conservation (SACs) that, together

with the special protection areas

(SPAs) designated under the Birds

Directive (79/409/EEC)5, make up the

Natura 2000 network.

Annexes I (natural habitat types of

Community interest) and II (animal

and plant species of Community inter-

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est) to the Habitats Directive list the

habitats and species whose conserva-

tion requires the designation of SACs.

Some of them are defined as “priority”

habitats or species (in danger of disap-

pearing).

Annex II identifies 324 animal species

whose conservation requires the des-

ignation 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.

The distribution of plant diversity

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).

As well as the plant species included

in Annex II of the directive, there are

habitats that are characterised by high

rates of endemic plants, which are nor-

mally found in restricted areas. These

tend to be dominated by a particular

plant species and often are classi-

fied as “priority natural habitat types”

under the directive. For example, the

endangered golden oak (Quercus

alnifolia) is the main species within a

Cyprus Annex I priority habitat – scrub

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*).

Other habitat types with broader distri-

bution are also very important for some

plant species such as orchids. The dry

to semi-dry calcareous grasslands hab-

itat (6210), which is widely distributed

around Europe, can be home to impor-

tant populations of rare orchid species.

Where this is the case, the habitat is

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).

Finally, Article 13 of the Habitats Direc-

tive 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 pro-

hibiting the “deliberate picking, collect-

ing, 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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Figure I: EU-27 plant and animal species listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive

Figure II: Annex II plant species by biogeographical region


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LIFE and Invasive Alien Species (IAS)

Invasive alien species (IAS) are acknowledged as one of the main threats to biodi-

versity, 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 LIFE-

Nature project (LIFE00 NAT/E/007339) this invasive plant was successfully elimi-

nated from the island’s Natura 2000 sites.



LIFE’s contribution to EU plant conservationSince its beginning in 1992, LIFE1, the financial instrument for the environment, has been a corner-

stone 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.

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

the conservation of plants listed under

the annexes of the Habitats Direc-

tive, 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 gen-

eral actions.

Under LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity,

projects targeting plants and habitats

within and outside Natura 2000 may

be financed. ‘LIFE+ Nature’ will co-

finance best practice or demonstra-

tion projects contributing to the imple-

mentation of the Birds and Habitats

directives; and ‘LIFE+ Biodiversity’

will co-finance innovative or demon-

stration projects contributing to the

implementation of the objectives of

the Commission’s 2006 Communica-

tion “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 distri-

bution 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 Macaron-

esian biogeographical regions. It is

no surprise therefore that the largest

contribution of LIFE projects targeting

plant species is located in the south-

ern European countries.

LIFE plant project actions

A particular characteristic of LIFE plant

projects, a number of which have been

selected to highlight the different sec-

tions of this brochure, is that such

projects typically have highly specific

objectives (e.g. many target endemic,

or very rare species). Meeting these

objectives often involves carrying out

complex actions, which differ consider-

ably according to each individual plant

species targeted by the project. As a

consequence, a number of the projects

featured over the following pages ben-

efited from close collaboration with

stakeholders and from national and

international partnerships.

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 speciesfocusing 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

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LIFE projects often target more than one endangered plant species

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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

l combining local conservation meas-combining local conservation meas-

ures (in situ) and off-site actions (ex

situ) such as plant nurseries

l increasing plant species knowledgeincreasing 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 andincreasing public awareness and

knowledge of plant species – (nor-

mally very low) together with the

establishment of partnerships with

stakeholders at local level.

Financed actions vary considerably,

depending on the characteristics of

the targeted species or habitats. But

in general, the projects include:

l Preparatory actions: such as

the preparation of surveys, map-

ping, definition of seedling proto-

cols, genetic analysis, etc. These

actions help to further knowledge

of the targeted species and set out

improved conservation measures.

Projects typically involve partner-

ships 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

plant species Viola hispida and

Biscutella neustriaca and as a result

the definition of new Natura 2000

sites and management plans.

l Land or rights acquisition: actions

targeting the protection of plant

populations and conservation of

their habitats in certain locations.

l Direct 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 eradica-

tion, establishment of fences, etc.

l Monitoring: included scientific

monitoring during the project

periods and after-LIFE in order to

assess the longer-term impacts.

Some projects also included spe-

cies and habitats surveillance (for-

est fires/collecting/grazing).

l Networking: several projects

organised expert meetings deal-

ing 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 part-

nerships between stakeholders,

managers and scientific person-

nel, resulting in the establishment

of management and conservation

plans with local support and pro-

viding future sustainability for the

conservation of plant and habitats

within the Natura 2000 network.

l Awareness-rais ing : severa l

projects produced leaflets, mono-

graphs or manuals. Projects also

implemented traineeship schemes

and raised awareness among local

stakeholders (farmers, environment

agents, etc), schools and the gen-

eral public. These actions helped

to improve general knowledge

of Europe’s plant species and to

improve awareness of the impor-

tance of their conservation.

LIFE also co-funded the purchase of

equipment needed for plant conser-

vation 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 des-

ignation of special areas of conser-

vation 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 prior-

ity. Thus looking to the future, under

the new LIFE+ programme there are

plenty of opportunities for LIFE project

applications targeting 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 pres-

sures 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.


Finland: Stakeholder participation in managing endangered plant populationsAn 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

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 com-

mercial forestry is now threatening

some of these natural habitats and

the plant species that they support,

such as the lady’s slipper (Cypripe-

dium 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.

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.

Europe’s yellow marsh saxifrage is

very sensitive to hydrological changes

and the plant has disappeared from

extensive areas in central and north-

ern Europe. The lady’s slipper has also

suffered population decline from clear

cutting, soil preparation and plant col-

lection. Loss of marsh habitats and

herb-rich woodland has been particu-

larly 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).

Lapland’s Natural Heritage govern-

ment agency, Metsähallitus, recog-

nised these problems and acknowl-

edged 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

Natura 2000 sites in Kainuu, Northern

Ostrobothnia, and southern and cen-

tral Lapland.

What did LIFE do?

Metsähallitus was aware of the impor-

tance of partnership approaches for

securing sustainable benefits from

habitat restoration work and so an

integrated proposal was designed

to include the project’s main stake-

holders.

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 base-

line 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 feather-

moss (Hamatocaulis vernicosus) and

fairy slipper (Calypso bulbosa).

