Objectives

The main objective of this project is conservation of the principal and threatened plant species of Madeira. It is also aimed at restoring natural habitats, and stemming the loss of genetic plant diversity.

Expected Results

The main expected results are: medium and long term conservation of genetic diversity among principal and threatened species that are indigenous and endemic to the Madeira archipelago; support for the plant populations of principal and threatened species natural to the islands; and lastly recuperation of the Porto Santo (Pico Branco) natural habitats.

Summary

The biodiversity of Madeira Islands has been gradually suffering a quantitative and qualitative decline along with an impoverishment of ecosystem, habitat, species, population and gene pool. The very existence of some plant species is threatened because of a noticeable reduction of the number of individuals. Some species are already extinct. In order to effectively preserve very endangered species, we must find out more about the genetic diversity of Madeira Island as a precursor to developing an integrated plan of action. Some species threatened with extinction are: Aichryson dumosum (Lowe) Prager, Andryala crithmifolia Ait., Chamaemeles coriacea Lindl., Cheirolophus massonianus (Lowe) A. Hans. Et Sund., Convolvulus massonii Dietr., Geranium maderense P.F. Yeo, Jasminum azoricum L. and Pittosporum coriaceum Dryand. ex Ait.

Recovery of the Porto Santo natural habitats consists almost exclusively in restoring the vegetation that covers Pico Branco. This peak has an altitude of 450m, is located at the extreme NE point of Porto Santo Island and presents an area of approximately 133 hectares. The coordinates cover the local map quadrants UTM (28S, scale 1 km2): CB7861, CB7872, CB7961, CB7962. On Pico Branco, according to the Habitat Directorate, the following natural habitats can be found: cliffs covered with coastal vegetation typical of Macaronesia (40% of coverage), formations of euphorbia shrub (5%), and opportunistic or pioneer vegetation in the rocky areas (5%).

The importance of Pico Branco from the point of view of the botanist is mainly due to the high percentage of indigenous elements from Macaronesia (9%), from Madeira (11%) and from Porto Santo (3%). This is the only place where specific and endemic plants can be found, some of them exclusive to the Madeira Island group. It is also the only site in Porto Santo where one can find some well preserved areas of indigenous flora protected by cliff, that make access difficult or impossible.

This project aims to impact 50% of the Pico Branco area covered with natural vegetation, including escarpments, cliffs, hillsides, and planted terraces (‘poios’), some of which areas have suffered from the effects of human activities as agriculture and grazing.

It is expected to improve an area of around 20 hectares, including mainly endemic plants from Macaronesia or from the Madeira islands, especially those referred to above in the context of Pico Branco.

Habitat restoration will concentrate on cliffs with coastal vegetation typical of Macaronesia

Planned Actions

The following legal and administrative measures are critical for the successful completion of the project:

Elaboration of (sub)projects for the recuperation of the House of Terra Chã (Pico Branco), its surroundings and its nurseries, and follow-up of its completion.

Establishing mechanisms for equipment purchase particularly for vehicles, technical equipment and computers, etc.

Training of junior personnel involved in project

In order to guarantee maximum efficiency and responsibility among the staff engaged for this project, a level of training is essential to ensure success in achieving our objectives.

Plant species conservation

Conservation objectives: [Aichryson dumosum (Lowe) Praegr., Andryala crithmifolia Ait., Chamaemeles coriacea Lindl., Cheirolophus massonianus (Lowe) A. Hans. et Sund., Convolvulus massonii Dietr., Geranium maderense P. F. Yeo, Jasminum azoricum L., Pittosporum coriaceum Dryand. ex Ait.]:
Conservation objectives:

The project involves the creation of inventories and the monitoring of selected plant species, as well as the updating of distribution maps. These steps are considered essential preliminaries to all other stages of project work, including meaningful conservation of germ plasm.

The precise number of seeds collected should reflect the distribution of the plants themselves and the number of genetic variations that may be observed.

The collection of seeds and plant material for propagation either in situ or offsite is designed to ensure genetic variety. The collection of seeds will be carried out in line with the general objectives for each given species. These objectives may include the collection of genetic material in the Germ Plasm Bank of the Madeira Botanical Garden; the reintroduction or stengthening of indigenous plant populations, or the restoration of plant cover in denuded areas. Seeds collected in this way should accurately reflect the genetic diversity of each species that shows variations within its natural distribution, as well as within isolated populations of those that have recently become fragmented. The minimum number of seeds collected will be determined and limited by the total number of individuals whose seeds can be collected without affecting the reproductive capabilities of the existing population.

