Implementing Target 10 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation at the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland

The importance of managing invasive non-native species (INNS), be it through eradication or limitation, is set out in the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) which states that parties to the Convention should ‘prevent, control or eradicate alien species’ (IUCN, 2000). Unfortunately there is some evidence that botanic gardens have been implicated in being responsible for the early introduction of many environmental weeds listed by IUCN as among the worst invasive species (Hulme, 2011). Stronger global networking between botanic gardens to tackle the problem of INNS has been suggested by Hulme. Botanic gardens have a remit to meet Target 10 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) and the European Strategy for Plant Conservation (ESPC) Targets 10.1 and 10.2. The National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, in conjunction with University College Dublin and Mayo and Fingal County Councils, with grant funding from the Heritage Council, has monitored populations then researched and implemented effective control methods of two escaped garden plants: Hottentot fig (Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N.E. Br.) and giant rhubarb (Gunnera tinctoria (Molina) Mirb.) in EU protected habitats and in Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in Ireland. Chemical treatments were trialled and tested in the field for both species, and successful regeneration of native vegetation in formerly invaded areas has been observed since treatments began in 2009

Invasive species mapping on Howth, Co. Dublin

Fingal County Council invited tenders for mapping of invasive species at Howth, Co. Dublin. The objective of the mapping was to fulfil the objectives of Action 1A (1.5) of the Howth Special Amenity Area Order Operational Plan 2015-2020: Control of invasive species with a particular focus on Rhododendron, Birch and garden plant escapes. The requirements of this project were two-fold. Firstly, Fingal County Council required that the coastal cliffs between Bellingham’s Farm and the Baily Lighthouse be surveyed for invasive species as there has been a lot of dumping of garden waste in this location over the past few decades, which has led to several invasive and exotic species establishing themselves on the cliffs. The cliffs are fully within the Howth Head Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the presence of invasive species is negatively affecting the native flora in this location. It was required that a site visit to the assigned location be carried out with Dr. Noeleen Smyth, National Botanic Gardens, in order to map and quantify (m2) the invasive and exotic species recorded. Dr. Emer Ní Dhúill carried out the desktop review of control measures of all invasive and exotic species encountered in order to determine the most appropriate methods of control. The second part of the project was to produce a map of Rhododendron ponticum L. around the Summit of Howth. R. ponticum control has been carried out by the Council for the past ten years and they required mapping of the Summit of Howth in order to target new stands of R. ponticum along the edges of the heathland and any remaining individual shrubs. The area to be mapped included the large stand of R. ponticum west of the Rhododendron Gardens at the Deer Park Hotel, Howth. The following report relates to the first part of the project which is the survey of the coastal cliffs between Bellingham’s Farm and the Baily Lighthouse. The requirements of the second part of the project will be submitted separately as a map of R. ponticum on the Summit of Howth in PDF and GIS format.Fingal County Counci

Conservation assessment and monitoring methods for the Annex V Clubmoss group (Lycopodium spp.) in Ireland

Clubmoss species are moss-like plants without flowers. Ireland is home to four members of the Clubmoss group (Lycopodiaceae): Huperzia selago (L.) Bernh. ex Schrank & Mart., Diphasiastrum alpinum (L.) Holub, Lycopodium clavatum L. and Lycopodiella inundata (L.) Holub. All four species are listed as a group in Annex V of the European Union Habitats Directive (92/42/EEC). Annex V lists species whose taking in the wild may be subject to management measures. Under Article 11 of the Directive, each member state is obliged to undertake surveillance of the conservation status of the species in the Annexes and under Article 17, to report to the European Commission every six years on their status. The conservation status of a species is assessed under four parameters: Range, Population, Habitat for the species and Future prospects. This project investigated these four parameters for the four species in the group and devised methods and protocols for the next round of reporting 2012-2018 which is due in 2019.National Parks & Wildlife Servic

Integrated plant conservation on Pitcairn Island, South Central Pacific

Pitcairn Island is a small, isolated island at the eastern extremity of the main group of Polynesian islands, roughly half way between New Zealand and South America and just south of the Tropic of Capricorn. The research interest of Trinity College, Dublin (TCD) in the island began in 1991 during the Sir Peter Scott Commemorative Expedition to the Pitcairn Islands, which focussed its attention mainly on ‘nearby’ Henderson Island (a World Heritage Site) and two atolls Oeno and Ducie. During this expedition it became apparent that the main conservation issues with the flora of these islands was on Pitcairn itself. As a U.K. Overseas Territory governed from the British High Commission in New Zealand, the responsibility for biodiversity conservation on the island rests with the UK Government. Accordingly, TCD and the Irish National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) secured funding from the U.K. Foreign & Commonwealth Office in 1997 to examine in detail the floristics, vegetation communities and conservation status of the native flora