Preparation of the restoration plans

confirmed the relevance of acquiring

land to ensure appropriate habitat man-

agement procedures. A total of 2,172

ha of biotopes was obtained, involving

Mowing (left) was one of the key actions to recover the populations of S. hirculus (right)

Endangered plants in general

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

LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants I p. ��

purchase of 76 plots and swapping of

19 plots. Protection agreements were

acquired on an additional 24 plots to

reinforce the Natura 2000 areas’ eco-

logical unity and provide a firm founda-

tion 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 rehabilita-

tion of wetland mire habitats, which

involved restoring original hydrologi-

cal 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 compo-

nent 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 gen-

erated positive results in terms of

increased numbers of lady’s slipper

flowering shoots in thinned wood-

lands and broader coverage of yel-

low 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 environ-

mental rationale and practical tech-

niques involved. Metsähallitus was

keen to implement an effective part-

nership 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 stakehold-

ers was strong throughout the project

and this can be highlighted as an

important success factor. Mutual

respect and appreciation were rein-

forced during special training events

for 350 landowners and forestry

professionals where conservation

techniques for both species were

explained. Lady’s slipper’s popular-

ity 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 iden-

tified a set of recommendations to

improve unfavourable conditions for

both species.

What was the outcome?

Metsähallitus considers this LIFE-

Nature 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 conser-

vation work. Stakeholder commitment

has been secured through construc-

tive cooperation with Forest Centres

in North Ostrobothnia, Kainuu and

Lapland. Monitoring of the plant pop-

ulations 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.


Tree ring barking (left) to reduce shadow and population monitoring of C.calceoulus

mailto:[email protected]

About the wildflowers

The Violet of Rouen is an annual flowering plant of

5-15 cm high. Its leaves are dark green and cove-

red 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 lea-

ves 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.

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 val-

ley. Encroaching brush and woodland

has reduced the size of these habi-

tats. They were maintained as clear-

ings through traditional grazing up

until the 1960s but have since been

abandoned with the introduction of

modern farming practices. The habi-

tats 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 Car-

ine 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

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 indi-

viduals with at least 100 at each site;

the Biscutelle would require 50 per site.

These sites are mostly in the depart-

ment 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 �le-de-France. The project�le-de-France. The project. The project

allowed the beneficiary to reintroduce

beneficial grazing practices in sec-

tions of grassland that are still in good

condition or that were to be restored.

Restoring sites entailed manually cut-

ting away scrub and trees. On the �le-�le--

de-France site, however, the project

partner, the Vexin regional park, pur-

chased a rotary shredder to remove

dense vegetation. Though the grass-

lands 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

France: Saving two Norman plantsA 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.


France’s Seine valley – the unique location of these two plants species

Pho

to: A

rehn

Project Number: LIFE99 NAT/F/006332

Title: Priority species, chalk grass-lands and scree in the lower Seine valley catchment area

Beneficiary: Conservatoire des Sites Naturels de Haute-Normandie

Contact: Carine Douville


Period: April-1999 to September-2003


LIFE Contribution: e 1,103,000


local stockbreeders are still present,

agreements were concluded. “Local

farmers and landowners were cooper-

ative,” 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 con-

servation 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 use-

ful 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 estab-

lished 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

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 informa-

tion display panels and responded to

a high level of media interest in the

project. More than 50 newspaper arti-

cles have been written on the conser-

vation 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, Minis-

try 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 ongo-

ing, 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 estab-

lishing new locations by restoring

potential sites.

Restoration work includes clear-

ing 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 neces-

sary, individuals will be introduced

to reinforce sparse populations or to

constitute new populations. Isolated

locations will be connected by clear-

ing and grazing 16 ha of “ecologic

corridors”.


The calcareous screes (left) and grasslands (right) are maintained through grazing and removal of vegetation

Bavaria: Sand grassland protectionHome 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 habitat of Jurinea cyanoides,

known as Silberscharte in German and

a priority species listed in the Habitats

Directive, is dry sandy, steppic grass-

land (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

vulnerable. It is surrounded by pine-

woods, 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.

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 Dürring-

swasen and the Sandgrasheiden am

Elgersheimer Hof.

Depending on the condition, sections

of land would be left to either natu-

ral 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 sev-

eral studies:

l Genetic fingerprinting to clarify theGenetic fingerprinting to clarify the

taxonomic status of central Euro-

pean Jurinea cyanoides vis-à-vis

Russian specimens;

l Soil analysis to determine nutrient andSoil 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.

Permanent monitoring plots were

also established to track the evolution

of vegetation.

The beneficiary, the Ministry for the

Environment, the competent author-

ity for nature conservation in Bavaria,

along with project partner, the munici-

pality 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 (aspara-

gus cultivation, fruit tree plantations

and vineyards) and the gravel indus-

try, a rural land consolidation pro-

cedure 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


The level of soil nutrients was reduced by a system of crop cycling

Jurinea cyanoides is found in dry sandy grasslands

Pho

to: O

tto

Els

ner

Pho

to: O

tto

Els

ner

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


Website: http://www.ivl-web.de/juri-nea/frame_jur.html

Period: Jan-1997 to Dec-2000

Total Budget: e 600,000



on the land acquired:

l The removal of objects such asThe removal of objects such as

fences and huts;

l An increase in the proportion of bare,An increase in the proportion of bare,

steppe-type land through the clear-

ing of hedges and bushes, mowing

tall grass and pruning or felling of

fruit trees;

l The reduction of the level of nutri-The reduction of the level of nutri-

ents 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 struc-The improvement of the soil struc-

ture by ploughing and/or adding

sand; and

l The boosting of natural re-coloni-The boosting of natural re-coloni-

sation 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.


Local authorities initiated the conser-

vation 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 Juri-

nea seeds germinated very success-

fully and the local range of the plant

steadily expanded. Where there was

no sowing, colonisation took longer

but by the end of the project individ-

ual specimens had already appeared.

Through the creation of the new habi-

tat 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 farm-

ers were involved and benefited indi-

rectly as they were paid for the biotope

measures, which they had been con-

tracted 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 geographi-

cally restricted populations. The

project also illustrated the need to

take the taxonomic issues into con-

sideration when dealing with con-

servation projects for geographically

isolated species. Conservationists

are still unsure whether the Ger-

man-Czech populations belong

to the same species as the Rus-

sian and Asiatic populations.

Another important outcome of the

project was the agreement between

the competent authorities and the

local gravel industry. The project initi-

ated talks between these stakeholders

at the end of which the gravel indus-

try agreed to refrain from extending its

quarrying area inside the core areas

of Jurinea cyanoides. This agreement

will result in greater landscape pro-

tection and increased value for local

recreation.

An appropriate public-awareness cam-

paign for what might be considered a

plant species with a low conservation

profile was carried out. A mobile exhibi-

tion toured the municipalities affected

by the project – notably the felling of tall

old fruit trees needed to be explained

to the local inhabitants. Excursions

were held for inhabitants and forest-

ers (maintenance of forest clearings

is important for Jurinea cyanoides

conservation locally). In addition, four

information panels were set up.

Finally, the project established net-

working 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 Mecklen-

burg Western Pomerania, Saxony-

Anhalt, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate,

Lower Austria and Poland.


