LIFE III

LIFE and endangered plants

Conserving Europe’s threatened flora
European Commission
Environment Directorate-General

LIFE (“The Financial Instrument for the Environment”) is a programme launched by the European Commission and coordinated
by the Environment Directorate-General (LIFE Unit - E.4).

The contents of the publication “LIFE and endangered plants: Conserving Europe’s threatened flora” do not necessarily reflect
the opinions of the institutions of the European Union.

Authors: João Pedro Silva (Technical expert), Justin Toland, Wendy Jones, Jon Eldridge, Edward Thorpe, Maylis Campbell,
Eamon O’Hara (Astrale GEIE-AEIDL, Communications Team Coordinator). Managing Editor: Philip Owen, European Commission,
Environment DG, LIFE Unit – BU-9, 02/1, 200 rue de la Loi, B-1049 Brussels. LIFE Focus series coordination: Simon Goss (LIFE
Communications Coordinator), Evelyne Jussiant (DG Environment Communications Coordinator). The following people also
worked on this issue: Piotr Grzesikowski, Juan Pérez Lorenzo, Frank Vassen, Karin Zaunberger, Aixa Sopeña, Georgia Valaoras,
Lubos Halada, Mikko Tira, Michele Lischi, Chloé Weeger, Katerina Raftopoulou. Production: Monique Braem. Graphic design:
Daniel Renders, Anita Cortés (Astrale GEIE-AEIDL). Acknowledgements: Thanks to all LIFE project beneficiaries who contributed
comments, photos and other useful material for this report. Photos: Unless otherwise specified; photos are from the respective
projects. This issue of LIFE Focus is published in English with a print-run of 5,000 copies and is also available online.

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

Patrick Murphy

Plants are vital to almost every aspect of our daily lives. They provide us with food, fibres, medicines, fuel, shelter,
clothing and the air we breathe. Many animal species are also directly dependent on plants for their survival.
Plants are essential constituents of ecosystems and play a key role in the Earth’s system.

Europe is blessed with a high rate of diversity, but, despite their undeniable importance, plants everywhere are
under threat. Some 21% of Europe’s vascular plant species (flowering plants, conifers and ferns) are classified as
threatened according to the IUCN. Half of the continent’s 4,700 vascular plant endemics are in danger of 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
Background to Europe’s
wild plants.................... 3
European wild plants:
status and threats.............. 3
European biodiversity
policy and plant
conservation..................... 5
Mediterranean flora.... 23
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
Macaronesian flora..... 31
Portugal: Managing and
preserving Asphodelus
bento-rainhae.................. 16
Plant micro-reserves:
from concept to
implementation............... 17
Greece: Conservation
of endangered flora on
Crete............................... 20
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
Spain: Conserving five
priority species in
the Canary Islands.......... 32
Portugal: Restoring
Madeira’s laurel forest.... 34
Restoration of
habitats....................... 37
Austria: Lake Constance
forget-me-not flourishes
in Bregenz once more
thanks to LIFE-Nature.... 38
Germany: Protecting and
developing the Benningen
Marsh............................. 41
Romania: Conserving
forest habitats, preventing
soil erosion and guarding
against avalanches......... 42
Czech Republic: Preserving
the beauty and biodiversity
of the Moravian Karst..... 45
Further projects
focusing on wetlands... 46
List of available LIFE
publications.................... 49
Background to Europe’s wild plants LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants I p. 

European wild plants:

status and threats
The disappearance and declining populations of many endangered plant species presents the
European Union with one of its greatest conservation challenges. Efforts have focused on habitat
loss and degradation, introductions of invasive alien species, pollution and disease, and climate
change.

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-
Photo: R.Jardim, J.B.Madeira – LIFE99 NAT/P/006431

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 Convolvulus massonii: highly threatened by habitat loss
the most threatened in the world.
According to the World Conservation Threats that by the year 2032, more than 70%
Union (IUCN), some 21% of Europe’s of the land’s surface will have been
vascular plant species are classified as The main factors that have contrib- destroyed or disturbed. Habitat loss
threatened and half of the continent’s uted to the progressive decline of is also a problem because it leads to
4,700 vascular plant endemics are in European plant diversity are: the fragmentation of the remaining
danger of extinction. In a number of habitat resulting in further isolation of
European countries more than two- Habitat loss and degradation plant populations.
thirds of the existing plant habitat Habitat loss is the primary cause of
types are endangered. species loss at local, regional and glo- Introductions of Invasive Alien
bal scales. Urban development, over- Species (IAS)
Wild plants in Europe are under severe drafting of groundwater, road building, Aliens are not science fiction, but a
threat, and significant losses of plant recreation, forest fires, agriculture and nature conservation fact.  An “alien” is
species and habitat have taken place. tree logging all destroy and degrade any species that is moved by humans
Although being a subject of concern, plant’s natural habitats. It is estimated to an area outside of its native range. In
plant conservation tends to receive that habitat destruction from human the vast majority of cases, these spe-
less media coverage than conserva- activity is the primary cause of risk cies will not survive because they are
tion of other threatened groups, such for 83% of endangered plant species. not adapted to the new area.  Nev-
as big mammals (for example, lynxes Habitat loss is harmful not only to a ertheless, in a minority of cases, a
and whales) and bird species. The single species, but to whole commu- species will be able to survive in its
public is, however, concerned about nities and ecosystems. According to new location and sometimes will
wild plants disappearing from the local the United Nations Environment Pro- even thrive in a new location. “Inva-
countryside. gramme (UNEP), it has been estimated sive” species are those that spread

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 2080. The impact of climatic
� Thuiller
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et al. (2005) “Climate change
threats to plant diversity in Europe”.
Background to Europe’s wild plants
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.
Photo: LIFE
Importance of plants: their
goods and services Plants are valued for many reasons,
including aesthetics: Lady’s slipper
Plants are universally recognised as orchid (Cypripedium calceolus)
an essential part of biological diversity
and a vital resource (i.e., in maintain- The vast majority of medicinal and
ing carbon dioxide and oxygen equi- aromatic plant species used today
librium in the atmosphere). In addition is collected from the wild. Unfortu-
to the small number of crop plants nately, such a practice can sometimes
used for basic food and fibres, many result in unsustainable practices. For
thousands of wild plants have consid- example, wolf’s bane (Arnica mon-
erable economic and cultural impor- tana), used to treat sprains, bruises,
tance and potential, providing food, and muscle aches, and great yellow
fuel, clothing, shelter and medicine. gentian (Gentiana lutea) are harvested
throughout Europe (especially in Bul-
An estimated 50,000 - 70,000 plant garia and Romania). These plants
species are used in medicines are included in Annex V of the Habi-
throughout the world. They make an tats Directive, which identifies plants
essential contribution to healthcare (and animals) requiring management
and provide an important source of measures because of exploitation
income in rural areas. concerns.
Effects of climate change on plant diversity:
Species are ‘left behind’ as they are unable to change their distribution fast enough.
Species with long life cycles and/or slow dispersal are particularly vulnerable.
Some isolated species are particularly vulnerable, as they may have ‘nowhere
to go’. These include:
l A rctic and alpine species, and island endemics.
l C oastal species which are ‘squeezed’ between human settlements and rising
sea levels.
l P lant genetic composition may change in response to the selection pressure
of climate change.
l S ome plant communities or species associations may be lost as species
move and adapt at different rates.
l Increased invasions by alien species may occur, as conditions become more
suitable for exotic species while native species become less suited to their
environment.
l M any plant communities act as ‘sinks’ (store carbon), which helps to offset
carbon emissions. However, over the next 70 years, the effects of climate
change on plants mean many terrestrial sinks may become sources, for
example the bogs.
Background to Europe’s wild plants
European Biodiversity Policy
and plant conservation
The 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)216 .
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
� http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/
biodiversity/comm2006/index_en.htm
LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
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) 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) 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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l28024.htm
I p. 
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) 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
� http://www.ndp.ie/documents/publica-
tions/reg_cir/CR12571999.pdf
Bogs: a priority for conservation habitat
important for certain plant species,
such as the insectivorous sundew
(Drosera rotundifolia)

