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Local flora for ecological restoration: the flore project
Author
Carita, T
Simões, N
Carneiro, JP
Reis, P
Publisher
XII International Rangeland Congress
Publication Year
2025
Body

The territories of south-western Europe are still recognised as a biodiversity hotspot. However, it is very much subject to the dangerous consequences of the intensification of human activities, climate change, wild fires and the abandonment of the agricultural and forestry activities in marginal land areas, with the consequent degradation of the land, vegetation and the ecosystems. There, the Interreg SUDOE FLoRE project, started in January 2024, is being implemented to test, analyse and scale-up the implementation of different ecological restoration solutions based on native and locally sourced herbaceous plant seeds. We develop: a) practical tools adapted to the current needs of the target groups; b) create a network of pilot projects in sites with divers e environments and land degradation (due to wildfires, overgrazing, mining, invasive vegetation); and c) lead a multi-stakeholder participatory process to design and test new models of economic cooperation, aimed at the self-production of seeds by users or the supply of products and services to sector players. The project will engage public authorities, non-profit private organization and private companies with the ambition of introduce this type of species into their restoration processes and organise dissemination days for the general public. Three working groups (WG) were created: WG1-Operationalise and disseminate existing knowledge on ecological restoration using local seeds, to facilitate the information and learning process by stakeholders, and encourage their commitment and the implementation of good practices.; WG2-Test, monitor and evaluate different ecological restoration solutions from local seeds; and WG3-Develop a strategy to involve all the stakeholders in large-scale actions to support the sustainability of the ecological restoration solutions tested, and formulate recommendations for professionals and decision-makers on the different means of action available to them.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Additional Information
This paper is part of the larger XII International Rangelands Congress Proceedings. Page Numbers: 911-914. Theme: Theme 4 / Grazing and ecohydration for ecological health
ISSN
978-0-646-72121-7
Conference Name
International Rangeland Congress
Collection
International Rangelands Congress
Keywords
native seeds
restoring nature
Mediterranean region