Red List species

When consulting the Red Lists of Portuguese Flora and those of other European countries, it is clear that many wetland species are threatened or in danger of extinction. This is because, for centuries, wetlands were considered unproductive or dangerous areas, due to the proliferation of disease-transmitting mosquitoes.

Today, the perspective on wetlands is quite different. The value of swamps and marshes as refuges for rare species of flora and fauna is recognized, and their great contribution as carbon dioxide sinks is known. More recently, through the European Regulation on Nature Restoration, the aim is to restore and maintain natural wetlands in good condition, especially those that house priority habitats, such as Mediterranean temporary ponds, for which Portugal has a special responsibility, as this type of habitat hardly exists in other Member States.

In this context, it is important to highlight that in our biological pools, only native species present in the region where the pool is located are planted. In addition, endangered species and those listed on the Red List are planted, all produced for this purpose in our nursery. The production and planting of these species in artificial habitats, such as organic pools, is seen as a contribution to keeping these rare and endangered species of Portugal’s aquatic flora available. And, if it is of interest to state entities, it will be possible to contribute with specimens from this available stock for a controlled reintroduction into the wetlands recovered within the scope of the National Nature Restoration Plan.