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
!.)-!,3
of conservation (SACs) that, together
with)NVERTEBRATES
the special protection areas
(SPAs) designated under the Birds
Directive
&ISH (79/409/EEC , make up the
)
Natura 2000 network.
!MPHIBIANS
2EPTILES
Annexes I (natural -AMMALS habitat types of
Community interest) and II (animal
and plant species of Community inter-
4OTALNUMBER!NNEX))SPECIES
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&ERNS0TERIDOPHYTA  #ONIFERS'YMNOSPERMAE 
Figure I: EU-27 plant and animal species listed
in Annex II of the Habitats Directive
!.)-!,3 0,!.43
!.)-!,3
)NVERTEBRATES
)NVERTEBRATES
&ISH
Source: European Topic Centre for Biodiversity (ETC), 2007
!MPHIBIANS
2EPTILES
&ISH -AMMALS
!MPHIBIANS
4OTALNUMBER!NNEX))SPECIES
2EPTILES
-AMMALS
-OSSES
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4OTALNUMBEROF!NNEX))SPECIES
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!.)-!,3 0,!.43
)NVERTEBRATES
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).
0,!.43 
As well as the plant species included
in Annex
0LANTS 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
&LOWERING0LANTS!NGIOSPERMA   are classi-
fied as “priority natural habitat types”
under the directive. For example, the
endangered golden oak (Quercus
0ANNONIAN
alnifolia) is the main species within a
Cyprus Annex I priority habitat – scrub
!NNEX))PLANTSPECIES
0,!.43 
0LANTS
 

&LOWERING0LANTS!NGIOSPERMA  
&LOWERING0LANTS
!NGIOSPERMAE 
0ANNONIAN
#ONIFERS
&ERNS 'YMNOSPERMAE 
#ONIFERS'YMNOSPERMAE 
Background to Europe’s wild plants
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
!LPINE
!TLANTIC
"OREAL
#ONTINENTAL
-ACARONESIAN
-EDITERRANEAN
and sale or exchange” of specimens
of such species taken in the wild.
!NNEX))PRIORITYPLANTSPECIES
Figure II: Annex II plant species
by biogeographical region
Source: ETC, 2004 - excludes Black Sea & Steppic regions (Bulgaria, Romania)
!LPINE
!TLANTIC
"OREAL
#ONTINENTAL
-ACARONESIAN
-EDITERRANEAN
!NNEX))PLANTSPECIES !NNEX))PRIORITYPLANTSPECIES
Background to Europe’s wild plants LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants I p. 

LIFE’s contribution
to EU plant conservation
Since its beginning in 1992, LIFE1, the financial instrument for the environment, has been a 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 objectives often involves carrying out
projects received EU co-funding complex actions, which differ consider-
under the LIFE-Nature component of ably according to each individual plant
Photo: LIFE00 NAT/IT/007239

the LIFE programme. Although only species targeted by the project. As a

33 of these projects directly targeted consequence, a number of the projects
the conservation of plants listed under featured over the following pages ben-
the annexes of the Habitats Direc- efited from close collaboration with
tive, a far greater number of projects stakeholders and from national and
targeted plant conservation within a international partnerships.
broader context – for example, under LIFE projects often target more than
habitat actions, Natura 2000 network one endangered plant species Some common characteristics of
site management plans, or more gen- LIFE-Nature projects targeting plants
eral actions. plant species is located in the south- are projects:
ern European countries. l targeting several plant species – with

Under LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity, different ecological requirements,

projects targeting plants and habitats LIFE plant project actions habitats and locations
within and outside Natura 2000 may l ������������������������������������
focusing on very restricted species
be financed. ‘LIFE+ Nature’ will co- A particular characteristic of LIFE plant populations – with few individuals
finance best practice or demonstra- projects, a number of which have been and often targeting very small areas
tion projects contributing to the imple- selected to highlight the different sec- e.g. one Natura 2000 site or a group
mentation of the Birds and Habitats tions of this brochure, is that such of sites
directives; and ‘LIFE+ Biodiversity’ projects typically have highly specific
will co-finance innovative or demon- objectives (e.g. many target endemic, 1 LIFE I, II and III (1992-2006)
stration projects contributing to the or very rare species). Meeting these 2 LIFE+ (2007-2013)
implementation of the objectives of
the Commission’s 2006 Communica-
tion “Halting the loss of biodiversity by
LIFE and Invasive Alien Species (IAS)
2010 – and beyond”.
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
Geographic distribution of
biodiversity of invasive species is one of the objectives identified in the European
LIFE projects targeting plants
Commission’s Communication on Biodiversity.
The issue of invasive species was specifically addressed by a LIFE-Nature project
As mentioned in the previous article,
in Madeira, Portugal that involved the removal of over 850 tonnes of Kahili ginger
‘European Biodiversity Policy and
(Hedychium gardnerianum) plant material from an area covering 165 ha. The Kahili
plant conservation’ (pp.5-6), the distri-
ginger is an ornamental plant introduced to local gardens in Madeira in the 1930s,
bution of plant diversity across Europe
but which now runs wild throughout the island, displacing the native Macaronesian
is not even – almost two-thirds of the
laurel forest, a priority Natura 2000 habitat. Like the Kahili ginger, the Carpobrotus
plant species listed under Annex II of
edulis from South Africa, with its beautiful flowers, was planted in gardens very
the Habitats Directive are restricted
far away from its native soil. The diverse coastal plant habitats of Minorca, Spain
to the Mediterranean and Macaron-
have been particularly hard hit by this uncontrolled IAS. Thanks to a Spanish LIFE-
esian biogeographical regions. It is
Nature project (LIFE00 NAT/E/007339) this invasive plant was successfully elimi-
no surprise therefore that the largest
nated from the island’s Natura 2000 sites.
contribution of LIFE projects targeting
 Background to Europe’s wild plants

l ����������������������������������
combining local conservation meas- plant species Viola hispida and viding future sustainability for the
ures (in situ) and off-site actions (ex Biscutella neustriaca and as a result conservation of plant and habitats
situ) such as plant nurseries the definition of new Natura 2000 within the Natura 2000 network.
l �����������������������������������
increasing plant species knowledge sites and management plans. l A w a re n e s s - r a i s i n g : several
- by gathering scientific knowledge l L
 and or rights acquisition: actions projects produced leaflets, mono-
(new populations, genetic studies, targeting the protection of plant graphs or manuals. Projects also
etc.) to be used in the development populations and conservation of implemented traineeship schemes
and implementation of protection, their habitats in certain locations. and raised awareness among local
management or recovery plans l D
 irect conservation actions: for stakeholders (farmers, environment
l ��������������������������������
increasing public awareness and the conservation of plant species agents, etc), schools and the gen-
knowledge of plant species – (nor- and their habitats: ex situ – creation eral public. These actions helped
mally very low) together with the of nurseries, in-vitro propagation, to improve general knowledge
establishment of partnerships with germoplasm banks – and in situ – of Europe’s plant species and to
stakeholders at local level. recovery of degraded areas, habitat improve awareness of the impor-
restoration, alien species eradica- tance of their conservation.
Financed actions vary considerably, tion, establishment of fences, etc.
depending on the characteristics of l M
 onitoring: included scientific LIFE also co-funded the purchase of
the targeted species or habitats. But monitoring during the project equipment needed for plant conser-
in general, the projects include: periods and after-LIFE in order to vation actions, helping to fund, for
l P reparatory actions: such as assess the longer-term impacts. example, the building of nurseries
the preparation of surveys, map- Some projects also included spe- and the supply of tools and resources
ping, definition of seedling proto- cies and habitats surveillance (for- of vital importance to continued local
cols, genetic analysis, etc. These est fires/collecting/grazing). plant conservation.
actions help to further knowledge l N
 etworking: several projects

of the targeted species and set out organised expert meetings deal- Annex II identifies 587 plant species

improved conservation measures. ing with plant conservation and whose conservation requires the des-
Projects typically involve partner- established contacts with other ignation of special areas of conser-
ships with research institutions LIFE project beneficiaries both on vation that together with the special

– mainly European botanical gar- a national and European level. LIFE protection areas designated under
dens and the botany departments funding also played an important the Birds Directive, make up the

of European universities. For role in the establishment of part- Natura 2000 network. Of these, some
example, the French project LIFE99 nerships between stakeholders, 204 (80%) of plant species are prior-
NAT/F/006332 contributed to an managers and scientific person- ity. Thus looking to the future, under
increased knowledge of the dry nel, resulting in the establishment the new LIFE+ programme there are
-EDITERRANEAN
!TLANTIC

0ANNONIAN
#ONTINENTAL

-ACARONESIAN
!LPINE
"OREAL

grasslands of the Seine and Eure of management and conservation plenty of opportunities for LIFE project
valley habitat of the endangered plans with local support and pro- applications targeting plants.
0ROJECTTARGETEDPLANTS .ŽOF0ROJECTS