Sowing seeds over the treated land boosted the natural re-colonisation process

Pho

to: O

tto

Els

ner


Project Number: LIFE98 NAT/P/005229

Title: Asphodelus bento-rainhae – Measures to manage and preserve it

Beneficiary: ADESGAR (Associ-ação de Defesa e Desenvolvimento da Serra da Gardunha)

Contact: João Pedro Silva


Website: www.gardunha.com

Period: Aug-1998 to Jul-2003



Portugal: Managing and preserving Asphodelus bento-rainhaeAsphodelus 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

paign showed farmers how to make

agricultural practices more compat-

ible with the protection of the region’s

natural heritage. A key component of

this was the promotion of alternatives

to the use of herbicides.


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.

Various techniques of species inter-

spersion 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

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

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.

LIFE, together with the local munici-

pality 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 iso-

lated population nuclei and preventing

forest fires.

ADESGAR used part of the LIFE fund-

ing to lease and purchase land (32 ha).

Other habitat restoration measures

included planting Asphodelus from

seeds cultivated in nurseries, control-

ling the development of forest under-

growth, 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-

in the second year. This was probably

the result of genetic factors within the

plants rather than anything specific to

the project.

In terms of forest fire prevention, sev-

eral blazes were detected and extin-

guished during the course of the

project, however, on two occasions the

pSCI was slightly damaged by fire.

A total of five farmers participated in

a programme encouraging the diver-

sification 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 con-

tribution 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 manage-

ment plan into its land use regulations

by 2010.

Asphodelus bento-rainhae: found only in 7 km� of the north slopes of Portugal’s Gardunha mountains


Pho

to: J

oão

Ped

ro S

ilva


Plant micro-reserves: from concept to implementationA 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, statu-

tory 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 govern-

ment of the Valencia region, with the

support of the LIFE programme.

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 final aim of PMRs is not protec-

tion itself but inventory and monitor-

ing of plant diversity.

The success of each PMR is meas-

ured by the rate of incorporation of

three indicators: priority habitats,

endemic taxa and threatened taxa.

Valencia pioneers the PMR

The Valencia region has a great diver-

sity 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 consid-

ered rare or threatened. Much of this

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


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A PMR in Muntanya Cavall, Valencia

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.

Exceeding the objectives

The project surpassed

expectation, succeed-

ing in establishing a

total of 158 micro-

reserves, covering

286 ha. A total of 77

of these PMRs were

granted a formal dec-

laration of legal protec-

tion for both the plants

and the physical habitat by

Valencia’s Regional Environment

Minister.

The project was also able to draw up

propagation protocols for 20 endan-

gered native species and recovery

plans were put in place for a number

of species – Limonium dufourii,

Chaenorhinum tenellum, Petrocoptis

pardoi and Silene diclinis. Conserva-

tion programmes were established for

the genus Biscutella, terrestrial and

aquatic cryptograms, the labiate genus

Teucrium (germanders), Satureja (savo-

ries), Linaria (toadflax), Chaenorrhinum

and Sideritis (ironwort).

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.

Expanding the networkThe 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 pro-

tected sites for plant conservation in

the world). Some 80% of the micro-

reserves are on public land, with the

remainder owned by private individu-

als, NGOs or municipal authorities. For

the Generalitat Valenciana, these pri-

vate micro-reserves play an important

dual role – on the one hand getting

individuals directly involved in plant

conservation, and on the other ena-

bling sites of high botanical interest to

be incorporated into the network that

would otherwise remain outside it. Pri-

vate landowners are compensated for

transferring management rights to the

regional authority and are also eligible

for grants and subsidies to maintain

the PMR.

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

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 Valen-

cia” (LIFE03 NAT/E/0064) ran from

2004-2006 with the goal of improv-

ing 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 spe-

cies, 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)


and encouraging economic activities

linked to the natural habitats and their

conservation.

Some 21,000 seedlings of 23 species

were planted to improve the con-

servation 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 previ-

ous data for the whole of

Valencia.

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.

Invasive species such as

Robinia pseudoacacia that

threatened to colonise one

of the best yew formations of the

Alicante province were successfully

eradicated. In the Pegunta ravine,

specimens of the non-native pop-

lar 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-bear-

ing plant species and the installation

of ecological beehives) with the aim of

improving the low propagation rate of

the targeted tree species.

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.

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.

Exporting the concept

Planta Europa, the network of inde-

pendent organisations, non-govern-

mental and governmental, working

together to conserve European wild

plants and fungi, adopted the initial

LIFE micro-reserves project in Valen-

cia 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.

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 Insu-

lar) developed a set of comprehensive

actions to recover the plant species

and priority habitats protected by the

Habitats Directive, including the draft-

ing of a network of 24 plant micro-

Silene hifacensis: a priority Annex II plant species included in the Valencian PMR projects

reserves. The Minorcan government

and regional government (Govern Bal-

ear) are now working on implementing

this network of PMRs.

Slovenia was the first

country outside Spain

to go down the

micro-reserve path.

In the LIFE-Nature

project “Conserva-

tion of endangered

species/habitats in the

future Karst Park (Slov-

enia)” (LIFE02 NAT/SLO/008587)

that ran from 2002-5, the Science and

Research Centre (ZRS) at the Univer-

sity of Primorska in the port city of

Koper set up a network of 30 micro-

reserves for rare and endangered wild

plants, as well as for priority habitats

protected by the Habitats Directive,

mainly focused on small ponds, cal-

careous 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.

Since 2004, LIFE has been support-

ing 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.


Monitoring of plant species populations is vital for assessing their conservation status

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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 Ela-fonisi (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).

Table 1- Priority plant species targeted by the LIFE project in western Crete

Greece: Conservation of endangered Cretan floraOn the island of Crete, home to one of the richest floras of all the Mediterranean islands, a LIFE-

funded 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-geographi-

cal region is the most bio-diverse

in the European Union, with a high

endemic floristic diversity con-

centrated on the islands and

mountains of the Medi-

terranean Sea. Crete

in particular, is con-

s idered to have

one of the r ich-

est diversities of

plants in Europe,

with an especially

high concentration of

endemic plant species.

The main threats to these

plants stem from human activi-

ties, such as tourism, farming and

the grazing of farm animals, as well

as uncontrolled access to important

habitats, fires, and habitat modifica-

tion through deforestation, drainage

and climate change.

Crete has 14 plant species included in

Annex II of the Habitats Directive, with

eight of these having priority conser-

vation status, and the Greek authori-

ties have proposed 38 Natura 2000

sites that include populations of these

plant species. Within the framework of

the LIFE project, the University of Ath-

ens, in collaboration with the Mediter-

ranean Agronomic Institute of Chania

Androcymbium rechingeri: a very rare Cretan endemic flower


LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants I p. 2�

(MAICh) and the Region of Crete-For-

est Directorate of Chania, proposed

the establishment of a pilot network of

PMRs in western Crete (the prefecture

of Chania) to support the conserva-

tion 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 man-

agement 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 Nat-

ura 2000 sites, which require conserva-

tion 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 avail-

able information in order to establish

the location and estimate the popula-

tion size of the seven targeted spe-

cies. 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 col-

lected 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

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 spe-

cies. This information was then used

to develop a management plan for each

PMR. Unlike other LIFE projects con-

cerned 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 For-

estry 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 dis-

courage trespassing and to raise

awareness of the presence of the

threatened species. The B. kakiska-

lae 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.

