“Gardeners” birds are proof of success in the restoration of the Laurissilva forest. Native plants propagate, conservationists learn.
It’s aa Greater ecological restoration action ever performed in Azores. The technicians removed invasive plants, stabilized slopes and planted native species.
All to restore the forest Laurisilv from 300m to 900m altitude. Thus, conservationists have created the conditions so that the seeds now carried by birds can germinate.
And the results show that it is possible to restore the natural rhythms of the forest -This under the World Forest Day, which was marked this Friday.
The Laurissilva Forest has been the target of Portuguese Society technicians for the study of birds (Spea) that highlights the history of the Azores birds that are helping conservationists to preserve the forest.
They have been years of work, read in a statement sent to ZAP. And now Laurissilva’s native plants are being propagated – And conservationists are learning from it.
Stands out Blood Regeneration“We have found many plants of this species growing in places where there are no adult individuals producing seeds,” says Tarso Costa, a conservation technician at Spea.
”This shows a Positive cycle: The blood we planted in other places is actually serving as food to the piolo, as was our goal; And the birds in turn are dispersing the seeds, bringing a blood to new areas, ”describes Tarsus.
When conservationists try to protect an ecosystem from the threat from invasive plants, the more difficult is not to remove these plants, but to prevent them from returning. This is because invasive plants are, by definition, plants that propagate very easily, rapidly occupying the land available.
Se o Blood managed -With the help of birds-propagating to new places, means that this native species has a lot potential To fill the spaces that are available when invading plants are removed, occupying them and allowing Laurissilva’s native ecosystem to restore without further invasion.
When birds like priorle feed on the blood berries of the blood, and then fly elsewhere, they may eventually defecate the seeds away from the “mother” plant. But these seeds will only germinate if they have room to grow. It is at this point that the impact of this ecological restoration becomes evident.
“By restoring this ecosystem, we created a Healthy forest. It is a pride to see that birds are naturally dispersing seeds-and have taught us that the blood can help us in the biggest challenge of ecological restoration in the Azores, which is to keep the areas free of invasive plants, ”adds Tarso Costa.