Figure III: LIFE Nature projects targeting Figure IV: Number of projects by
Annex II plant species Biogeographical region (1992-2006)
Only EU member states with projects targeting plant species
 

 











 
Source: LIFE projects database

Source: LIFE projects database

 
-EDITERRANEAN
!TLANTIC

0ANNONIAN
#ONTINENTAL

-ACARONESIAN
!LPINE
'REECE

2OMANIA

3LOVENIA
3PAIN

#ZECH2EPUBLIC
&RANCE

'ERMANY

!USTRIA
#YPRUS
0ORTUGAL

(UNGARY

"OREAL
)TALY

&INLAND

.ŽOF!NNEX))TARGETEDPLANTS .ŽOF0ROJECTS 0ROJECTTARGETEDPLANTS .ŽOF0ROJECTS




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

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 populations
An integrated package of proactive LIFE-Nature management measures in Lapland has resulted
in the successful restoration of prioritised biotypes and improved conservation status for two of
Europe’s endangered plant species – lady’s slipper (Cypripedium calceolus) and yellow marsh
saxifrage (Saxifraga hirculus).
Northern Finland is renowned for its
unusual environment that experiences
the midnight sun in summer and a
harsh Arctic chill during winter. These
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.
Mowing (left) was one of the key actions to recover the populations of S. hirculus (right)
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
Endangered plants in general
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
Endangered plants in general
Tree ring barking (left) to reduce shadow and population monitoring of C.calceoulus
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
LIFE Focus
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
I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants I p. 11
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.
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: arja.vasama@metsa.fi
Website: http://www.metsa.fi/luo/
projektit/lettorikko/
Period: Dec-2000 to May-2005
Total Budget: e 1,900,000
LIFE Contribution: e 950,000
 Endangered plants in general

France: Saving two Norman plants

A project to conserve two endangered wildflowers in Normandy significantly raised the level of
interest in these native species and hopes for their long-term survival. It brought together a range
of partners to stop the decline in populations of these species.

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-
Photo: Arehn

tats are home to a wide range of flora

including orchids.

The first step of the project was to France’s Seine valley – the unique location of these two plants species
conduct a survey of the populations of
the target species. According to Car- 1,500 individuals were found at 10 These sites are mostly in the depart-
ine Douville of the Conservatoire des sites, while a total population of 2,000 ment of Upper Normandy but some are
Sites Naturels de Haute-Normandie, Biscutelle was identified at 40 sites. To in Ile-de-France.
the project beneficiary, the violet was be sustainable, the violet would need
particularly threatened and would to increase its population to 5,000 indi- What did LIFE do?
have already become extinct without viduals with at least 100 at each site;
the intervention of the project. Some the Biscutelle would require 50 per site. EU funding was a major factor in
attracting partners to the conservation
of these habitats. The beneficiary was
About the wildflowers supported by the Vexin regional park,
the National Botanical Conservatories
The Violet of Rouen is an annual flowering plant of of Bailleul and Bassin, the University
5-15 cm high. Its leaves are dark green and cove- of Rouen and the Agency for Green
red with tiny short white hairs that give the plant a Spaces in Île-de-France��������������
���������������������������
. The project
velvet-like appearance. Its flowers, which are about allowed the beneficiary to reintroduce
1.5-2 cm high, consist of five petals. The superior beneficial grazing practices in sec-
petals are slightly darker and the base of the inferior petal striated black on a tions of grassland that are still in good
white background. Seeds are contained in a three-valve capsule that opens condition or that were to be restored.
when ripe.
Restoring sites entailed manually cut-
The Biscutelle of Neustrie is a perennial with a thick root and is 20-40 cm ting away scrub and trees. On the ����
Île�-
in height. The root may divide into several branches creeping under ground de-France site, however, the project
and giving birth to several rosettes of leaves. Its lea- partner, the Vexin regional park, pur-
ves are dark green covered with tiny short, rough, chased a rotary shredder to remove
but not glandulous, hairs. Flowers are about 5 mm dense vegetation. Though the grass-
long, bright yellow and consist of four petals and lands would be grazed using existing
four sepals, typically crossed. Two big flat seeds flocks of sheep for the most part, the
are contained in each fruit. When ripe, seeds fall to project allowed the beneficiary to buy
a short distance from the parent plant. an additional flock of 100, and where
Endangered plants in general
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
LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
The calcareous screes (left) and grasslands (right) are maintained through grazing and
removal of vegetation
of Biscutelle do not last, so it is not
possible to restore populations on old
sites through the use of the seed bank
remaining in the soil.
One satisfying outcome of the project,
says Douville of the Conservatoire des
Sites Naturels de Haute-Normandie,
is the number of old people that have
commented on how the restoration
of the habitats has brought back
fond memories of how the landscape
used to appear. She also says that
the demand for guided visits to the
areas has steadily increased. The
Conservatoire has erected 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-
I p. 13
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”.
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
Email:
cshn@cren-haute-normandie.com
Period:
April-1999 to September-2003
Total Budget: e 1,166,000
LIFE Contribution: e 1,103,000
 Endangered plants in general

Bavaria: Sand grassland protection

Home to the priority species Jurinea cyanoides, the sandy Bavarian grasslands along the great
bend of the River Main, though ecologically rich, are under threat. A LIFE project increased the
available habitats for the priority species, thereby ensuring its survival.

The 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
Photo: Otto Elsner

to quarry sand in the vicinity have

posed an added problem.

The aim of the LIFE project was to

increase the available habitats for The level of soil nutrients was reduced by a system of crop cycling
Jurinea cyanoides so as to ensure
the survival of this species and to Depending on the condition, sections
increase the population size. This of land would be left to either natu-
goal would be achieved through land ral succession, mowed, ploughed or
purchase of surrounding properties. scoriated to accelerate the leaching
The project focused on two small of nutrients and then in some cases
areas that are both partly nature sowed with Jurinea cyanoides seeds.
reserves: the Astheimer Dürring- In certain places sand would also be
swasen and the Sandgrasheiden am deposited on the land. Public access
Elgersheimer Hof. 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 the
taxonomic status of central Euro-
pean Jurinea cyanoides vis-à-vis
Russian specimens;
l ����������������������������������������
Soil analysis to determine nutrient and
mineral levels and monitor the success
of actions to reduce nutrients; and
l Analysis of invertebrates associated
with Jurinea cyanoides and its habitat.
Photo: Otto Elsner
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

Jurinea cyanoides is found in dry conditions to ensure re-establishment
sandy grasslands and long-term survival of the species
Endangered plants in general
on the land acquired:
l �������������������������������
The removal of objects such as
fences and huts;
l ���������������������������������������
An increase in the proportion of bare,
steppe-type land through the clear-
ing of hedges and bushes, mowing
tall grass and pruning or felling of
fruit trees;
l ������������������������������������
The reduction of the level of nutri-
ents in the soil (especially in former
asparagus fields) by a system of
crop cycling (sunflowers, linseed,
Photo: Otto Elsner
flax and rye);
l ����������������������������������
The improvement of the soil struc-
ture by ploughing and/or adding
sand; and
l ����������������������������������
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.
What was the outcome?
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-
LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
Sowing seeds over the treated land boosted the natural re-colonisation process
rectly as they were paid for the biotope
measures, which they had been 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
I p. 15
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.
Project Number:
LIFE96 NAT/D/003042
Title: Protection and Development of
the Population of Jurinea cyanoides
(Silberscharte) in the typical plan
association on continental dunes
(Sandgrasheiden) near Volkach
Beneficiary: Bayerisches
Staatsministerium für Umwelt,
Gesundheit und Verbraucherschutz
Contact: Otto Elsner
Email: otto.elsner@t-online.de
Website: http://www.ivl-web.de/juri-
nea/frame_jur.html
Period: Jan-1997 to Dec-2000
Total Budget: e 600,000
LIFE Contribution: e 240,000
 Endangered plants in general

Portugal: Managing and preserving

Asphodelus bento-rainhae
Asphodelus bento-rainhae is an endangered plant found only in a 700 ha site on the northern
slopes of Portugal’s Serra da Gardunha. The LIFE “Asphodelus” project set out to reverse a
declining trend in the plant’s population by restoring its habitat