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 estab-

lished permanent monitoring plots,

with meteorological and environmen-

tal 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

Fences protect against grazing, note the difference between the right side (grazed) and left side (ungrazed)


A lobster pot protects the highly endangered C. cucullata against grazing

certain ex-situ ones, including the col-

lection 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 estab-

lished in the MAICh botanical gar-

den, 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 infor-

mation campaign (local events, post-

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

the LIFE-funded Visitor Centre at the

Botanical Garden of MAICh and the

Alpine Botanical Garden created at

Omalos.

Observed population growth

Although, the conservation proce-

dures implemented by the project

were based on ‘mild’ actions (fenc-

ing, wardening, installing signs and

boards) and did not involve heavy

restoration measures, the project

achieved good results in terms of

guaranteeing the long term conser-

vation of the target species. Along

with the implementation of manage-

ment plans and continuous moni-

toring 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 sig-

nificantly 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

blocks vehicle access to the PMR

and reduces the risk of fire.

Life after LIFE

Since the completion of the LIFE

project, the beneficiary and partners

have continued to monitor and survey

the PMRs. The increased knowledge of

the ecology of the target species, com-

bined 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 Cha-

nia Forestry Service (Region of Crete)

will also guarantee the conservation of

these species in the future.

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 conser-

vation 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 micro-reserves in western Crete

Beneficiary: National and Kapodis-trian University of Athens

Contact: Prof. Costas Thanos


Website: http://cretaplant.biol.uoa.gr

Period: Sep-2004 to Dec-2007



Bupleurum kakiskalae

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


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 desertifica-

tion, 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 con-

servation at European level.

Cyprus: conservation of unique flora and habitatsThe 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.

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 vary-

ing landscape and relative isolation,

which has resulted in a high rate of

endemic species.

But human impact on Cyprus has con-

tributed 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 Mediter-

ranean – 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 Pro-

tection Areas (SPAs) and 36 Sites of

Community Importance (SCIs) were

proposed to be integrated into the

Natura 2000 network. Despite the

current protection given by the Nat-

ura 2000 network sites designation,

the past and current pressures have

continued to contribute to the deg-

radation of the habitats in Annex I of

the Habitats directive. These include

the Cyprus endemic forest habitats of

Cedrus brevifolia and Quercus alnifo-

lia, and the – unique to the EU – Quer-

cus infectoria forests and the peat

and serpentinophilous1 grasslands

habitats of the Troodos mountains, as

well as four Annex II priority plant spe-

cies (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 conser-

vation 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 Species that tolerate heavy metal rich concentration soils derived from the min-eral serpentine

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).

Table 1- Description of the main Natura 2000 sites targeted with project actions

Troodos mountains peat grasslands – unique habitats

Mediterranean flora


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 vari-

ety of conservation actions that tar-

geted several habitats and species.

In total, the project focused on five

sites, but the most relevant actions

targeting endemic habitats and spe-

cies were developed in three sites

(see table 1).

Each project action was planned and

implemented according to the spe-

cific requirements of each habitat and

species and with the involvement of

several partners. The project man-

ager Christina Pantazi says that the

coordination of this project posed a

challenge, because of the complex-

ity of the actions to be implemented

and the diversity of the targeted spe-

cies 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 manage-

ment of Cyprus’s state forest land.

Since approximately 75% of the ter-

restrial part of the Natura 2000 net-

work 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.

The majority of the actions target-

ing endemic plants and habitats were

implemented in the Troodos Mountains

SCI. The mountains are highly attrac-

tive 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 high-

light 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 allevi-

ating the competition pressure exerted

by the aggressive congener P. brutia

on P. nigra, by removing all seedlings

and saplings of the latter species from

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 activi-

ties 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 plant-

ing later in three distinct areas. Also

in the same SCI, the project delimited

and monitored three areas contain-

ing 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 restora-

tion land was granted by the monas-

tery 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

Arabis kennedyae: a critically endan-gered plant species endemic to Cyprus targeted by the project The insectivorous Pinguicula crystallina

Vernal pools contain a high diversity of 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


Website: http://life-natura-sites.cy.net

Period: Nov-2004 to Apr-2008


LIFE Contribution: e 1,531,000

in three sites, as part of the recovery

plan for the species.

In Koilada Diarizou, in an area of

approximately 5 ha, the project pro-

moted the natural regeneration of

Alnus orientalis, mainly through fenc-

ing, in order to halt the overgrazing of

this riverside tree species. Also, at the

same time the Forest Department con-

tacted 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 effec-

tiveness of the project actions and

to evaluate the conservation status

of the targeted species and habitats

before and after the project actions.


All these actions, targeting a diversity

of sites, habitats and species all over

Cyprus, were very successful, espe-

cially 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 com-

pletely 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

taking place with the help of the

planted seedlings and reduced dis-

turbance. 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 habi-

tats and species. A seed bank for P.

nigra seeds was also established for

ex-situ conservation of the species’

genetic diversity.

The restored Q.infectoria woodland

is now the largest area of this habi-

tat 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 guide-

lines for the drawing up of manage-

ment plans for all of Cyprus’s Natura

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).

Overall, the project substantially con-

tributed to the conservation of unique

habitats and species on Cyprus and

raised awareness about the Natura

2000 network and nature conser-

vation 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 – areare

now responsible for managing the

former project areas. The monitoring

of habitats and species will continue,

along with some of the project activi-

ties, 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; eliminat-

ing alien plant species; and monitor-

ing the peatland and serpentinophil-

ous grasslands and plant species.

* The habitats – with Habitats Directive ref-

erence number in parentheses – included – includedincluded

Quercus infectoria (93A�), Quercus alni-

folia (939�), Cedrus brevifolia (9�9�), the

peat (646�) and serpentinophilous (6�B�)

grasslands habitats of the Troodos moun-

tains, as well as the vernal pools (3��7�).

Q.infectoria plantation with watering system – this stand is now the largest continuous area of Q. infectoria in the EU

Mediterranean flora


Italy: Conserving the ‘critically endangered’ Sicilian fir and helping to ensure its long-term survivalThe 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.

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 spe-

cies 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 rar-

ity, this relic species is included as a

priority species in Annex II of the EU

Habitats Directive.

