The LIFE BEETLES project, coordinated by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, has, among its actions on the island of Flores, the improvement of the habitat for its target species, the Tarphius floresensis (Ironclad Beetle), in several intervention areas, one of which is Lagoa Rasa.
It is an area where the advance of the invasive species Hedychium gardnerianum (Kahili Ginger) represented a major challenge for the project team. With the support of the Municipality of Lajes das Flores, it was possible to clear an extensive area of this invasive species, where endemic species have been planted, both woody (Short Leafed Juniper, Azorean Laurel and Azorean Heather) and herbaceous (Azorean Bishopsweed and Azorean Smaller Hawkbit), produced by the Forestry Services of Flores and the Nursery of Rare Plants of the Botanic Garden.
In this way, and through collaborative work, the recovery of the habitat is on the right track, helping to mitigate the major threat to biodiversity posed by invasive alien species.