Asphodelus bento-rainhae is listed in the second year. This was probably

as a priority species in the Annex II of the result of genetic factors within the
the Habitats Directive. It occurs along plants rather than anything specific to
the edges of oak (Quercus robur and the project.
Quercus pyrenaica) and chestnut
(Castanea sativa) forests in a small In terms of forest fire prevention, sev-
area of eastern Portugal. When the eral blazes were detected and extin-
LIFE project began, the endangered guished during the course of the
plant’s habitat was being destroyed project, however, on two occasions the
at a rate of 7% per annum as a result pSCI was slightly damaged by fire.
of forest fires and the conversion of
Photo: João Pedro Silva

woodland into cherry orchards, and A total of five farmers participated in

the fruit growers’ extensive use of a programme encouraging the diver-
herbicides has been accelerating the sification of forest uses and reduced
reduction and fragmentation of the use of agro-chemicals and fertilisers.
surviving Asphodelus population. However, this represented only 3% of
Asphodelus bento-rainhae: found the cherry producers in the area.
LIFE, together with the local munici- only in 7 km2 of the north slopes of
pality and various private individuals Portugal’s Gardunha mountains The project made an essential con-
living in the district, provided funding tribution to the Natura 2000 network,
for the NGO ADESGAR to carry out paign showed farmers how to make both by enlarging the pSCI to include
urgent conservation measures. agricultural practices more compat- key nuclei of the target species
ible with the protection of the region’s located outside its boundaries and
What did LIFE do? natural heritage. A key component of by establishing a management plan
this was the promotion of alternatives for the species. The local authority
The main objective of the project was to the use of herbicides. intends to incorporate this manage-
to reverse the declining trend in the ment plan into its land use regulations
Asphodelus population by restoring What was the outcome? by 2010.
its habitat, shoring up the recently iso-
lated population nuclei and preventing The project achieved several goals
forest fires. aiming at the conservation of the pSCI Project Number:
and the target species. The distribution LIFE98 NAT/P/005229
ADESGAR used part of the LIFE fund- of the main Asphodelus bento-rainhae Title: Asphodelus bento-rainhae –
ing to lease and purchase land (32 ha). nuclei was mapped. This enabled the Measures to manage and preserve it
Other habitat restoration measures pSCI to be enlarged to incorporate the Beneficiary: ADESGAR (Associ-
included planting Asphodelus from 20% of key Asphodelus nuclei located ação de Defesa e Desenvolvimento
seeds cultivated in nurseries, control- outside its boundaries. da Serra da Gardunha)
ling the development of forest under- Contact: João Pedro Silva
growth, regulating public access to Various techniques of species inter- Email: joaoamarosilva@gmail.com
sensitive areas, and gardening. spersion were tried: while the direct
Website: www.gardunha.com
transplant of individuals coming from
Period:
Forest fire prevention was the subject of high density nuclei was successful,
Aug-1998 to Jul-2003
an information campaign aimed mainly the seedlings transplanted from the
Total Budget: e 556,000
at farmers, and also at local residents seed collection that had germinated in
and visitors. Another information cam- nurseries showed a high mortality rate LIFE Contribution: e 446,000
Endangered plants in general LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants I p. 17

Plant micro-reserves:
from concept to implementation
A plant micro-reserve (PMR) is a small plot of land (up to 20 ha – there is no minimum size) that
is of peak value in terms of plant richness endemism or rarity. The PMR is a permanent, 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.
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
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.

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
Photo: E.Laguna
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
A PMR in Muntanya Cavall, Valencia
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

act as a complement to large Natural because of its scientific importance.

Protected Areas.
LIFE-Nature supported a two-phase
The final aim of PMRs is not protec- project to create a network of flora
tion itself but inventory and monitor- micro-reserves in Valencia. The first
ing of plant diversity. phase (LIFE93 NAT/E/011100) ran

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-
J
ing in establishing a
- 2 0 RO
0
total of 158 micro-
- 2 0 R O
reserves, covering
286 ha. A total of 77
of these PMRs were
0
granted a formal dec-
laration of legal protec-
J
E &
C T
S 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,
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)
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.
T S
C
E objective of conserving the vegetation
Expanding the network
The Valencia micro-reserve network
has expanded significantly following
the conclusion of the LIFE project in
1999. As of 2005, it consists of 247
plots, with a total surface area of
% 1,684 ha (the densest network of 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-
Endangered plants in general
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
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
Endangered plants in general LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
Photo: E.Laguna
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 ) &
% E
aromatic plant species native to the
Photo: E.Laguna
0
project habitats were given away free
to visitors and local inhabitants.
- 2 0 R O
Information panels describing the
Monitoring of plant species populations
is vital for assessing their conservation flora and habitats on view were added
to eight mountain trails with the aim
status
J
E
both of promoting knowledge of the
C T
S , )
and encouraging economic activities natural environment and of attracting
linked to the natural habitats and their visitors to the area, one of a number
conservation. of dissemination activities carried out
during the project.
Some 21,000 seedlings of 23 species
were planted to improve the con- Exporting the concept
servation state of the habitats and
encourage their natural regeneration. Planta Europa, the network of inde-
Demographic analysis of yew tree pendent organisations, non-govern-
populations revealed that there are mental and governmental, working
6,451 specimens within the five sites together to conserve European wild
where works were carried out during plants and fungi, adopted the initial
the project – a sevenfold LIFE micro-reserves project in Valen-
increase in the number of cia as a pilot scheme to evaluate the
trees compared with previ- possible creation of a pan-European
ous data for the whole of micro-reserves network. Steps have
Valencia. now been taken towards establishing
such a network.
The Botanical Garden of
the University of Valencia The LIFE project “Conservation of
collected 195 lots of seeds areas with threatened plant species
of the most characteristic in Minorca (Spain)” (LIFE00 NAT/
plants of high mountain E/007355) ran from 2001-4. In it, the
habitats for storage in a government of Minorca (Consell Insu-
germplasm bank. lar) developed a set of comprehensive
actions to recover the plant species
Photos: E.Laguna
Invasive species such as and priority habitats protected by the
Robinia pseudoacacia that Habitats Directive, including the draft-
threatened to colonise one ing of a network of 24 plant micro-
I p. 19
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.
S
C T
Slovenia was the first
J
- 2 0 RO
country outside Spain
to go down the
micro-reserve path.
In the LIFE-Nature
project “Conserva-
0
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.
 Endangered plants in general

Greece: Conservation
of endangered Cretan flora
On the island of Crete, home to one of the richest floras of all the Mediterranean islands, a 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- S
, )
&% C T
terranean Sea. Crete E
J

in particular, is con-
- 2 0 RO
0

s i d e re d t o h a v e
- 2 0 R O

one of the rich-

est diversities of
plants in Europe,
0

with an especially
high concentration of %
J

E &
C T
S 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.
, )
Androcymbium rechingeri: a very rare Cretan endemic flower
Crete has 14 plant species included in sites that include populations of these
Annex II of the Habitats Directive, with plant species. Within the framework of
eight of these having priority conser- the LIFE project, the University of Ath-
vation status, and the Greek authori- ens, in collaboration with the Mediter-
ties have proposed 38 Natura 2000 ranean Agronomic Institute of Chania

