Plant Diversity Challenge - Plantlife

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Objective 2: Conserving <strong>Plant</strong> <strong>Diversity</strong>Target 7:Conserving threatenedspeciesOngoing actions contributing tomeeting the target• Co-ordinating implementation of speciesaction plans• Carrying out species status assessment inaccordance with target 2• Protecting and managing protected areaswhere some threatened plants liveHigh priority additional work• Reviewing action plans and targets• Monitoring and reporting on trends everythree years• Ensuring efficient communication betweenfield recorders and country agenciesconcerning the location of threatenedplants on A/SSSIs• Providing information on ecology, status andbest conservation management practicesfor all threatened species• Targeting agri-environment schemestowards species prioritiesMedium priority additional work• Identifying and undertaking applied researchand monitoring necessary to support actionin the field• Developing tight linkages between SpeciesAction Plans and Habitat Action Plansstriving to achieve effective speciesconservation as a by-product of widerhabitat managementLower priority or long-term additionalwork• Improving our understanding of thelinkages between organisms e.g. therelationship between fungal diversityand vascular plant diversity60 per cent of the world’s threatened species conservedin situ.ScopeTarget 7 builds on the status assessment work of target 2 and seeks to ensure thatthe future of our most threatened plants (classified according to IUCN criteria),irrespective of the reasons why they became threatened, are secured. Crucially thetarget obliges action to ensure that threatened plants are protected in situ i.e. theplaces where they live in the wild.Current situationThe UK Biodiversity Action Plan is the principal framework through which speciesconservation is administered. In England and Wales Section 74 of the Countrysideand Rights of Way Act 2000 (CRoW Act) places a duty on the Secretary of State inEngland and on the National Assembly for Wales to publish lists of living organismsand habitats of principal importance for the conservation of biological diversity, andto implement or promote steps to conserve these interests.Action is further definedin country biodiversity strategies. For example, progress with the delivery of targetsin the BAP species and habitat action plans is considered a key indicator of thesuccess of the delivery of England’s Biodiversity Strategy.At the present time 220 plant and fungus species, comprising 14 algae (including 12charophytes), 64 bryophytes, 28 fungi, 37 lichens and 77 vascular plants have specificaction plans, and other threatened species can be conserved via appropriate HAPs.Lead Partners are co-ordinating the actions necessary to meet the targets within theplans.The 2002 BAP review of the trends in the status of priority species for whichdata exists indicated that 22% of plants and fungi are ‘stable’ or ‘increasing’, 57% are‘fluctuating’ or the trend is ‘unknown’, 6% are showing signs of a ‘slowing in theirdecline’ and 15% are ‘lost’ or ‘continuing to decline’ (see Figure 1).The action plansand targets will be reviewed in 2005.Many threatened species already occur on protected sites. It follows therefore thatprotected areas and habitat initiatives (as described in targets 5 and 6) will help manyspecies, but some will require more specific management. Effective conservation ofthese sites should be delivered by the SSSI Public Service Agreement in England andthe similar commitment in Northern Ireland. Moreover, some threatened species willbenefit from appropriate management through agri-environment schemes.Looking to the futureThe UK BAP review in 2005 should allow a reassessment of whether any threatenedspecies are not receiving conservation action either via SAPs or HAPs or relatedstrategies. In addition, this will be the opportunity to move towards conservationaction at the appropriate geographical scale (feature, site or landscape) to ensurepopulations of threatened species remain viable.Work is continuing to ensure that26
BOB GIBBONS/NATURAL IMAGEmeasures to progress habitat conservation will additionally improve speciesprospects. However it is accepted that special management may be necessary forsome species on some sites.The priority will remain protecting the places where threatened plants live by themost appropriate means whether it is through statutory protection, managementincentives, advice, direct intervention or policy change. It is however acknowledged(as described in target 8) that species reintroduction should be part of the recoverytoolkit. However this should only be considered as a last resort (and in accordancewith accepted guidelines).The UK Biodiversity Action Plan has helpedto protect many of the UK’s most endangeredspecies. Populations such as the twinflowerLinnaea borealis (below) in Scotland andDeptford pink Dianthus armeria (above) havebeen stabilised and in some sites increasedfollowing collaboration between conservationorganisations and landowners.Figure 1:Trends in status of plant/fungus species listedin the UK Biodiversity Action Plan6%15%22%Stable or increasingFluctuating or trend unknownDecline slowingLost or continuing to declineSTEVE AUSTIN/WOODFALL WILD IMAGES57%27
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Plant Diversity Challenge - Plantlife

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