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Falkland Islands
This remote archipelago in the South Atlantic has 173 native plant species.
These include thirteen endemic species such as vanilla daisy (Leucheria suaveolens) snake plant (Nassauvia serpens) and Falkland rock-cress (Phlebolobium maclovianum). Five of the species are globally threatened.
The dominant habitats are acid grasslands, dwarf shrub heath and coastal habitats. Major threats to the native flora come from soil erosion, agriculture (overgrazing and other), invasive plants, human disturbance (including recreational off-roading), chance natural events and genetic erosion.
Funded by the UK Overseas Territories Environmental Programme and working in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Falklands Conservation’s IPA project has identified 19 candidate international IPAs across the islands. Targeted, standardised, geo-referenced population and habitat data, gathered over two years were analysed in conjunction with historical inventories in order to assess sites against IPA criteria. In the process threatened species and habitat Action Plans have been written and updated.
The Falkland IPA site data are now being used for the development of a wider plant conservation strategy for the long term protection of threatened native and endemic flora through sustainable management and/ or protection and long term monitoring alongside public awareness and training projects.
References:
Upson R. (in prep) Internationally Important Plant Areas of the Falkland Islands. Falklands Conservation; Upson R. (in prep) Updating the Red Data List for the Falklands Islands vascular flora. Falklands Conservation.