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

Plant name Description and location

Androcymbium rechingeri
Anthemis glaberrima
Bupleurum
kakiskalae
Cephalanthera cucullata
Hypericum aciferum
Nepeta sphaciotica
Phoenix theophrasti
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.
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.
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.
This orchid only grows in the mountainous forest areas of Crete and is threatened by overgrazing.
This short, creeping shrub grows only on the coastal cliffs of Sphakia (between Sougia and Agia Roumeli), in
the southwestern part of Crete.
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.
This palm tree is found only in Crete and southwest Turkey, mostly in moist sandy valleys or rocky areas in close
proximity to the sea. It is known by the common names Phinikas or Vagi, and the largest known population is
located in Vai, eastern Crete, an area already targeted by another LIFE project (LIFE98 NAT/GR/005264). This
plant is included in Annex I and Annex II of the Habitats Directive as part of the priority habitat palm groves of
Phoenix (habitat number 9370 of the Habitats Directive).
Endangered plants in general
(MAICh) and the Region of Crete-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
LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants I p. 21
potential PMR areas and from these it
was decided to establish seven PMRs,
one for each of the target species.
A detailed inventory and mapping was
carried out for each PMR, including
the location and densities of each 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. Fences protect against grazing, note
“This was very important,” stresses the the difference between the right side
(grazed) and left side (ungrazed)
project manager, Professor Costas
Thanos, “as the owner of the land is the
State (represented by the Chania For- Along with these actions, long term
estry Service, which was also a project monitoring plans were prepared for
partner).” This fact simplified both the each species in order to determine the
bureaucratic processes of acquiring factors that affect their conservation.
permits and the implementation of the Some of the parameters monitored
subsequent actions. included: climate conditions; soil
characteristics; interaction with other
All the PMRs were delimited and plants; the presence of animals; and
marked with signs and posts to dis- human activities. The project estab-
courage trespassing and to raise lished permanent monitoring plots,
awareness of the presence of the with meteorological and environmen-
threatened species. The B. kakiska- tal sensors (with dataloggers) and, in
lae and C. cucullata PMRs were also collaboration with the Chania Forestry
fenced off in order to avoid damage Service, also hired a warden to guard
from grazing. A vehicle barrier was each PMR.
erected at the P. theophrasti PMR,
since the area was being used to park To complement the in-situ actions,
vehicles. the project also implemented
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-
Bupleurum kakiskalae
Species
Androcymbium rechingeri
Anthemis glaberrima
Bupleurum kakiskalae
Cephalanthera cucullata
Hypericum aciferum
Nepeta sphaciotica
Phoenix theophrasti
* The only known worldwide populations
ers, leaflets and t-shirts) targeting the
general public, in particular children,
and local authorities. The campaign
focused on the PMRs, highlighting
their importance in conserving the
flora of Crete. Key actions included
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
Endangered plants in general
PMR locations and area covered
Elafonisi islet (2 ha)
Agria Gramvousa islet (4.5 ha)
Linoseli (1 ha)*
Koustogerako – Mountain range of Lefka Ori (12 ha)
Fournoti (6.5 ha)
Svourichti summit at Lefka Ori mountain (4.8 ha)*
Chrisoskalitissa (2.2 ha)
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
Email: cthanos@biol.uoa.gr
Website:
http://cretaplant.biol.uoa.gr
Period: Sep-2004 to Dec-2007
Total Budget: e 932,000
LIFE Contribution: e 699,000
 LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants I p. 23

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.

 Mediterranean flora

Cyprus: conservation of
unique flora and habitats
The first LIFE Nature project to be undertaken in Cyprus aimed to conserve unique habitats and
plant species in Europe while promoting the implementation of the Natura 2000 network.

Natura 2000 network. Despite the

Troodos mountains peat grasslands – unique habitats
Cyprus has a high diversity of habitats
and species, ranging from semi-desert
habitats to peat grasslands, and pine
and oak forests in the mountains.
This diversity is boosted by a 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
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 serpentinophilous  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
concentration soils derived from the min-
eral serpentine

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

Natura 2000 site Site description

Troodos National Forest Park
This SCI, considered the most important area for biodiversity in Cyprus, contains a variety of habitat types (11
Annex I habitats) including four priority and endangered habitats (Pinus nigra ssp. pallasiana, Quercus alnifolia,
and serpentinophilus and peat grasslands). It hosts 10 Annex II species (three of them plant priority species:
Arabis kennedyae, Chionodoxa lochiae and Pinguicula crystallina) and another 262 relevant plant and animal
species, including a large number of endemic plants and the priority snake Columber cypriensis.

Kavo (cape) Gkreko This SCI presents 11 Annex I habitats, including the priority Zizyphus lotus mattorals, vernal pools, and the
marine Posidonia beds. It hosts 400 plant species, 15 of them endemics and 71 fauna species, including the
dolphins Tursiops truncatus and Stenella coeruleoalba.

Vouni Panagias The site includes eight Annex I habitat types (including the Quercus infectoria woodland) and two plant species
listed in Annex II (including the priority Scilla morrissi). The site also hosts one of the known populations of the
endemic snake Coluber cypriensis (Annex II priority species).
Mediterranean flora
Arabis kennedyae: a critically endan-
gered plant species endemic to Cyprus
targeted by the project
ment Service (Ministry of Agriculture,
Natural Resources and Environment)
proposed the first LIFE Nature project
for Cyprus.
What did LIFE do?
The LIFE project implemented a 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.
LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
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
Vernal pools contain a high diversity of
plant species
I p. 25
The insectivorous Pinguicula crystallina
the forest sublevel. The P. nigra forests
are located on the top of the Troodos
mountains and are normally covered by
snow during winter. The project added
fences to prevent winter sports 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

Q.infectoria plantation with watering system – this stand is now the largest continuous
area of Q. infectoria in the EU
in three sites, as part of the recovery
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.
What was the outcome?
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
* The habitats – with Habitats Directive ref-
erence number in parentheses������������
– included
���������
Quercus infectoria (93A0), Quercus alni-
folia (9390), Cedrus brevifolia (9590), the
peat (6460) and serpentinophilous (62B0)
grasslands habitats of the Troodos moun-
tains, as well as the vernal pools (3170).
Mediterranean flora
2000 sites. These guidelines were
used to establish management plans
for four Natura 2000 sites targeted in
the project (Koilada Diarizou, Vouni
Panagias, Troodos National Forest
Park and Kavo Gkreco).
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
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.
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
Email: cpantazi@environment.moa.
gov.cy
Website:
http://life-natura-sites.cy.net
Period: Nov-2004 to Apr-2008
Total Budget: e 2,551,000
LIFE Contribution: e 1,531,000
 Mediterranean flora LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants I p. 27

Italy: Conserving the ‘critically

endangered’ Sicilian fir and helping
to ensure its long-term survival
The mountainous area of Polizzi Generosa within the regional park of Madonie in north-central
Sicily is host to the world’s only population of the Sicilian fir (Abies nebrodensis) – a critically
endangered species whose numbers by 2000 were estimated at only around 30 adult trees. The
project’s achievements were twofold: firstly, during the project period (2001-2005) to effectively
conserve the few remaining individuals; and secondly to substantially develop the population to
help ensure its long-term survival.
Photo: Michele Lischi

A Sicilian fir tree (one of 30 remaining adult individuals of Abies nebrodensis) in the Madonie Regional Park

The high rocky peaks of the Madonie
mountains were once covered by the
Sicilian fir, an endemic conifer, which
grows at around 1,500 metres on
limestone soil. The wood of the 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.

Seedlings of A.nebrodensis are cultivated in a nursery since the survival rate in nature
is so low
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
Photo: Michele Lischi
habitat, to support the existing popu-
lation and to increase the survival rate
of natural regeneration.
Photo: Michele Lischi
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.
Sicilian fir planted on the previously established experimental plots
Mediterranean flora
A nursery was developed using the
seeds from the local population in
order to maintain and propagate
the genetic heritage of the species.
A database and an information centre
were also established, the former 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.
What was the outcome?
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 established
at different altitudes, soil and expo-
sure conditions������������������������
within the native area
and at other sites within the regional
park.�
Ex situ ­ – ���������������������������
since the survival rate in
nature is so low, an increase of the
cultivated stock was secured through
Mediterranean flora
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
LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
Mapping and monitoring the ‘health’ of each individual
the fertile adult individuals.
Monitoring activities continued after
the end of the project, namely of the
growth and health of the adult 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��
).
Finally, the increased awareness of
the threats to the Sicilian fir favored
the establishment of social initia-
I p. 29
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.
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
Email:
gsesto@parcodellemadonie.it
Website: http://www.kalliope.it/
parcodellemadonie/progettolife/
Period: Sep-2001 to Aug-2005
Total Budget: e 1,161,000
LIFE Contribution: e 871,000

Spain: Protecting extraordinary
biodiversity in the Sierra Nevada
This highly successful restoration and conservation project, located in the biodiversity-rich Sierra
Nevada mountain range, helped to safeguard the habitats of 11 endangered plants and propagated
most of the targeted plant species for reintroduction to their natural habitat. The LIFE team also estab-
lished the management plans necessary to ensure the long-term protection of the endangered flora.
The Sierra Nevada National Park
around Granada in southern Spain
contains 7% of all Mediterranean flora,
boasting over 2,100 plant species,
including more than 80 unique to the
region. The particularity of this undulat-
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
Nevada  encompassing high-lying
 Mulhacén-Alcazaba, Poqueira river,
Monachil river woodlands, Collado de las
Sabinas, Alayos de Dílar and Trevenque
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.
What was the outcome?
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
Mediterranean flora
Saxifraga nevadensis
by 2002; and the 600 re-introduced
Senecio elodes showed survival rates
of more than 80%.
Significantly, the project established,
through the management plans, a
framework for the long-term protection
of biodiversity in the targeted sites.
The project increased knowledge and
awareness about flora conservation
among the general public and relevant
professionals. Notably, it generated
successful co-operation with local
farmers and LEADER programmes
around the cultivation programme
for Artemisia granatensis, a species
threatened by over-collection because
of its alleged health properties.
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
Email: pn.sierranevada@cma.caan.es
Period: Jan-1999 to Dec-2002
Total Budget: e 835,000
LIFE Contribution: e 501,000
 LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants I p. 31

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.

