The Maritime-Terrestrial National Park of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia continues to make progress in the conservation of the plant heritage of its islands through the reproduction of native specimens and the preservation of their germplasm, the genetic material that makes it possible to conserve and reproduce the characteristic features of the plant populations of each territory.
The work focuses on obtaining new specimens from plants that have grown naturally within the archipelago itself. Among the species reproduced are willow, originating from individuals on the islands of San Martiño and Monteagudo-Faro, as well as Quercus pyrenaica, Ilex aquifolium, Laurus nobilis, Arbutus unedo, and Crataegus monogyna.
The commitment to reproducing plants originating from the islands themselves makes it possible to maintain a reserve of genetic diversity linked to these island ecosystems. This work is especially relevant for long-term conservation, as it facilitates the recovery of plant populations and makes it possible to have native specimens available for future restoration actions, avoiding the introduction of non-native genetic material.
In this way, nursery production work becomes another tool within the management and conservation of the National Park, helping to preserve not only the species themselves, but also the genetic identity of the plant communities that grow naturally on the Atlantic Islands.