Once rediscovered, foresters immedi-

ately initiated conservation measures

to help preserve the Sicilian fir. How-

ever soil degradation of its natural

habitat has made re-introduction dif-

ficult. Other major threats to the spe-

cies include the poor health of speci-

mens 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 Sicilian fir tree (one of 3� remaining adult individuals of Abies nebrodensis) in the Madonie Regional Park

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What did LIFE do?

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 popula-

tion of the Sicilian fir and to expand

it through ex situ management opera-

tions. The location of the popula-

tion 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.

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 popu-

lation and to increase the survival rate

of natural regeneration.

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 pad-

locked 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 repre-

sented 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.

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 pro-

viding for the future monitoring and

management of the species and the

latter helping to promote increased

awareness of the problems related to

its conservation.


The project was very successful on a

technical level, helping to secure the

effective protection and survival of the

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 research-

ers to identify the most suitable areas

for the trees to be reproduced and

grown. The plots were establishedThe plots were established

at different altitudes, soil and expo-

sure conditions within the native area within the native area

and at other sites within the regional

park.

Ex situ – since the survival rate insince the survival rate in

nature is so low, an increase of the

cultivated stock was secured through

Seedlings of A.nebrodensis are cultivated in a nursery since the survival rate in nature is so low

Sicilian fir planted on the previously established experimental plots

Mediterranean flora

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Project Number: LIFE00 NAT/IT/007228

Title: Conservation of Abies nebro-densis in situ and ex situ

Beneficiary: Ente Parco delle Madonie

Contact: Salvatore Carollo


Website: http://www.kalliope.it/ parcodellemadonie/progettolife/

Period: Sep-2001 to Aug-2005




the controlled use of individual nurs-

eries, private and foreign partners,

working actively in the action of con-

servation. For instance, the coop-

eration 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 moni-

tored. 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 repro-

ductive potential of the target species

has greatly improved. In fact the fer-

tile 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 pro-

tect them from accidental stomping,

and clearly indicate their location (e.g.

to repeat periodical measurements).

Moreover the micro stone walls pro-

tect the wildings from erosion.

According to the beneficiary, periodi-

cal checks on the dimensions and on

the expansion of the tree crowns have

revealed that they are in good health.

However, despite these highly promis-

ing 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

the fertile adult individuals.

Monitoring activities continued after

the end of the project, namely of the

growth and health of the adult individ-

uals, of the natural regeneration and

of the seedlings raised in the nursery.

Particular care was dedicated to mon-

itoring 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 signifi-

cantly 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).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 “data-

base” section of the project website

for details of the visits to the project

during its duration). This produced,

among others, the effect of boost-

ing the accommodation business in

the area. Indeed, several “Bed and

Breakfast” enterprises have been

established recently. These initia-

tives appear to be sustainable in the

longer term.

Mediterranean flora

Mapping and monitoring the ‘health’ of each individual

http://www.kalliope.it/parcodellemadonie/progettolife/

http://www.kalliope.it/parcodellemadonie/progettolife/

Project Number: LIFE98 NAT/E/005358

Title: Recovery of areas of threat-ened flora in Sierra Nevada

Beneficiary: Consejería de Medio Ambiente de la Junta de Andalucía

Contact: Rafael Silva Lopez





Spain: Protecting extraordinary biodiversity in the Sierra NevadaThis 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 estab-

lished the management plans necessary to ensure the long-term protection of the endangered flora.

screes, stony wastes, meadows and

pine and oak woods.

The project evaluated the plants’ con-

servation status, established manage-

ment plans for each site and imple-

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 Mediter-

ranean LIFE-Nature project (LIFE04

NAT/GR/000104) featured in this pub-

lication (see pp. 20-22).

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 rein-

force or reintroduce the populations in

targeted areas.

The project ran an information cam-

paign to improve awareness of the

threatened species and habitats.


The project successfully propagated

most of the plant species targeted for

re-introduction to their natural habitat.

The situation of each of the 11 tar-

geted 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

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-

ing, mountainous terrain provides an

amazing diversity of habitats that have

enabled this wealth of biodiversity.

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 for-

estry activities, forest fires, illegal har-

vesting and leisure activities are neg-

atively 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; Are-

naria nevadensis; Artemisia granaten-

sis; Centaurea gadorensis; Erigeron

frigidus; Senecio elodes; Senecio

nevadensis; Erodium astragaloides;

Erodium rupicola; Odontites granat-

ensis; and Laserpitium longiradium.

The project covered six sites in Sierra

Nevada1 encompassing high-lying

�� Mulhacén-Alcazaba, Poqueira river, Monachil river woodlands, Collado de las Sabinas, Alayos de Dílar and Trevenque

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.

Mediterranean flora

Saxifraga nevadensis



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.

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 specta-

bile, Myrica rivas-martinezii, Sam-

bucus palmensis, Sideritis discolour

and Isoplexis chalcantha. The main

threats are urban development and

traditional wood exploitation, which

has led to degeneration and reduc-

tion 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 sig-

nificant threats.

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 spe-

cies and their habitats to draft the 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.populations.

To achieve these objectives, the par-

ticular bio-climates where the spe-

cies occur were analysed along with

the genetic variability of the popula-

tions. Reproduction and propagation

techniques were then studied, and

nurseries and germplasm banks were

created. Population numbers would

be increased through reinforcements,

reintroductions and introductions.

The project beneficiary, the regional

authority, also foresaw habitat man-

agement and control of land uses in

critical areas. Finally, measures to

make traditional uses compatible with

conservation were also included.


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 imple-

mented to improve the status of

populations.

Also, a comprehensive survey was

done on every island with monteverde

Dorycnium spectabile habitat in Tenerife

Conserving five priority species in the Canary IslandsThe 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.

habitat in search of unknown popula-

tions 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; Sideri-

tis discolour and Myrica rivas-martin-

ezii by a factor of five.

The future conservation of the genetic

diversity was also boosted by estab-

lishing two germplasm banks for

storing seeds. They were set up in

accordance with scientific and con-

servation criteria, following systematic

methods that guaranteed the storage

of the maximum representation of the

genetic diversity of species.

Macaronesian flora

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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


Website: http://www.gobiernodeca-narias.org/cmayot/medioambiente/medionatural/biodiversidad/vidasil-vestre/life9.html





Sambucus palmesis flowers

The project’s germination trials and

propagation studies also achieved

very satisfactory results for three spe-

cies. While valid protocols were not

obtained for Sambucus palmesis or

Myrica rivas-martinezii, protocols for

vegetative reproduction are available

that will allow existing genetic fea-

tures to be preserved. Genetics stud-

ies were successful for all species

(except Sambucus palmesis), provid-

ing important practical conclusions

for their future management. The first

results were attained in detailed bio-

climatic modelling, which will continue

in the future as long series of data are

needed to attain reliable results.