Monitoring methods for Killarney Fern (Trichomanes speciosum Willd.) in Ireland

Trichomanes speciosum Willd is categorised as rare and vulnerable in Ireland and is listed under Annex II and IV of the EU Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora). T. speciosum, commonly known as the Killarney Fern or Bristle Fern, belongs to the Filmy Fern family (Hymenophyllaceae) and is the only European representative of the genus Trichomanes. T. speciosum is most abundant in the Azores, outside of which it is most frequently found in Ireland and Britain.Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS), Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltach

Investigation of the Copper Requirements of the Metallophyte Liverworts Cephaloziella nicholsonii Douin and C. massalongoi (Spruce) Müll.Frib

Former mine sites can provide habitat for many rare specialised bryophyte species that have adapted to metal-rich soil conditions that are toxic to most other plant species. Some of the bryophyte species found in this habitat are facultative metallophytes, and others are regarded as strict metallophytes, the so-called ‘copper mosses’. It is a general assumption in the literature that Cephaloziella nicholsonii and C. massalongoi, both categorised as Endangered in the IUCN Red List for Europe, are also strict metallophytes and obligate copper bryophytes. This in vitro experiment investigated the growth and gemma production of these two species from different sites in Ireland and Britain on treatment plates of 0 ppm, 3 ppm, 6 ppm, 12 ppm, 24 ppm, 48 ppm and 96 ppm copper. Results show that elevated copper is not an obligate requirement for optimum growth. Differences in response to the copper treatment levels among populations evident within both species could possibly be due to ecotypic variation. A case is also made for the taxonomic revision of the Cephaloziella genus. Implications for the species’ conservation are discussed.University College DublinNational Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Irelan

Invasive alien species: the urban dimension: case studies on strengthening local action in Europe

Invasive Alien Species (IAS) pose a significant threat to biodiversity in Europe, like elsewhere in the world. This threat is likely to increase in the future unless meaningful action is taken at all levels to control the introduction and establishment of these species and address those already introduced. It is estimated that the economic impact of IAS only in the European Union causes some 12.5 billion Euros worth of damage each year. Local and regional authorities have an important role to play in implementing international, EU and national biodiversity targets and can greatly contribute to raising awareness about IAS among decision-makers and citizens. With this publication, IUCN highlights the key role that European local authorities play in addressing the risks associated with biological invasions. IUCN aims to strengthen collaboration with all stakeholders in the urban environment and offers its scientific knowledge and expertise to support achieving the ambitious requirements of the future EU legislation.IUCNDeutsche Bundesstiftung UmweltSwiss Federal Office for the Environmen

Syzygium jambos(L.)Alston(Myrtaceae) control, conservation and restoration of the threatened native flora of Pitcairn Island, South Central Pacific

THESIS 8508To fully fulfil the many aspirations of plant conservation, a quantitative, practical and economic approach to the problems in hand must be taken. Modem conservation biology involves recovering lost habitat and thwarting exotic invaders, alongside single species conservation which requires some investigation into population viability and molecular genetics. In order to fulfil these aims for conservation efforts on Pitcairn Island, a logical approach was taken for this small island ecosystem, which can be used as a model for larger and more diverse islands, and fragmented landscapes on continents, which can be considered as "islands in a sea of land"

Investigation of the Copper Requirements of the Metallophyte Liverworts <i>Cephaloziella nicholsonii</i> Douin and <i>C. massalongoi</i> (Spruce) Müll.Frib

Former mine sites can provide habitat for many rare specialised bryophyte species that have adapted to metal-rich soil conditions that are toxic to most other plant species. Some of the bryophyte species found in this habitat are facultative metallophytes, and others are regarded as strict metallophytes, the so-called ‘copper mosses’. It is a general assumption in the literature that Cephaloziella nicholsonii and C. massalongoi, both categorised as Endangered in the IUCN Red List for Europe, are also strict metallophytes and obligate copper bryophytes. This in vitro experiment investigated the growth and gemma production of these two species from different sites in Ireland and Britain on treatment plates of 0 ppm, 3 ppm, 6 ppm, 12 ppm, 24 ppm, 48 ppm and 96 ppm copper. Results show that elevated copper is not an obligate requirement for optimum growth. Differences in response to the copper treatment levels among populations evident within both species could possibly be due to ecotypic variation. A case is also made for the taxonomic revision of the Cephaloziella genus. Implications for the species’ conservation are discussed