 Macaronesian flora

Conserving five priority species

in the Canary Islands
The monteverde forest regions of the Canary Islands are home to five priority species listed in the
Birds and Habitats directives. A LIFE project was carried out to reduce the risks to these species
and ensure their long-term survival.

The monteverde regions consist of

laurel forests and heathlands with
fayal/brezal (Myrica faya and Erica
arborea forests), rich habitats for the
targeted species: Dorycnium 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.
Photo: Elizabeth Ojeda

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
relevant management measures.
• Increase the long-term chance of
survival of the targeted species.
• Reduce the impact of threats to the
existing populations.
������������
To achieve these objectives, the 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.
Dorycnium spectabile habitat in Tenerife
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.
What was the outcome?
The number of plants in the wild
increased dramatically as a result of
the project’s actions. Targets were
clearly surpassed. Adequate habitat
management measures were imple-
mented to improve the status of
populations.
Also, a comprehensive survey was
done on every island with monteverde
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 LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants I p. 33

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
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

Photo: Elizabeth Ojeda

(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-
Dorycnium spectabile plantation in its
natural habitat
Photo: Elizabeth Ojeda
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
Sambucus palmesis flowers
on plants) based on these guidelines
have been approved to date.
“The project was a key milestone for
the kick-off of flora conservation in the
Canary Islands. Previous activities had
implied reacting to urgent measures
needed for specific species or areas
and were not structured in a planned
or organised fashion. This was also
due to the fact that there the regional
government counted on very scarce
resources for nature conservation.
With the LIFE project, an important
boost to resources and personnel was
attained and kept afterwards, helping
to maintain a line of action that contin-
ues at present in flora conservation,”
the report concluded.
Project Number:
LIFE97 NAT/E/004165
Title: Conservation of 5 species of
the Monteverde in Canaries
Beneficiary:
Consejeria de Política Territorial
Gobierno de Canarias
Contact: Manuel González Martín
Email: manuel.gonzalezmartin@
gobiernodecanarias.org
Website: http://www.gobiernodeca-
narias.org/cmayot/medioambiente/
medionatural/biodiversidad/vidasil-
vestre/life9.html
Period:

species in the Canary Islands”, a

Jan-1998 to Dec-2000
reference document for the manage-
ment of other endangered species. Total Budget: e 599,000
Fifteen recovery plans (including 11 LIFE Contribution: e 449,000
 Macaronesian flora

Portugal: Restoring the laurel forest

of Madeira
The Madeira Archipelago contains a large area of native laurel forest, a priority habitat 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 LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants I p. 35

Photos: R.Jardim, JB Madeira

Andryala crithmifolia (left) and Chamaemeles coriacea (right): plant species targeted by LIFE99 NAT/P/006431

What did LIFE do? Partly running in parallel with this forest and from key areas outside
project, the LIFE project “Measures it. However, the aim of total eradi-
Between 1994 and 2003, LIFE sup- for the management and conserva- cation from a “sanitary belt” around
ported five separate projects for the tion of the laurel forest of Madeira” the forest was not achieved, nor
conservation and restoration of areas (LIFE97 NAT/P/004082 – February was the whole set of exotics tack-
of Madeira’s native laurel forest, and 1998 to January 2000) aimed to led. However, three jobs were cre-
its flora and fauna . As part of the eradicate the main invading plant ated as a consequence of LIFE and
initial project (“Urgent measures for species and assess the extent of a permanent exotics fighting team
the conservation and recovery of damage caused by rats. (supported by national funds) is now
species and habitats of important at work on this task, helped by the
community interest of the Madeira This project partly achieved its Portuguese army. The assessment
Archipelago” – LIFE94/P/A222/ objectives: the most invasive of the of damages caused by rats was not
P/01052/MAD) 350 ha of excellent exotics, Hedychium gardnerianum, concluded and only preliminary con-
quality laurel forest was purchased was removed both from the laurel clusions were drawn.
with a view to implementing man-
Photo: R.Jardim, JB Madeira

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.

Recovering seeds in Pico Branco,

Porto Santo island

Endangered plant species of the Madeira laurel forest: Cheirolophus massonianus (left) Jasminum azoricum (centre) and Pittosporum
coriaceum (right)
Other flora in the forest
The laurel forest is also home to other
rare flora. The LIFE project “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.
Aichryson dumosum: found only on a cliff on the south slope of Madeira island
Macaronesian flora
Photos: R.Jardim, JB Madeira
The project successfully established The Funduras project
a germplasm bank containing seed
and vegetative material of the eight The fifth LIFE Nature project ran from
priority species, thereby helping to January 2000 to December 2003. The
conserve genetic variability. aims of “Restoration of the laurel forest
in Funduras” (LIFE99 NAT/P/006436)
Two species, Jasminum azoricum included protecting the local ecosys-
and Cheirolophus massonianus, tem against the collection of species
were successfully reintroduced in and tree cutting, reducing the risk of
the wild, while a third, Aichryson forest fires, and disseminating the
domusum, was found to be present native biological heritage and raising
in such numbers that reintroduction awareness about the importance of its
was deemed unnecessary. It was conservation.
however reproduced in the Botani-
cal Garden of Madeira for research As a result of an agreement with the
purposes. local rangers that survey the area,
together with a technician hired by
The project also succeeded in partially the project and integrated into the
restoring the habitat in Pico Branco regional forestry department, spe-
that houses many of the species. 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-
Photo: R.Jardim, JB Madeira
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.
 LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants I p. 37

Restoration
Restoration of of habitats
habitats
Many 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.

 Restoration of habitats

Austria: Lake Constance forget-me-

not flourishes in Bregenz once more
thanks to LIFE-Nature
Restoration and renaturation works by an Austrian LIFE-Nature project along a stretch of the Lake
Constance shoreline have helped to ensure the long-term survival of Myosotis rehsteineri – a 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.

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-
Restoration of habitats
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 Westli-
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
The project added finer gravel, similar to the original habitat of the forget-me-not
LIFE Focus
A line of coarse pebbles was laid along the low-water mark (to absorb the shock of the
breaking waves)
this technique during the low-water
periods each winter. Completed
in 2005, the works are only visible
during times of extremely low water
levels.
Through collaboration with the local
municipal plant nursery, the project
team also demonstrated that the
I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants I p. 39
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,

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.
What was the outcome?
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-
Planting Myosotis on recovered areas
ted as a stable population with “very
good” long-term prospects.
The project also brought indirect
benefits to a number of habitats 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.
Myosotis in bloom on previously planted
areas
Restoration of habitats
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
Email:
gerold.ender@bregenz.at
Website:
www.bregenz.at/index.php?id=1066
Period:
Apr-2001 to May-2005
Total Budget: e 2,040,000
LIFE Contribution: e 1,020,000
Restoration of habitats
Germany: The Benningen Marsh
A LIFE-Nature project in Bavaria has successfully restored parts of the Benningen Marsh
(Benniger Ried). This ecologically valuable calcareous fen is home to rare plants, including the
world’s only confirmed population of Armeria purpurea.
The Benningen Marsh, located
between the towns of Benningen and
Memmingen in Bavaria, Southern
Germany, is a 22 ha calcareous fen
and petrifying springs complex with
expanses of water where 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. purpurea,
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
LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants I p. 41
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. Armeria maritime subsp. purpurea on
calcareous fens
Public relations work was carried out to
raise awareness amongst the local com- European tree frogs (Hyla arborea)
munity and visitors of the value of this benefited from restoration work
forgotten site. This included publishing around their breeding ponds.
brochures and reports and establishing
a visitor observation point. The data collected during and in
parallel with the LIFE project greatly
What was the outcome? increased knowledge of the site. Many
rare invertebrate species were found,
The LIFE project has led to a major such as Neumania verrucosa. The
improvement to the site’s conservation project has also massively raised the
status.The hydrological project works profile of the pSCI and its rare species
(boulder dams, groynes and a reduc- amongst the local public.
tion in the frequency of ditch cleaning)
brought about a 10-20 cm increase in
Project Number:
the water level and increased calcium
LIFE96 NAT/D/000304
carbonate precipitation, both prereq-
Title: Protection and development of
uisites for the expansion of the tufa
Benningen Marsh (Benninger Ried)
mosses and Armeria. In the patches
Beneficiary: Bayerisches
where the black sedge was removed,
Staatsministerium für Umwelt,
new growth of Cratoneurion and Gesundheit und Verbraucherschutz,
Armeria was observed. Other spe- Bavaria, Germany
cies besides Armeria were found to Contact: Harald Lippert
have increased in number, including
Email:
the plant Bartsia alpina, the narrow- harald.lippert@stmugv.bayern.de
mouthed whorl snail (Vertigo angus-
Website:
tior) and hygrophile grasshoppers. www.LIFE-natur.de (with video)
Period:
The blue-tailed damselfly (Ischnura Jan-1996 to Aug-2003
pumilio) returned to the site in 2003
Total Budget: e 386,000
after a 10-year absence. Both the
LIFE Contribution: e 227,000
dragonflies and the population of
 Restoration of habitats

