- Actions -

This action will focus on the improvement of existing habitat for the three target species. The action targets a set of parcels which are affected, at different levels of intensity, by the spread of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) of flora and the decrease of the soil cover by bryophytes and ferns.

The conservation actions taking place are of two types of framework:

– On more pristine areas, where IAS are on early stages of invasion, the control/eradication works will be done by hand (uprooting IAS, shredding, etc), with teams of operational staff specifically trained.

– On areas where larger/denser populations of IAS have established, more intensive best-practice works will be required to promote the initial control (cut and controlled application of herbicides, etc). A “single time” execution, will be contracted to complement the daily work of the permanent operational teams.

These actions will take place on the three islands: Flores, Pico and Terceira.

This action consists in using pilot works to increase the connectivity between two known habitats of Trechus terrabravensis in Terceira island and considering the predicted movement of the species under climate change.

This action proposes to re-naturalize two parcels of eucalyptus forest. This will entail the cutting/removing of the existing Eucalyptus sp trees, and even though most of the wood will be expected to be removed, a small part is expected to be laid on site to support further works.

These works include the execution, by hand, of wooden piles, water-retention and/or erosion control devices and other nature-based solutions that can promote better on-site conditions for habitat conversion and restoration.

Besides this, high density planting of native trees and shrubs  will take place (e.g. Juniperus brevifolia, Erica azorica, Laurus azorica, etc) to ensure long-term suitable habitat.

This action entails the re-naturalization of pasture grassland in order to increase the habitat of Pseudanchomenus aptinoides in Pico island.

A total of four parcels of pasture grassland adjacent to the current habitat for this species will be re-naturalized in order to allow for the increase of the habitat. These parcels are located within a catchment area that is used for municipal water supply. This will allow for and easier re-establishment of native shrubland, while leveraging a diverse cover (including various native shrubs, and subsequent colonization by ferns and bryophytes). Works will reduce runoff, improving retention and infiltration, and provide better long-term water supply. More specifically the works will entail the execution, by hand, of small, nature-based water runoff retention devices (along the water lines), as well as nature-based “palisades” that facilitate the uptake and condensation of water from the air. High density planting of native trees and shrubs to ensure long-term suitable habitat, and the promotion of native fern spore dispersal will also take place.

This action seeks to essay whether habitat quality improvement and increase can play a role in conservation on fragmented mosaics of habitat of Tarphius floresensis in peri-urban areas in Flores Island.

By focusing on riparian areas – a degraded mesh of ecological corridors, along water lines, embedded on the unfavorable matrix of urban/agricultural land – this action seeks to improve their quality, delivering a more favorable continuum of improved habitat for Tarphius floresensis, of a green infrastructure type.

To attain that, concrete works will focus on overcoming threats identified in these areas as for example the dense presence of IAS (mostly Hedychium gardnerianum and Pittosporum undulatum) and the erosion of margins due to increasingly frequent storms and absence of soil cover.

Works on control of IAS, solutions which may use geotextiles based on natural fibers to mitigate erosion of the riverbeds and margins and to avoid landslides will be used. Also, water retention devices (along the water lines), as well as soil barriers and supported terraces will be placed, that can create more adequate conditions for planting and further growth of native flora.

This action aims at engaging key local stakeholders to undertake specific conservation tasks, while helping to improve conservation goals. It targets Environmental NGO’s (and their users/members) and the resident population (families).

The concrete works of volunteering with the target audiences are expected to start after conclusion of the initial concrete conservation works undertaken with the previous C actions. Parcels to intervene will be of easier access and the works will include: hand pulling of IAS; collecting and piling wood to promote its natural degradation; planting and sowing native trees and shrubs; collecting seeds; watering previously planted trees and shrubs; spreading spores from native ferns; and building and/or restoring nature-based devices.