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 popu-

lations. The infrastructure generated

by the project guarantees the continu-

ity of many of the activities carried out

and made it possible to extend simi-

lar activities to other species in the

Canary Islands listed as priority in the

Habitats Directive. Most require simi-

lar 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.

The methodology developed and

put into practise during the project is

relevant for other flora conservation

projects in this Macaronesian envi-

ronment and has already been used

by competent authorities. The ben-

eficiary 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 interna-

tional lists of endangered species, be

included in the Spanish National List

of Endangered Species.

Dissemination activities included a

successful television publicity cam-

paign. 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.

Life after LIFE

Since the project ended, the structure

of nature conservation has completely

changed in the Canary Islands. Deci-

sion-making power, which was cen-

tralised at the regional government

level during the project implementa-

tion, has largely been transferred to

the “cabildos” (island governments).

In spite of these changes, monitor-

ing 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.

An ex-post mission reported that

recovery plans had been drafted for

all the species of the project though

none has yet been approved. How-

ever, 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 manage-

ment of other endangered species.

Fifteen recovery plans (including 11

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 contin-

ues at present in flora conservation,”

the report concluded.

Dorycnium spectabile plantation in its natural habitat

Macaronesian flora

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http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/cmayot/medioambiente/medionatural/biodiversidad/vidasilvestre/life9.html




Portugal: Restoring the laurel forest of MadeiraThe Madeira Archipelago contains a large area of native laurel forest, a priority habitat accord-

ing 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 con-

sidered 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-

tion in the area of distribution, now

confined to the islands in the biogeo-

graphical region of Macaronesia and

certain pockets in southern Morocco

and on the coast of West Africa.

Nowadays the most extensive and

best preserved expanse of laurel for-

est 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 fre-

quent 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-

rea, supports flora and fauna of

outstanding value, including several

species endemic to Macaronesia

and Madeira, such as the Madeira

laurel pigeon, Columba trocaz.

The area of forest has shrunk progres-

sively since the discovery of the archi-

pelago. To reverse this trend, the main

pockets of laurel forest are now pro-

tected as part of the Madeira nature

reserve and a proposed Natura 2000

site (pSCI Laurissilva da Madeira).

Yet despite being a priority habitat

according to the Habitats Directive,

serious dangers still threaten the for-

est’s existence. One set of threats

comes from human activities, includ-

ing 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.

Rats not only live on food resources

from the forest (plants, shoots, ber-

ries and seeds) but also prey heav-

ily on birds, the main vehicle for

spreading seeds and consequently

one of the natural mechanisms of

forest regeneration.

In the late 1990s, the invading exotic

plant Kahili ginger (Hedychium gard-

nerianum) went through a phase of

rapid colonisation of new and exten-

sive areas along the lower border of

the forest, endangering its regenera-

tion and expansion. These points of

degradation also hindered the native

fauna.

Laurissilva forest on the north slopes of Madeira island

Macaronesian flora


What did LIFE do?

Between 1994 and 2003, LIFE sup-

ported 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 man-

agement measures for the preserva-

tion 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 conserva-

tion 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.

This project partly achieved its

objectives: the most invasive of the

exotics, Hedychium gardnerianum,

was removed both from the laurel

forest and from key areas outside

it. However, the aim of total eradi-

cation from a “sanitary belt” around

the forest was not achieved, nor

was the whole set of exotics tack-

led. However, three jobs were cre-

ated 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 con-

clusions were drawn.

Andryala crithmifolia (left) and Chamaemeles coriacea (right): plant species targeted by LIFE99 NAT/P/��643��

Recovering seeds in Pico Branco, Porto Santo island

Macaronesian flora

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Mad

eira

Other flora in the forest

The laurel forest is also home to other

rare flora. The LIFE project “Conserva-

tion 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 (Convolvu-

lus massonii)

• Geranium maderense

• Azores jasmine (Jasminum azori-

cum)

• Pittosporum coriaceum.

The project successfully established

a germplasm bank containing seed

and vegetative material of the eight

priority species, thereby helping to

conserve genetic variability.

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 Botani-

cal Garden of Madeira for research

purposes.

The project also succeeded in partially

restoring the habitat in Pico Branco

that houses many of the species.

The Funduras project

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 ecosys-

tem 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.

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, spe-

cies collection has been successfully

avoided.

This LIFE project has also increased

the local population’s knowledge of

the importance of the area of lau-

rel 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.

Life after LIFE

It should be noted that the restora-

tion of areas invaded by alien spe-

cies is a slow and long-term task.

However, with the support of LIFE,

Madeira is taking strides towards

achieving that long-term goal.

Endangered plant species of the Madeira laurel forest: Cheirolophus massonianus (left) Jasminum azoricum (centre) and Pittosporum coriaceum (right)

Aichryson dumosum: found only on a cliff on the south slope of Madeira island

Macaronesian flora

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Restoration of habitats


Restoration of habitatsMany endangered plant species are narrow-range endemic species with special habi-

tat 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 sur-

vival. 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.

Myosotis rehsteineri: endemic to the gravel shores of Lake Constance

The Lake Constance forget-me-not

(Myosotis rehsteineri) as the name sug-

gests, is found in the Lake Constance

region, which straddles Austria, Ger-

many 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 specta-

cular 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 gra-

vel banks that used to gently slope

down into the lakes gradually disap-

peared and were replaced by unsta-

ble, 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 LIFE-

Nature 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 Lan-

deshauptstadt Bregenz, the depart-

Austria: Lake Constance forget-me-not flourishes in Bregenz once more thanks to LIFE-NatureRestoration 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 for-

get-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 accompa-

nying documentation for this process.



ment of the Austrian city of Bregenz

responsible for environment and

conservation issues. Using a techni-

que that had already been success-

fully applied on the German (wes-

tern) side of the lake, as part of the

actions of an earlier LIFE-Nature

project, “Biotope-Network �estli-

cher Untersee – Lake Constance”

(LIFE99 NAT/D/005940), the techni-

cal 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-me-

not. 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 lakes-

hore was successfully treated using

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

species was easy to artificially pro-

pagate. As a result, more than 1,650

specimens were produced within a

few months. These were then rein-

troduced to certain sections of the

shoreline within the project’s wider

restoration actions.

Over the course of the project, the

beneficiary faced two major pro-

blems. 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, com-

munications 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,

A line of coarse pebbles was laid along the low-water mark (to absorb the shock of the breaking waves)

The project added finer gravel, similar to the original habitat of the forget-me-not


Planting Myosotis on recovered areas

information and thematic posters,

maps and advertisements were pro-

duced informing visitors and the local

population about the protection sta-

tus 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.


In 2003, the designated Natura 2000

site gained its regional protection

status. The conservation work car-

ried out by the LIFE-Nature team was

commended in accompanying docu-

mentation for this process. The fol-

lowing year, thanks to the restoration

of its habitat and the artificial pro-

pagation of the plant, some 83,000

individuals of the Lake Constance

forget-me-not species were counted

in the project area. This was evalua-

ted as a stable population with “very

good” long-term prospects.

