Direct seeding assays for pasture renaturalization

July 11, 2023

The LIFE BEETLES project carried out a direct seeding assay, in the intervention area adjacent to Lagoa do Caiado, on Pico island.

One of the objectives of this project, coordinated by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Change, is the renaturalization of an old pasture, in a favourable habitat for Laurocho (Pseudanchomenus aptinoides), the project's target species, and other native arthropods. To this end, actions have been taken to plant endemic trees and shrubs that will enable natural succession until reaching a native forest.

These plantations are now complemented with direct sowing of Azorean Holly (Ilex azorica) and Azorean Heather (Erica azorica), in order to test the speed of their in situ germination. These seedbeds will be regularly monitored by the project´s team, in order to assess the success of germination and growth of new endemic plants.

Learn more about the LIFE BEETLES project at https://www.lifebeetlesazores.com/en/.