The Micro-reserves as a Tool for Conservation of Threatened Plants in Europe


Book Description

Many threatened populations of plant species occupy a very small area, ranging from a few square metres to a few hectares. To protect them, some countries have established legal systems that permit them to create and manage small or very small reserves, called micro-reserves. This publication presents an analysis of micro-reserves for plant species, with special reference to those set up in the region of Valencia, Spain.




Conserving Plant Genetic Diversity in Protected Areas


Book Description

Conservation in protected areas has focused on preserving biodiversity of ecosystems and species, whereas conserving the genetic diversity contained within species has historically often been ignored. However, maintaining genetic diversity is fundamental to food security and the provision of raw materials and it is best preserved within plants' natural habitats. This is particularly true for wild plants that are directly related to crop species and can play a key role in providing beneficial traits, such as pest or disease resistance and yield improvement. These wild relatives are presently threatened due to processes of habitat destruction and change and methodologies have been adapted to provide in-situ conservation through the establishment of genetic reserves within the existing network of protected areas.Providing a long-awaited synthesis of these new methodologies, this book presents a practical set of management guidelines that can be used for the conservation of plant genetic diversity of crop wild relatives in protected areas.




The 33 Threatened Fungi in Europe


Book Description

Although Europe has a high diversity of fungi and many species are threatened, no fungal species are yet included in the appendices of the Bern Convention or the EU Habitats Directive. Conservation action has often neglected fungi due in part to past insufficient knowledge of their ecology, distribution and status. This report, which contains very detailed information on 33 species threatened in Europe, was originally prepared as a list of candidate species for protection at the European level. They certainly deserve the attention of conservation agencies




Conserving European Biodiversity in the Context of Climate Change


Book Description

Climate change is likely to have major environmental effects on natural habitats in the next fifty years. Conservation of biological diversity will have to be modified drastically to avoid massive extinctions of species of threatened habitat types. Precise recommendations are made to governments and conservation agencies that collaborate in the framework of the Bern Convention. This publication provides a starting point for discussion about possible adaptation strategies if Europe's biodiversity is to be conserved.




Plant Conservation


Book Description

This practical and bold book unifies multiple aspects of plant conservation into a single coherent concept, linking theory and methodology.




High-level Pan-European Conference on Agriculture and Biodiversity


Book Description

This publication contains a number of reports prepared for a high-level conference on issues relating to biological and landscape diversity in European agricultural policies, held in Paris in June 2002. The conference made recommendations to states and relevant organisations and provided input to policy work and programmes within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Ministerial Conference on Environment for Europe , the Convention to Combat Desertification and the EU's Common Agricultural Policy and national policy developments.




Corridors for Birds Within a Pan-European Ecological Network


Book Description

This report considers the signifiance of corridors for high priority bird species within the development of Pan-European Ecological Network. This involves a brief review of existing research and policy, the testing of recent corridor ideas and typologies, the application of these ideas to fifteen birds "species of European Conservation Concern" and discussion of the next steps for research and policy development.




European Bison (Bison Bonasus)


Book Description

The European bison, the largest herbivore in Europe, was once widely distributed throughout western, central and south-eastern Europe. But by the end of the 19th century there were only two populations left in the the wild, this drastic decline caused by competition for food from deer, cattle grazing in forests, wars and heavy poaching. By 1945 there were only 54 animals with proven pedigrees in zoos, descended from 12 ancestor animals (of which a mere two are dominant genetically). Moves to restore the wild population began in the 1920s, and the restitution has successfully maintained the breed's purity. In 2000, there were nearly 2900 bison registered by the European Bison Pedigree Book, existing in 191 enclosed and 31 free-roaming herds. Despite this success, there remain concerns over the loss of genetic variability - the inbreeding affects life span, viability of young animals, and the interval between calving and skeletal growth - and the presence of, and susceptibility to, several diseases, including foot-and-mouth and TB. Management of the habitat and local populations of bison is necessary to maintain the optimum bison habitat. It remains an endangered species, and its full recovery and re-naturalisation in the wild cannot be guaranteed.




The Pan-European Ecological Network--taking Stock


Book Description

The pace of biodiversity decline is quickening worldwide. Habitat break-up, pollution, over-use of natural areas and the creation of artificial landscapes increase the rate of erosion, while reducing species' opportunity for migration, dispersion and exchange. In 1995, when the European Ministers of the Environment met in Sofia, they launched the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy, so as to strengthen environment and biodiversity conservation policies. The setting up of the Pan-European Ecological Network covering Eurasia was one of the key steps taken under the Strategy. Work has continued on this project, and it is now based on the numerous national, regional and transregional ecological networks being set up throughout Europe.In Kiev, in 2003, the Ministers and heads of delegation noted these positive developments, expressed firm support for the creation of the Pan-European Ecological Network and asked for its constituent parts to be identified and mapped on a pan-European scale.This book looks at the implementation of this Network in the 55 states concerned. It has been written by a team comprising, under the aegis of the Council of Europe, numerous government experts and specialists dealing with the issue of ecological networks. It is intended to reassure Ministers, policy-makers and scientists that they made the right decision in supporting the creation of the Pan-European Ecological Network with a view to (re-)creating a true green infrastructure for Europe.




Action Plan for the Conservation of Sturgeons (Acipenseridae) in the Danube River Basin


Book Description

Six species of sturgeons are native to the Danube River Basin. The need for conservation action is urgent, given that recent observations in the Lower Danube indicate that all sturgeon populations are near extinction. Due to the high commercial value of sturgeon products, in particular caviar, the pressure from proaching and illegal trade remains intense. These species will not survive unless fishing practices are greatly addressed, and both migration routes and habitats for all life-cycle stages are protected. Through national action and international co-ordination, this action plan aims to secure viable populations of all Danube sturgeon species by sustainable management and restoration of their natural habitats and migratory corridors