The project also brought indirect

benefits to a number of habitats lis-

ted in the Habitats Directive, inclu-

ding: 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 habi-

tats 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 sho-

relines (10.23 ha), which are potential

expansion habitats for the delicate

lakeshore vegetation, and therefore

of eminent importance for the long-

term 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


Website: www.bregenz.at/index.php?id=1066

Period: Apr-2001 to May-2005


LIFE Contribution: e 1,020,000Myosotis in bloom on previously planted areas



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


Website: www.LIFE-natur.de (with video)

Period: Jan-1996 to Aug-2003




Germany: The Benningen Marsh

Armeria maritime subsp. purpurea on calcareous fens

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 ground-

water reaches the surface. The site,

a priority habitat for conservation

included in Annex 1 of the Habitats

directive, contains rare plants such

as Armeria maritime ssp. purpurea1,

a magenta-coloured wildflower found

only in this location, and the creeping

marshwort (Apium repens). However,

over decades, pressure from hous-

ing 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.

What did LIFE do?

In 1996, the LIFE-Nature “Benningen”

project was set up to preserve and

improve the core zone as an ecologi-

cally valuable calcareous fen, while

creating a buffer zone of humid mead-

ows around it by rehumidification.

A detailed hydrogeological survey was

used to determine the exact hydro-

logical 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 Habi-tats directive

the core zone that he would do nature

restoration works on his property.

The project removed succession over-

growth 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

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.

Public relations work was carried out to

raise awareness amongst the local com-

munity and visitors of the value of this

forgotten site. This included publishing

brochures and reports and establishing

a visitor observation point.


The LIFE project has led to a major

improvement to the site’s conservation

status.The hydrological project works

(boulder dams, groynes and a reduc-

tion in the frequency of ditch cleaning)

brought about a 10-20 cm increase in

the water level and increased calcium

carbonate precipitation, both prereq-

uisites 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 spe-

cies besides Armeria were found to

have increased in number, including

the plant Bartsia alpina, the narrow-

mouthed whorl snail (Vertigo angus-

tior) 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

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.

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.



Pinus mugo and Pinus cembra habitat in Pietrosul Rodnei, Oriental Carpathians

The 6,415-ha Pietrosul biosphere

reserve, now also a proposed Natura

2000 site, hosts a number of habitats

and species of Community interest,

some of which have become dam-

aged by human activities. The main

threats include tourism (e.g. skiing,

hiking, mountaineering), selective

logging, livestock-grazing and dis-

turbance from hunting, for example

of chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra).

Among the habitats of Community

interest in the reserve, forests are the

most seriously degraded, surviving

in some cases only in small patches.in small patches.small patches.

Some tree species, such as the cem-

bra 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

40 over-aged trees remaining, the

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

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.

Romania: Restoring forest habitats, preventing soil erosion and guarding against avalanches


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Pinus mugo tree planted at an altitude of ��,8�� m

This chalet was built to shelter the LIFE project team and park warden

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 nut-

cracker (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. Piet-

rosul 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.

The conservation of other flora and

fauna was also tackled through the

drawing up and execution of a man-

agement 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 implemen-

tation, the chalet housed the work-

ers, project team, and researchers

– providing shelter during activities

such as the seedlings’ plantation,

the scientific inventory of the woody,

herbaceous, bird and carnivore spe-

cies 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 asso-

ciated 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 treacher-

ous path, using a primitive caterpillar

track. The sticks, used for field mark-

ing of the seedlings, were carried on


Pho

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Transporting the sticks for field marking the seedlings was an arduous task

workers’ back to the planting area.

Another laborious task was the dig-

ging 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.


The project’s main achievement was

the successful reintroduction of cem-

bra 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 monitor-

ing 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 man-

agement plan setting out actions

to be taken during the project and

establishing a working framework for

long-term conservation and manage-

ment of the reserve. After the estab-

lishment of the national park in 2004,

the scope of this plan was extended

from the foreseen area of the bio-

sphere reserve to the entire area of

the national park. The plan includes

economic and conservation activi-

ties for the sustainable development

of the area with special emphasis to

specific actions regarding the resto-

ration of woody habitats and conser-

vation of all flora and fauna habitats.

This action involved consultation with

local administrators, stakeholders

and local residents, and the organi-

sation of three workshops, the last of

which took place in May 2007. The

beneficiary also organised an inter-

national IUFRO conference (37 par-

ticipants from 11 countries) focusing

on pines, including cembra pine.

Life after LIFE

The project’s after-LIFE conserva-

tion 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 restora-

tion 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


Website: http://www.icassv.ro/life_pietrosu/

Period: Jun-2003 to Jun-2007



Project manager Ioan Blada (left) shows the pines planted on the restored area


Pulsatilla grandis: a species targeted by the project

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


Website: http://psh.ecn.cz/index2.htm

Period: Oct-2004 to Dec-2007




Czech Republic: Preserving the beauty and biodiversity of the Moravian KarstLocated 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 endan-

gered plant forest habitats.

Hády Hill, rising to 423 metres above

sea level, dominates the landscape to

the northeast of Brno, the second larg-

est city in the Czech Republic. The site

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 thermophilous1 plant species and

habitats. Several of these are included

in the Habitats Directive: Echium rus-

sicum and Pulsatilla grandis (Annex II)

and Cypripedium calceolus (Annex V),

sub-pannonic steppic grasslands, pan-

nonian white oak woods, pannonian

oak hornbeam forests, lime alder for-

ests 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 lime-

stone quarries that gradually destroyed

the unique steppe grasslands. Follow-

ing the closure of the quarry at Hády

in 1998, the area was abandoned and

had become overgrown.

�� Plant species that thrive in a warm envi-ronment

What did LIFE do?

The project was managed by the

project beneficiary, Land Trust Hády,

a local nature conservation organisa-

tion. Its main objective was the resto-

ration 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 tradi-

tional sheep grazing re-established.

Restoration actions included the

removal of invasive tree species and

scrub vegetation and the introduction

of appropriate grazing management.


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 gran-

dis now grow on this land. To favour

the expansion of the dry grassland

habitats and white oak forests, inva-

sive 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

planting seedlings of oak, lime tree,

sycamore and common maple. Tradi-

tional grazing was also successfully re-

established 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 cal-

careous screes of hill and montane lev-

els in lower parts of the valley.