Romania: Restoring forest habitats,

preventing soil erosion and guarding
against avalanches
Located in the Pietrosul Rodnei Biosphere Reserve, part of the Rodnei National Park in the
Carpathian mountains in northern Romania, this project targeted the restoration of two seriously
threatened alpine forest habitats: mixed cembra pine/spruce forests and mugo pine shrublands.
The actions were implemented on the avalanche-prone slopes of Mount Pietrosul Rodnei. In the
short term the project achieved its restoration objectives for the targeted habitats. In the longer
term the LIFE actions will play an important role in helping to guard against soil erosion and future
avalanches.

The 6,415-ha Pietrosul biosphere
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.
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

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

Photo: Frank Vassen

Restoration of habitats LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants I p. 43

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

Photo: Frank Vassen

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
Pinus mugo tree planted at an altitude of 1,800 m prepared for the forest, herbaceous,
and stony habitats in the reserve.
priority status according to the Habitats and mugo pine habitats in a 50-ha The planting, together with its asso-
Directive, is important for a number of area, located mainly on the very steep ciated activities, proved to be the
reasons, including reforestation in the (40-60°) northern slopes of Mt. Piet- most laborious and difficult of tasks.
sub-Alpine zone, and landscaping. rosul Rodnei, (rising to 2,303 metres For example, sticks and seedlings
Its wood is used for the manufacture it is the highest peak in the Rodnei were transported from Borsa (650 m
of furniture and crafts, and its seeds mountains). The work included the elevation) to the project area (1,800
are one of the most important food planting of seedlings originating m elevation) along a very treacher-
resources for the bird species, the nut- from neighbouring areas within the ous path, using a primitive caterpillar
cracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes). reserve, with similar genetic origin track. The sticks, used for field mark-
and environmental requirements. ing of the seedlings, were carried on
The distributional trend of another
priority habitat, Pinus mugo and This chalet was built to shelter the LIFE project team and park warden
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

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.
What was the outcome?
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
Project manager Ioan Blada (left) shows the pines planted on the restored area
Transporting the sticks for field marking the seedlings was an arduous task
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
Restoration of habitats
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
Email:
icas@icas.ro
Website:
http://www.icassv.ro/life_pietrosu/
Period:
Jun-2003 to Jun-2007
Total Budget: e 213,000
LIFE Contribution: e 107,000
Restoration of habitats
Czech Republic: Preserving
the beauty and biodiversity
of the Moravian Karst
Located in the southernmost part of the Moravian Karst, one of the most attractive areas in the
Czech Republic, the LIFE ‘Rupicolous’ was a complex, but highly successful project. It featured a
series of interrelated actions targeting sub-pannonic steppic grasslands that contain the 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 thermophilous 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 the vegetation was encouraged by
LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants I p. 45
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-
Credit: KingsbraeGarden
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 Pulsatilla grandis: a species targeted by
example, in order to safeguard the the project
most endangered flora and fauna, the
beneficiary purchased 5 ha of land planting seedlings of oak, lime tree,
close to the Hády quarry. Abandoned sycamore and common maple. Tradi-
pastures with sub-pannonic steppic tional grazing was also successfully re-
grasslands were restored and tradi- established to maintain the grasslands
tional sheep grazing re-established. and woodlands. On a small (2 ha) area,
Restoration actions included the Norway spruce trees were removed in
removal of invasive tree species and order to restore the lime alder forests
scrub vegetation and the introduction of slopes, screes and ravines and cal-
of appropriate grazing management. careous screes of hill and montane lev-
els in lower parts of the valley.
What was the outcome?
Project Number:
The project was successful and its
LIFE04 NAT/CZ/000015
achievements have gone beyond what
Title: Restoration of thermophilous
was expected at the outset – i.e. some
habitats in the Moravian Karst
12 ha of land in and around the Hády
Beneficiary: Land Trust Hády (Local
quarry was bought from the mining
Chapter of the Czech Union for
company, Českomoravský Cement. Nature Conservation)
The two Annex II priority plant species
Contact: Václav Izák
Echium russicum and Pulsatilla gran-
Email:
dis now grow on this land. To favour
a.stoker@natuurmonumenten.nl
the expansion of the dry grassland
Website:
habitats and white oak forests, inva-
http://psh.ecn.cz/index2.htm
sive species (in particular black locust
Period:
and common ash) were eliminated
Oct-2004 to Dec-2007
over 56 ha ( the original proposal was
Total Budget: e 550,000
for 25 ha). The natural succession of
LIFE Contribution: e 412,000
Further projects focusing
on endangered plants
The table below provides further examples of LIFE projects focusing on endangered plants.
For more information on individual projects, visit the online database at:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm. The database provides useful, detailed
search fields – for example under “species” users may search plant and mosses species under
“Pteridophyta”, “Lower plants”, “Gymnospermae” and ”Angiospermae”

Country Number Name Annex II targeted plant

species
Austria LIFE00 NAT/A/007069 Protecting the habitat of Myosotis rehsteineri in Myosotis rehsteineri
Bregenz
Cyprus LIFE04 NAT/CY/000013 Conservation management in Natura 2000 sites of Alnus orientalis¤
Cyprus Arabis kennedyae*
Chionodoxa lochiae*
Pinguicula crystallina*
Pinus nigra subsp. pallasiana¤
Posidonia oceanica¤
Quercus alnifolia¤
Quercus infectoria¤
Scilla morrisii*
Zizyphus lotus¤
Czech LIFE04 NAT/CZ/000015 Restoration of thermophilous habitats in the Echium russicum
Republic Moravian Karst Pulsatilla grandis
Finland LIFE00 NAT/FIN/007059 Conservation of Cypripedium calceolus and Cypripedium calceolus
Saxifraga hirculus in northern Finland Saxifraga hirculus
France LIFE96 NAT/F/003200 The Mediterranean holm oak grove integrated Centaurea corymbosa
management
LIFE99 NAT/F/006332 Priority species, chalk grasslands and scree in the Viola hispida*
lower Seine valley catchment area Biscutella neustriaca*
LIFE00 NAT/F/007273 For a conservatory management of the laricio pine Pinus nigra subsp. laricio var.
habitats corsicana¤
LIFE06 NAT/F/000137 Rescue of Viola hispida and Biscutella neustriaca in Viola hispida*
the Seine valley Biscutella neustriaca*
Germany LIFE96 NAT/D/003042 Protection and development of the population of Jurinea cyanoides*
Jurinea cyanoides (Silberscharte) in the typical plan
association on continental dunes (Sandgrasheiden)
near Volkach
LIFE96 NAT/D/003043 Protection and development of the Benningen Apium repens
Marsh (Benniger Ried)
LIFE02 NAT/D/008457 Restoration of a freshwater section of the estuary of Oenanthe conioides*
the River Elbe especially for Oenanthe conioides
LIFE04/NAT/D/000025 Living Rhine floodplain near Karlsruhe Marsilea quadrifolia
Greece LIFE99 NAT/GR/006497 Amelioration and conservation of Rouva’s Forest Zelkova abelicea
on Idi Mountain Cephalanthera cucullata*
LIFE04 NAT/GR/000104 A pilot network of plant micro-reserves in western Androcymbium rechingeri*
Crete Anthemis glaberrima*
Bupleurum kakiskalae*
Cephalanthera cucullata*
Hypericum aciferum*
Nepeta sphaciotica*
Phoenix theofrasti
 LIFE Focus I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants I p. 47

