Endangered plants

February 2nd marks World Wetlands Day, a date that reminds us that around 20% of aquatic plant species globally are threatened and are on the IUCN Red List. In Portugal, the situation of aquatic flora and wetlands is particularly critical, presenting threat percentages significantly higher than the world average. According to the Red List of Vascular Flora of Continental Portugal (2020), the data reveals a worrying scenario: between 30% and 40% of species strictly linked to aquatic habitats — such as ponds, lagoons, and rivers — are classified as having some threat status (Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered).

Given this scenario, biological pools are increasingly also playing an ex-situ conservation role, that is, preserving threatened species outside their natural habitat. Since the floral composition in biological pools strictly follows the pattern found in nature, the vegetation in each biological pool becomes indistinguishable from the coexistence of the same species in wild habitats in the region. This approach is essential, as it is the only way to guarantee the longevity of the selected species, adapting them to the specific chemical composition of each filling water.