Discovery of a new population of Asplenium hemionitis on São Jorge

April 27, 2022

The LIFE IP AZORES NATURA, coordinated by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Change, carried out a prospection in the accessible areas of the Special Areas of Conservation of the Natura 2000 network, covering them in parallel transects with a distance of 500 metres between them. Through this prospection, a population of the Asplenium hemionitis, native to the Azores, was discovered, which is threatened by the presence of the invasive species Tradescantia fluminensis, by the danger of the population being cut down during maintenance work on the trail and being trampled on by walkers. This discovery occurred mid-March on trail PR4SJO, near Fajã do Ouvidor on São Jorge island.

As part of conservation action C3 – Implementation of pilot conservation works for the conservation of endemic flora – of the project, which aims to conserve several species protected by the European Union's Habitats Directive, LIFE IP AZORES NATURA, together with the São Jorge Environment and Climate Change Service, will remove the surrounding invasive flora and raise the awareness of the Operational Assistants working in this area. The following steps include contemplating the vegetative propagation of these individuals for subsequent reinforcement planting. 

Find out more about the conservation works of this project on www.lifeazoresnatura.eu/en.