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Further projects focusing on endangered plantsThe 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 Cyprus

Alnus orientalis¤

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 Moravian Karst

Echium russicum Pulsatilla grandis

Finland LIFE00 NAT/FIN/007059 Conservation of Cypripedium calceolus and Saxifraga hirculus in northern Finland

Cypripedium calceolusSaxifraga hirculus

France LIFE96 NAT/F/003200 The Mediterranean holm oak grove integrated management

Centaurea corymbosa

LIFE99 NAT/F/006332 Priority species, chalk grasslands and scree in the lower Seine valley catchment area

Viola hispida*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*

Germany LIFE96 NAT/D/003042 Protection and development of the population of Jurinea cyanoides (Silberscharte) in the typical plan association on continental dunes (Sandgrasheiden) near Volkach

Jurinea cyanoides*

LIFE96 NAT/D/003043 Protection and development of the Benningen Marsh (Benniger Ried)

Apium repens

LIFE02 NAT/D/008457 Restoration of a freshwater section of the estuary of the River Elbe especially for Oenanthe conioides

Oenanthe conioides*

LIFE04/NAT/D/000025 Living Rhine floodplain near Karlsruhe Marsilea quadrifolia

Greece 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



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*

Italy LIFE97 NAT/IT/004163 Conservation acts for Apennine Abies alba and Picea excelsa forests and Apennine beech forests with Abies alba

Abies alba¤

Picea excelsea¤

Taxus baccata¤

LIFE99 NAT/IT/006217 EOLIFE99 - Conservation of priority plant species in the Aeolian Islands

Bassia saxicola* Cytisus aeolicus* Ophrys lunulata* Silene hicesiae*

LIFE00 NAT/IT/007228 Conservation of Abies nebrodensis (Lojac) Mattei in situ and ex situ

Abies nebrodensis*

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-ged by the State Forest Service

Abies alba¤

Pinus nigra subsp. laricio¤

LIFE04 NAT/IT/000191 Conservation of Apennine beech forests with Abies alba SIC Pigelleto - M. Amiata

Abies alba¤

Taxus baccata¤

Portugal LIFE98 NAT/P/005229 Asphodelus bento-rainhae - measures to manage and preserve it

Asphodelus bento-rainhae*

LIFE98 NAT/P/005234 Conservation of four rare species in pSCI (Valongo)

Culcita macrocarpaTrichomanes speciosum

LIFE99 NAT/P/006431 Conservation of priority and rare plant species of Madeira

Aichryson dumosum 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 scaberulusOmphalodes kuzinskyanae Tuberaria major*Plantago algarbinesisPlantago almogravensis

Romania LIFE99 NAT/RO/006391 Conservation of a Euro-Siberian wood with oak (Quercus robur)

Narcissus poeticus subsp. 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


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

Aragon (Spain)

Androsace pyrenaica 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

the Canary Islands

Dorycnium spectabile*Myrica rivas-martinezii*Isoplexis chalcantha*Sambucus palmensis*Sideritis discolor*

Spain LIFE98 NAT/E/005358 Recovery of areas of threatened flora in Sierra

Nevada

Narcisus nevadensis*Arenaria nevadensis*Artemisia granatensis* Centaurea gadorensisErigeron frigidusSenecio elodes*Senecio nevadensisErodium astragaloides*Erodium rupicola*Odontites granatensisLaserpitium longiradium

LIFE99 NAT/E/006417 Conservation of priority habitats in the Valencian

Community

Riella helicophylla (moss)

Silene hifacensis*

LIFE00 NAT/E/007355 Conservation of areas with threatened species of

flora on the island of Minorca

Anthyllis hystrixApium 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

(ES2120016)

Soldanella villosa

* Priority species for conservation¤ Annex I habitat

A number of printed copies of cer-

tain LIFE publications are availa-

ble and can be ordered free-of-

charge at: http://ec.europa.eu/

environment/life/publications/

order.htm


Available LIFE publicationsOther publicationsLIFE-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 92-79-04969-9 - 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/envi-ronment/life/publications/lifepublica-tions/lifefocus/documents/urban_lr.pdf

Integrated management of Natura 2000 sites (2005 - 48 pp. – ISBN 92-79-00388-7) http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/managingnatura_lr.pdf

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

LIFE for birds: 25 years of the Birds Directive: the contribution of LIFE-Nature 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

The air we breathe: LIFE and the Euro-pean 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 92-894-7898-5 – 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 solu-tions: clean technologies – LIFE and the Directive on integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC Direc-tive) (2003 - 32 pp. – ISBN 92-894-6020-2 – ISSN 1725-5619)http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/cleantech_en.pdf

LIFE and agri-environment support-ing 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 2006-2007 (2007, 44 pp.-ISBN 978-92-79-06699-3 ISSN 1725-5619) http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/ publications/lifepublications/bestprojects documents/bestenv�7.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

Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2005-2006 (2006, 40 pp. ISBN 92-79-02123-0) http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/ publications/lifepublications/bestprojects/documents/bestenv�6_lr.pdf

LIFE-Environment 1992-2004 “Dem-onstrating excellence in environmen-tal innovation” (2005, 124 pp. – ISBN 92-894-7699-3 – ISSN 1725-5619)http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/lifeenv9�_�4.pdf

LIFE-Environment Projects 2006 compi-lation (2006, 56 pp.-ISBN 92-79-02786-7)http://ec.europa.eu/environment/l i fe/publ icat ions/ l i fepubl icat ions/ compilations/documents/envcompila-tion�6.pdf

LIFE-Nature Projects 2006 compilation (2006, 67 pp. – ISBN 92-79-02788-3) http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/compila-tions/documents/natcompilation�6.pdf

LIFE-Third Countries Projects 2006 compilation (2006, 20 pp. – ISBN 92-79-02787-5) http://ec.europa.eu/environment/l i fe/publ icat ions/ l i fepubl icat ions/ compilations/documents/tcycompila-tion�6.pdf

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/order.htm



http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/wetlands.pdf



http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/recycling.pdf



http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/rivers.pdf



http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/energy_lr.pdf



http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/marine_lr.pdf



http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/forest_lr.pdf



http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/urban_lr.pdf



http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/managingnatura_lr.pdf



http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/military_en.pdf



http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/birds_en.pdf



http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/lifeair_hr.pdf



http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/natcommunicat_lr.pdf



http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/waste_en.pdf



http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/cleantech_en.pdf



http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/agrienvironment_en.pdf



http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/bestprojects/documents/bestenv07.pdf



http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/TCY_lr.pdf



http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/bestprojects/documents/bestenv06_lr.pdf



http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/infoproducts/bestlifeenv/bestenv_0506_lr.pdf

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/documents/lifeenv92_04.pdf



http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/compilations/documents/envcompilation06.pdf




http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/compilations/documents/natcompilation06.pdf



http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/compilations/documents/tcycompilation06.pdf




KH

-80-08-284-EN

-C

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.

LIFE+ “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 �� – 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 cmISBN 978-92-79-08815-5ISSN 1725-5619doi: 10.2779/9929710.2779/99297

colours C/M/Y/K32/49/79/21

ISSN 1725-56191725-5619