Format: ORAL

Snia Garcia1, Arnau Bosch1, Francesc Caralt2, Carlos Gmez-Bellver1, Neus Ibez1, Jordi Lpez-Pujol1, Roser Melero1, Neus Nualart1

1 Institut Botànic de Barcelona (IBB), CSIC-CMCNB, 08038 Barcelona, Spain 2 Flora Catalana, 43716 Albinyana (Les Peces), Spain

LIFE medCLIFFS, spanning from October 2021 to September 2026, is an EU-funded LIFE Nature project focused on the management of invasive alien plant species along the Costa Brava in Catalonia, specifically targeting the Cap de Creus Natural Park. The primary goal is to improve the conservation status of the habitat of community interest HCI 1240, characterized by cliffs along the Mediterranean coast with endemic Limonium spp., currently in an unfavorable conservation status. LIFE medCLIFFS integrates prevention, rapid detection, risk assessment, and eradication strategies. Citizen science plays a pivotal role in early detection and prevention through public awareness. Citizen science in LIFE medCLIFFS involves two networks that leverage iNaturalist. The Observers Network gathers observations of 180 invasive or potentially invasive plant species, with 109 registered members having recorded 4345 observations until November 2023. Simultaneously, the Volunteers Network focuses on 33 highly invasive species, with 92 trained volunteers until present, each adopting 1-kilometer transects in the study area, and providing detailed data on reproductive status and other population metrics. The project has already accumulated a substantial body of data, featuring Opuntia ficus-indica as the Observers Network most observed species and Pittosporum tobira heading the Volunteers Network. The initiative already offers valuable data for the further management of invasive alien plants in the targeted habitat. The detailed observations provided will feed a database to produce risk maps which will allow us to predict the risk of invasion by a given species and area. The network is also useful for the detection of new occurrences of invasives not recorded until present in the study area. Beyond the contribution to invasive species management, citizen involvement raises awareness about invasive plants through a more environmentally conscious society. It contributes to botanical knowledge, fostering a community that is sensitive to the importance of conservation and environmental management.