The project Life SEEDFORCE, an integrated approach for plant translocation

Developing successful plant conservation projects is a challenging task and requires an inclusive and multi-disciplinary approach, putting together diverse expertise to address all critical issues for a successful outcome. An integrated in-situ and ex-situ approach can yield numerous benefits and offer opportunities to showcase to the public the actual plants that need protection, building participation and support from the local community. The Life+ SEEDFORCE project aims at improving the conservation status of 29 plant species from Italy, Malta, Slovenia and France, reported in bad conditions according to art. 17 of the 92/43/EEC Habitats Directive. The project includes best practice preparatory actions to assess the genetic make-up of the target species and populations, analyse the current species climatic envelope and project possible future scenarios, taking into account trophic decencies in target species. The outcome of such preparatory actions will be used to prepare the propagation mix best adapted for each site to be use for reintroduction and population reinforcement. Threats to each species will be first identified and removed. The genetic make-up and the ecological niche will support the identification of the appropriate donor populations and the development of joint protocols for species propagation and population reinforcements or re-establishments in extinct sites. A series of engagement activities have been devised to gain public support and to involve farmers that in most cases can influence the long-term conservation of many plant species in secondary habitats. The transnational partnership, covering all the natural distribution range of the selected species will allow a fruitful exchange of experience to better investigate the plant biology, aiming at understanding differences in species conservation status and management among neighboring countries.