The present size, protection status, threats and restoration requirements of Carex caryophyllea -populations in continental Finland
Abstract
Carex caryophyllea Latourr. is a declining species typical to semi-natural dry meadows, and considered both vulnerable and of urgent conservation concern in Finland. Because the species is rare and difficult to notice in the field, and because the resources for endangered species surveys have diminished in recent years, comprehensive inventories of the species’ populations have lacked. These are instrumental in assessing the conservation status of the species, and in planning and prioritizing conservation action among the populations. In this study, I visited 57 Carex caryophyllea populations in south-western continental Finland, and surveyed the size, flowering, surrounding species, protection status and restoration requirements of 43 located populations. The results indicate, that while several populations (n = 20) are protected with various legislative instruments, only few are currently managed (n = 9). Because of the lack of management, the main threats the populations face include successional overgrowth and eutrophication. As such, restoration measures, such as clearing of bushes and mowing, are needed in the majority of populations (n = 36) in the near future. In addition to protecting the currently unprotected populations, continuing the present management and introducing restoration efforts into unmanaged sites are the most important measures for ensuring the long-term persistence of the species in the study area. However, possibilities to include the species in ex situ -conservation measures should be investigated as well.
