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Week of events for the flora conservation in Cagliari at the end of September

08 September 2022

A series of events are scheduled in Cagliari, hosted by the University of Cagliari, during the last week of September focusing on the valorisation and conservation of Mediterranean flora. During this week several meetings, workshops, and sharing events are on the program. In collaboration with GENMEDA and RIBES (Italian network for the ex-situ conservation of spontaneous Italian flora) are expected also reunions to share experiences, continue the cooperation that allows developing common methodologies, applied technical and scientific know-how and information-sharing for the Mediterranean flora.

The week of events starts with the BESTMEDGRAPE (New Business opportunities & Environmental suSTainability using MED GRAPE nanotechnological products) international conference, an ENI CBC MED project with partners from 6 different countries from the Mediterranean Basin, dedicated at valorising – grapes but also the expansion of the grape value chain through the development of nanotechnological products, thus boosting the local economy, reducing environmental pollution and increasing employment opportunities.

During the week, a local event is included to celebrate the 25 years of the Sardinian Germplasm Bank (BG-SAR) and reflect on the past, present, and future of the seed bank as well as to thanks to all BG-SAR’s supporters and collaborators for the support over these years.

The last three days of this full events week are devoted to LIFE SEEDFORCE project (Using SEED banks to restore and reinFORCE the endangered native plants of Italy). This project is to improve the conservation status of 29 EU Habitats Directive Annex II species with an integrated ex situ/in situ approach, aiming at improving the quality of both habitats and populations in Natura 2000 network sites (SCI/SACs) where these species grow or have recently disappeared. There will be a two-day standardisation workshop and a one-day field trip. The workshop is aimed at effective seed handling as planning a seed collection sampling, characterising, storing for long-term conservation and preparing the right seed mix for propagation. Practical activities at the Sardinian Germplasm Bank (BG-SAR) as germplasm collection activities, procedures from seed cleaning and selection to long-term conservation, morpho-colorimetric seed analysis, and seed germination experiments are also programmed during the workshop.

The last day of the workshop coincides with the European Researchers’ Night host also at the Hortus Botanicus Karalitanus (HBK) of the University of Cagliari.

A field trip to Molentargius-Saline Regional Natural Park and to the Monte Sant’Elia, Cala Mosca e Cala Fighera, two important Special Areas of Conservation of Sardinia, will close this week of events in the best mode possible, on the field!


Bird’s eye view of the Hortus Botanicus Karalitanus (HBK) of the University of Cagliari


Panoramic view of Cagliari and Molentargius-Saline Regional Natural Park

by
Alba Cuena-Lombraña1,2, Ludovica Dessì1,2, Francesca Meloni1,2, Lina Podda1,2, Marco Porceddu1,2, Marco Sarigu1,2, Gianluigi Bacchetta1,2
1 Centre for the Conservation of Biodiversity (CCB), Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Viale S. Ignazio da Laconi 11-13, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
2 Sardinian Germplasm Bank (BG-SAR), Hortus Botanicus Karalitanus (HBK), University of Cagliari, Viale S. Ignazio da Laconi, 9-11, 09123 Cagliari, Italy

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