These seeds will be propagated either in seed beds or by means of cuttings. In some cases in vitro fertilisation techniques are planned. Use of seeds, cuttings and in vitro fertilisation should be sufficient to avoid those typical problems of propagation that are often witnessed among plant populations with a very reduced number of individuals characterised by low fertility and high seed sterility.

A key activity is the conservation of genetic material in the Germ Plasm Bank of the Madeira Botanical Garden. Collection and storage of seeds is an urgent task, because so many of the islands’ indigenous plants are becoming rare. Off-site storage can provide a significant aid to natural processes when species need to be reintroduced after their partial or total disappearance. These seed banks represent an important resource for the preservation of biodiversity, and therefore constitute a representative sample of any given species.

Morphological studies will establish the existence of phenotype variation in each species. This will permit us to understand more about the way plants adapt themselves to different habitats, and develop genetic variations.

Genetic studies and DNA tissue analysis will provide further insight into genotype variation. Molecular analysis will permit us to gain understand into the ways that certain plants or populations suffer significantly reduced genetic diversity. Information about genetic diversity will allow us to select those individual plants or populations most suitable for artificial support or species reintroduction. Molecular biology is an important aid in the identification of genetic variations or inbreeding depression resulting in alelomorphs and other undesirable genetic outcomes. Likewise the ability to identify or predict the accumulation of harmful mutations that could contribute to the eventual extinction of the species, is enhanced by this form of study.

Ecological studies allow us to gain understanding of the factors that determine why certain species are successful at reproducing. Any system of reproductive organs is governed by the type and number of individuals available for reproduction. In plant studies this type of project involves investigation of flowering habits, the longevity of male and female flower parts, the compatibility and dispersal mechanism for pollen, and the origin, quantity and quality of the resulting seeds. Even though reproductive organs have evolved to maximise the chances of success, sometimes genetic variations can lead to just the opposite result. So the design and execution of plant conservation programmes – both on site and remote – depends very heavily on identiying those factors that may determine the success of any given species in reproductive matters.

Strengthening existing plant populations or reintroducing to their natural habitat certain species threatened with extinction is a particular objective. These include: [Andryala crithmifolia Ait., Aichryson dumosum (Lowe) Praegr., Jasminum azoricum L., Cheirolophus massonianus (Lowe) A. Hans. et Sund.]. Strengthening existing plant populations or reintroducing others to their natural habitat should take place in a balanced and holistic fashion. The determining factors are adequate knowledge of the species and its habits. We should recognise, however, that simply preserving the habitat is not always a foolproof method of preserving any given species.

We propose to increase range and distribution of the above mentioned species, notably with a tripling of the planted area for Aichryson dumosum (Lowe) Praegr., on Madeira Island. We also plan to increase by a factor of four the planted area of Jasminum azoricum L., on Madeira; and to double the planted area of Andryala crithmifolia Ait., also here on Madeira. Likewise Cheirolophus massonianus (Lowe) A. Hans. et Sund. growing on Porto Santo can expect to double its distribution.

Recovery of Pico Branco Habitat on Porto Santo

This project is designed to restore the area known as Terra Chã on Pico Branco and to establish plant nurseries there;

Solar panels will also be installed.

The project also calls for the recuperation of rainwater cisterns and existing water channels. Using this basis, a pumping mechanism and a system for watering the plant nurseries will be installed.

The area designated for habitat improvement is being made ready through topsoil reintroduction, by direct seeding, and by the planting out of seedlings that have been brought on in the nurseries.

We intend to work in an area of approx 5 hectares around Pico Branco. We believe that the presence of exotics (ie non-indigenous) species has not reached a level commensurate with species infestation and that these plants have helped preserve the topsoil cover. Therefore there are no plans to remove these plants during the lifetime of the current project.

