LIFE IP AZORES NATURA carries out planting of Azorean Fleshy Bishopsweed at Ponta do Castelo, Santa Maria

June 2, 2023

As part of Action C3.2 – In-situ conservation of the LIFE IP AZORES NATURA project, a group of six students and two teachers from the Nature Management and Conservation Course of the Professional Horticultural School of Gembloux in Belgium, in collaboration with the Santa Maria Environment and Climate Change Service (ECCS), carried out a planting action of the endemic species Azorean Fleshy Bishopsweed (Ammi seubertianum) at Ponta do Castelo. This species is a priority for conservation and is protected by regional interest (DLR no. 15/2012/A). 

After removing the invasive species Ice Plant (Carpobrotus edulis), 129 individuals of Azorean Fleshy Bishopsweed were planted. From now on, the Santa Maria SAAC will ensure the maintenance of this plantation and monitor the survival and growth of the plants.

The students were on Santa Maria for three weeks, doing an ERASMUS internship with the Santa Maria ECCS. In addition to the planting at Ponta do Castelo, the students supported the ECCS operational team in controlling invasive species, cleaning and clearing waterlines, as well as in the management of plantations already carried out, for example, the planting of Euphorbia santamariae at Ribeira do Salto.

Find out more about this project, coordinated by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Change, at www.lifeazoresnatura.eu/en/.