Country Number Name Annex II targeted plant

species
Hungary LIFE02 NAT/H/008630 The practical protection of Angelica palustris Angelica palustris
habitats
LIFE06 NAT/H/000104 Conservation of the Pannon endemic Dianthus Dianthus diutinus*
diutinus
Italy LIFE97 NAT/IT/004163 Conservation acts for Apennine Abies alba and Abies alba¤
Picea excelsa forests and Apennine beech forests Picea excelsea¤
with Abies alba Taxus baccata¤
LIFE99 NAT/IT/006217 EOLIFE99 - Conservation of priority plant species Bassia saxicola*
in the Aeolian Islands Cytisus aeolicus*
Ophrys lunulata*
Silene hicesiae*
LIFE00 NAT/IT/007228 Conservation of Abies nebrodensis (Lojac) Mattei Abies nebrodensis*
in situ and ex situ
LIFE03 NAT/IT/000160 Preservation of Taxus and Ilex central Apennine Taxus baccata¤
beech-wood
LIFE04 NAT/IT/000182 Preservation and extension of priority habitats Aster sorrentinii*
damaged by agricultural activity
LIFE04 NAT/IT/000190 Conservation actions in NATURA 2000 sites mana- Abies alba¤
ged by the State Forest Service Pinus nigra subsp. laricio¤
LIFE04 NAT/IT/000191 Conservation of Apennine beech forests with Abies Abies alba¤
alba SIC Pigelleto - M. Amiata Taxus baccata¤
Portugal LIFE98 NAT/P/005229 Asphodelus bento-rainhae - measures to manage Asphodelus bento-rainhae*
and preserve it
LIFE98 NAT/P/005234 Conservation of four rare species in pSCI Culcita macrocarpa
(Valongo) Trichomanes speciosum
LIFE99 NAT/P/006431 Conservation of priority and rare plant species of Aichryson dumosum
Madeira Andryala crithmifolia
Chamaemeles coriacea*
Cheirolophus massonianus
Convolvulus massonii*
Geranium maderense*
Jasminum azoricum
Pittosporum coriaceum*
LIFE99 NAT/P/006441 Montados of the Cabeção Site: management of Halimium verticillatum
habitats and species
LIFE02 NAT/P/008480 National plan for conservation of endangered plants Convovulus fernandesii*
(first phase) Linaria ricardoi*
Marsilea quadrifolia
Narcisus scaberulus
Omphalodes kuzinskyanae
Tuberaria major*
Plantago algarbinesis
Plantago almogravensis
Romania LIFE99 NAT/RO/006391 Conservation of a Euro-Siberian wood with oak Narcissus poeticus subsp.
(Quercus robur) radiiflorus
LIFE03 NAT/RO/000027 Restoration forest habitats from Pietrosul Rodnei Pinus cembra¤
biosphere reserve Pinus mugo¤
Picea abies¤
LIFE04 NAT/RO/000225 Forests with Pinus nigra banatica - part of NATURA Pinus nigra subsp. banatica
2000
 Country Number Name Annex II targeted plant
species
Slovenia LIFE04 NAT/SI/000240 NATURA 2000 in Slovenia – management models Pulsatilla grandis
and information system
Spain LIFE96 NAT/E/003096 Conservation of 13 endangered plant species in Androsace pyrenaica
Aragon (Spain) Boleum asperum
Borderea chouardii*
Centaurea pinnata*
Cypripedium calceolus
Hamatocaulis vernicosus (moss)
Lythrum flexuosum*
Orthotrichum rogeri (moss)
Petrocoptis montsicciana
Petrocoptis pseudoviscosa
Puccinellia pungens
Riella helicophylla (moss)
Sideritis javalambrensis
Spain LIFE97 NAT/E/004165 Conservation of five species of the Monteverde in Dorycnium spectabile*
the Canary Islands Myrica rivas-martinezii*
Isoplexis chalcantha*
Sambucus palmensis*
Sideritis discolor*
Spain LIFE98 NAT/E/005358 Recovery of areas of threatened flora in Sierra Narcisus nevadensis*
Nevada Arenaria nevadensis*
Artemisia granatensis*
Centaurea gadorensis
Erigeron frigidus
Senecio elodes*
Senecio nevadensis
Erodium astragaloides*
Erodium rupicola*
Odontites granatensis
Laserpitium longiradium
LIFE99 NAT/E/006417 Conservation of priority habitats in the Valencian Riella helicophylla (moss)
Community Silene hifacensis*
LIFE00 NAT/E/007355 Conservation of areas with threatened species of Anthyllis hystrix
flora on the island of Minorca Apium bermejoi*
Centaurea balearica*
Daphne rodriguezii*
LIFE03 NAT/E/0000064 Managing and adding value to three high-mountain Juniperus sabina¤
Valencian habitats Pinus nigra subsp. salzmannii¤
Taxus baccata¤
LIFE03 NAT/E/000059 Integral management of the habitats of Northwest Pinus nigra subsp. salzmannii¤
region of the Murcia Province 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 Juniperus oxycedrus subsp.
in Valencia macrocarpa¤
LIFE05 NAT/E/000067 Conservation and restoration of Aiako Harria LIC Soldanella villosa
(ES2120016)

* Priority species for conservation
¤
Annex I habitat

Available LIFE publications
LIFE-Focus brochures
A number of LIFE publications are
available on the LIFE website:
LIFE and Europe’s wetlands: Restoring
a vital ecosystem (2007 - 68 pp. - ISBN
978-92-79-07617-6)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/wetlands.pdf
LIFE and waste recycling: Innovative
waste management options in Europe
(2007 - 60 pp. - ISBN 978-92-79-07397-7)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/recycling.pdf
LIFE and Europe’s rivers: Protecting
and improving our water resources
(2007 – 52pp. ISBN 978-92-79-05543-0
- ISSN 1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/lifefocus/
documents/rivers.pdf
LIFE and Energy: Innovative solutions
for sustainable and efficient energy in
Europe (2007 – 64pp. ISBN 978 92-79-
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 Focus I LIFE and Europe’s endangered plants
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
I p. 49
Other publications
Best LIFE-Environment Projects 2006-2007
(2007, 44 pp.-ISBN 978-92-79-06699-3
ISSN 1725-5619)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
publications/lifepublications/bestprojects
documents/bestenv07.pdf
LIFE-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/bestenv06_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/lifeenv92_04.pdf
LIFE-Environment Projects 2006 compi-
lation (2006, 56 pp.-ISBN 92-79-02786-7)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/
life/publications/lifepublications/
compilations/documents/envcompila-
tion06.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/natcompilation06.pdf
LIFE-Third Countries Projects 2006
compilation (2006, 20 pp. – ISBN 92-
79-02787-5)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/
life/publications/lifepublications/
compilations/documents/tcycompila-
tion06.pdf
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
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+

KH-80-08-284-EN-C
“L’Instrument Financier pour l’Environnement” / The financial instrument for the environment

Period covered (LIFE+) 2007-2013.

EU funding available approximately EUR 2,143 million
Type of intervention at least 78% of the budget is for co-financing actions in favour of the environment (LIFE+
projects) in the Member States of the European Union and in certain non-EU countries.

LIFE+ projects
> LIFE Nature projects improve the conservation status of endangered species and natural habitats. They support the
implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives and the Natura 2000 network.
> LIFE+ Biodiversity projects improve biodiversity in the EU. They contribute to the implementation of the objectives of
the Commission Communication, “Halting the loss of Biodiversity by 2010 – and beyond” (COM (2006) 216 final).
> LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance projects contribute to the development and demonstration of innovative
policy approaches, technologies, methods and instruments in support of European environmental policy and legislation.
> LIFE+ Information and Communication projects are communication and awareness raising campaigns related to the
implementation, updating and development of European environmental policy and legislation, including the prevention
of forest fires and training for forest fire agents.

Further information further information on LIFE and LIFE+ is available at http://ec.europa.eu/life.

How to apply for LIFE+ funding The European Commission organises annual calls for proposals. Full details are
available at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/funding/lifeplus.htm

Contact
European Commission – Directorate-General for the Environment
LIFE Unit – BU-9 02/1 – B-1049 Brussels – Internet: http://ec.europa.eu/life

LIFE Focus / LIFE and endangered plants: Conserving Europe’s threatened flora
Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities

2008 - 52p - 21 x 29.7 cm

ISBN 978-92-79-08815-5
ISSN 1725-5619
doi: 10.2779/99297�
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ISSN 1725-5619
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