PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Corsica is one of Europe’s botanical hotspots, supporting one of the most diverse floras on the continent. Its bio-geographical situation (mountainous landscape, Mediterranean and alpine influences, varied geology, climate) has favoured the development of a great variety of habitats and species. In addition to its great diversity of plants species, Corsica harbours 296 endemic plant taxa, as well as many plant species normally considered to be rare, or with a restricted distribution (plants of the Mediterranean basin) or at the limits of their natural distribution. The island contains no less than 12 priority habitats listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive, and 15 plant species listed in Annex II of the same directive.
Corsica’s natural habitats are much less degraded than on most other Mediterranean islands, but habitat deterioration has increased substantially in recent years. This is mainly due to tourist developments, urbanisation and changes in agriculture practices, such as stubble burning and overgrazing. As a result, 30% of the flora taxa are now restricted to less than 10 sites.
This project aimed to put into place a conservation policy for the island’s natural heritage, by building on the results of a previous MEDSPA project, which involved the compilation of inventories, conservation ex situ, and awareness-raising. The project would be integrated into local development policies and would therefore need to be able to evolve with the changes taking place on the whole island. For this to work it would be important to forge partnerships between the different interest groups responsible for land use, management and development on the island and to co-ordinate the various actions proposed (land purchase, restoration work). Traditional practices, in particular, would be encouraged.
OBJECTIVES
The overall objective was to establish a conservation policy for the whole island’s natural heritage that would be integrated into local development policies in order to guarantee the long term conservation of Corsica’s natural habitats and rich plant diversity.
Specific measures planned to achieve this objective were:
1. To produce an inventory of the distribution and condition of the 12 priority habitats (Annex I, Habitats Directive) present on Corsica, and the location and numbers of 11 priority plant species (Annex II, Habitats Directive);
2. To produce management plans for each of the 12 priority habitats and 11 priority plant species;
3. To undertake ex situ conservation measures, including the establishment of a seed bank of threatened plants and determine the conditions required for their successful cultivation;
4. Habitat restoration work and the re-introduction of species extinct in the wild;
5. Habitat protection through buying and leasing land at key sites;
6. International collaboration with similar projects in the Mediterranean region to exchange ideas and learn from one another’s experiences.
RESULTS
Overall, the project successfully achieved nearly all of its specific objectives. This was thanks to the commitment and wide scale collaboration between the institutions, land managers and scientists concerned, to develop an island wide strategy for the conservation and management of Corsica’s natural habitats and botanical heritage.
Specific project achievements are as follows:
1. Inventory.
A complete inventory of the extent, condition and land ownership of the 12 priority habitats and 11 priority plant species was completed. Thanks to this project, Corsica is now one of the best-known regions in France for the distribution and quality of its semi-natural habitats. The inventory is a high quality resource that is invaluable for future decisions on site conservation and management.
2. Management plans for 12 priority habitats and 11 priority plant species.
A management plan for the 11 priority plant species was completed by the Conservatoire Botanique de Porquerolles.
A total of five habitat management plans were completed during the project period for the following priority habitats:
- Coastal dunes with Juniperus spp;
- Wooded dunes with Pinus pinea and/or Pinus pinaster;
- Mediterranean temporary ponds;
- Active raised bogs (Bagliettu and Valdu) Pozzines of Corsica.
The management plans for the remaining priority habitats listed below were still in the process of being developed at the end of the project:
- Coastal lagoons;
- Petrifying springs with tufa formation (Cratoneurion);
- (Sub-) Mediterranean pine forests with endemic black pines;
Endemic forests with Juniperus spp;
Mediterranean Taxus baccata woods Alluvial forests.
3. Ex situ conservation measures.
The Conservatoire Botanique de Porqurolles established a seed bank of threatened species and is developing techniques for cultivating 11 plant species listed on Annex II of the Habitats Directive. Plants reared in this way will be used for re-introduction projects. It is planned to establish a network of botanical micro-reserves across Corsica following the success of this approach in southern Spain.
4. Habitat restoration and species reintroduction.
Restoration work has been undertaken on 20 sites, notably on coastal dunes with Juniperus spp. The tiny plant Naufraga balearica, extinct in the wild in Corsica since 1982, was replanted at two sites.
5. Habitat protection through buying and leasing land at key sites.
Two sites were acquired as part of the project: 46 ha of dunes were bought at Barcaggio in the south; and two islets, covering 1.75 ha at Fazzio in the north. In addition, 10 coastal sites were leased to enable management and restoration work to be carried out.
6. International collaboration.
Exchanges to share experiences with projects undertaking similar conservation programmes in the Mediterranean region, notably southern Spain, were very fruitful. It was particularly constructive for dune restoration techniques and setting up a network of micro-reserves for plants.Overall, the project successfully achieved nearly all of its specific objectives. This was thanks to the commitment and wide scale collaboration between the institutions, land managers and scientists concerned, to develop an island wide strategy for the conservation and management of Corsica’s natural habitats and botanical heritage.
Specific project achievements are as follows:
1. Inventory.
A complete inventory of the extent, condition and land ownership of the 12 priority habitats and 11 priority plant species was completed. Thanks to this project, Corsica is now one of the best-known regions in France for the distribution and quality of its semi-natural habitats. The inventory is a high quality resource that is invaluable for future decisions on site conservation and management.
2. Management plans for 12 priority habitats and 11 priority plant species.
A management plan for the 11 priority plant species was completed by the Conservatoire Botanique de Porquerolles.
A total of five habitat management plans were completed during the project period for the following priority habitats:
- Coastal dunes with Juniperus spp;
- Wooded dunes with Pinus pinea and/or Pinus pinaster;
- Mediterranean temporary ponds;
- Active raised bogs (Bagliettu and Valdu) Pozzines of Corsica.
The management plans for the remaining priority habitats listed below were still in the process of being developed at the end of the project:
- Coastal lagoons;
- Petrifying springs with tufa formation (Cratoneurion);
- (Sub-) Mediterranean pine forests with endemic black pines;
Endemic forests with Juniperus spp;
Mediterranean Taxus baccata woods Alluvial forests.
3. Ex situ conservation measures.
The Conservatoire Botanique de Porqurolles established a seed bank of threatened species and is developing techniques for cultivating 11 plant species listed on Annex II of the Habitats Directive. Plants reared in this way will be used for re-introduction projects. It is planned to establish a network of botanical micro-reserves across Corsica following the success of this approach in southern Spain.
4. Habitat restoration and species reintroduction.
Restoration work has been undertaken on 20 sites, notably on coastal dunes with Juniperus spp. The tiny plant Naufraga balearica, extinct in the wild in Corsica since 1982, was replanted at two sites.
5. Habitat protection through buying and leasing land at key sites.
Two sites were acquired as part of the project: 46 ha of dunes were bought at Barcaggio in the south; and two islets, covering 1.75 ha at Fazzio in the north. In addition, 10 coastal sites were leased to enable management and restoration work to be carried out.
6. International collaboration.
Exchanges to share experiences with projects undertaking similar conservation programmes in the Mediterranean region, notably southern Spain, were very fruitful. It was particularly constructive for dune restoration techniques and setting up a network of micro-reserves for plants.