2nd Mediterranean Plant Conservation Week “Conservation of Mediterranean Plant Diversity: Complementary Approaches and New Perspectives” An update on translocation activities of the climate relict tree Zelkova sicula (Sicily, Southern Italy) presented by Giuseppe Garfì CNR - Institute of Biosciences and BioResources Palermo, Italy
[email protected] In collaboration with: Abbate L., Carimi F., Carra A., Catalano C., Fazan L., Kozlowski G., Gristina A.S., Motisi A., Pasta S., Perrotta G. Supported by: Outline • The species • Implications as a climate relict • Ecological plasticity • Criteria for translocation 2nd MPCW - Conservation of Mediterranean Plant Diversity: Complementary Approaches and New Perspectives 12-16 November 2018, La Valletta, MALTA Zelkova sicula: an emblematic relict... Site 2 – Contrada Ciranna Site 1 - Bosco Pisano 0 100 m 0 100 m • Current distribution: 2 single, isolated populations, some hundred trees in total • Area: 0.5 ha (site 1), 0.8 ha (site 2) • Habit: shrub to small tree • Habitat: sparse, disturbed sclerophyllous forests • Conservation: critical 2nd MPCW - Conservation of Mediterranean Plant Diversity: Complementary Approaches and New Perspectives 12-16 November 2018, La Valletta, MALTA Zelkova: endangered all over the world Zelkova sicula 2nd MPCW - Conservation of Mediterranean Plant Diversity: Complementary Approaches and New Perspectives 12-16 November 2018, La Valletta, MALTA Threats vs. viability Enclave populations Recurrent drought stress Anthropogenic pressure No sexual dispersal