Indigenous plants that are to be reintroduced by artificially include: Aeonium glandulosum (Ait.) Webb et Berth.; Aeonium glutinosum (Ait.) Webb et Berth.; Aichryson villosum (Ait.) Webb et Berth.; Andryala glandulosa Lam. ssp. glandulosa; Artemisia argentea L' Hér.; Carlina salicifolia (L. fil.) Cav. var. salicifolia; Cheirolophus massonianus (Lowe) A. Hans. et Sund.; Crambe fruticosa L. fil; Crepis divaricata (Lowe) F. W. Schultz; Crepis noronhaea Babc.; Crithmum maritimum L; Cynara cardunculus L. var. ferocissima Lowe; Echium cf. nervosum Dryand.; Erica scoparia L. ssp. maderinicola McClintock; Erysimum arbuscula (Lowe) Snog.; Euphorbia piscatoria Ait.; Globularia salicina Lam.; Heberdenia excelsa (Ait.) Banks ex DC.; Helichrysum melaleucum Rchb. ex Holl; Hypericum glandulosum Ait.; Juniperus phoenicea L.; Satureja varia (Benth.) Webb et Berth. ex Briq. ssp. thymoides (Sol. ex Lowe) A. Hans. et Sund. var. thymoides; Asparagus scoparius Lowe; Lotus argyrodes Murr.; Lotus glaucus Dryand. in Ait. var. glaucus; Lotus loweanus Webb; Lotus macranthus Lowe; Matthiola maderensis Lowe; Olea europaea L. ssp. maderensis Lowe; Pericallis aurita (L' Hér.) B. Nord.; Phagnalon hansenii Qaiser et Lack; Plantago arborescens Poir. ssp. maderensis (Dcne.) A. Hans. et Kunk.; Plantago leiopetala Lowe; Chamaemeles coriacea Lindl.; Phyllis nobla L.; Sideroxylon marmulano Banks ex Lowe var. marmulano; Saxifraga portosanctana Boiss.; Scilla maderensis Mnzs.; Scrophularia lowei Dalg.; Sedum nudum Ait. ssp. nudum; Senecio incrassatus Lowe; Siderites candicans Ait. var. multiflora (Bornm.) Mend.-Heu.; Sonchus ustulatus Lowe ssp. maderensis Aldr.; Tamus edulis Lowe; Tolpis succulenta (Dryand. in Ait.) Lowe; Vicia costae A. Hans;

Environmental Information and Publication of Results

An educational program aimed at opinion formers and above all teachers themselves, represents an important part of this project and its objectives. We plan a program of guided tours of the Botanical Garden in order to teach people about the indigenous or endemic plants that are unique to this archipelago, and to make them more aware of the threats to many species in their natural habitats. We also intend to demonstrate all the conservation activities that are being carried out in connection with this project.

Our outreach program involves contacts with the relevant civic or local government authorities. These contacts will explain the indigenous plants that are unique to this archipelago, and make clear which are extinct in some administrative regions and which are threatened with extinction, and which require urgent steps to protect them.

Training programs designed for primary and secondary school teachers are being devised. The objective is to teach them about the indigenous plants that are unique to this archipelago, and to make them more aware of the threats to many species in their natural habitats. The idea is that the teachers should in turn present this information in the best possible fashion, to their own students. It is expected that four separate training programs will train up to 120 teachers.

These programs for primary and secondary schools will be accompanied by a teaching book about threatened plants of the Madeira islands, their conservation and extinction issues. The book will be launched as part of a public awareness campaign. These books will be distributed among schools and other locations such as local government offices, where management and conservation of natural resources is potentially a priority.

These programs for primary and secondary schools will be accompanied by the design and production of brochures. Visitors to the Madeira Botanical Garden will be given these brochures during guided tours and related activities.

These programs for primary and secondary schools will be accompanied by the design and production of adhesive stickers, dealing with threatened plants and targeting primary and secondary school ages. Visitors to the Madeira Botanical Garden will be given these stickers during guided tours and related activities.

These programs for primary and secondary schools will be accompanied by the design and production of an illustrated calendar or poster, dealing with threatened plants and targeting primary and secondary school ages. These will be distributed among schools and local government offices where conservation is a priority.

These programs for primary and secondary schools will be accompanied by the design and production of an educational video, dealing with threatened plants and targeting primary and secondary school ages. These will be distributed among schools and local government offices where conservation is a priority.

At the Madeira Botanical Garden, touch screens are being installed in the display rooms, in order to provide more information about local plants and their conservation. Once again, the target audience is primary and secondary school groups.

Themed exhibitions and panels, both mobile and fixed, will target primary and secondary schools, and local town halls, in order to provide more public information about the Life 99 Project (Nat/P/006431).

Finally, information about the progress of this Life 99 Project is being made available to the wider public through a program of seminars, working groups, exhibitions and other media.