We Are Fighting Invasives To Save Rare Cliff Flowers - Project Vlog

On a stunning 15 km stretch of Portuguese coast two special cliff plants found nowhere else on earth are facing extinction. One threat is the spread of the ice plant, an invasive species that can have a devastating impact on the ecosystem. Another issue is that many park visitors are unaware that rare plants exist here and so may not take enough care to protect them. A further challenge to conservation is access. The endangered plants are perched on steep cliff faces making access to monitor them difficult.
To address these challenges we are organising invasive plant removal events. Helping hands are coming from local rock climbers and cavers, joining us as volunteers united by their passion to protect local biodiversity. These events are also a way of spreading awareness and engaging different groups in a dialogue about what can be done for these species. For the monitoring, we will be using a drone to detect the rare plants and to document changes in the vegetation as a result of our efforts to remove the invasive ice plant.
By protecting these precious plants we are helping reduce biodiversity loss and trying to treasure nature in all its glorious forms.
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[@MaurieDeaton]

Thank you for caring about the “uncuddly” creatures!

[@ARGamingSFB260]

This is one of my favourite projects 😃

[@MossyEarth]

Thank you AR! We love this project too as it is really unique! We should have an update on the vertical removals coming soon :) - Cheers, Duarte

[@kellykelly7747]

Oh my goodness! The indigenous species are sooooo beautiful. Get rid of that ice plant for sure!!! The semi succulent is beautiful and the flowering vine is spectacular. So worth saving!!!

[@erroleabrown4317]

Wow that’s a dangerous job, I’m glad everyone is alright. You all did a great job.

[@elfiefromangelcity6142]

There's a stretch of the central coast in California that I love where my grandma lived when I was growing up. I was so torn when I found out they were ripping out the ice plants there. I love the flowers, and they've been there as long as I remember. I also feel bad for the plants because they're just trying to live. The bald patches also looked ugly, and I worry about erosion of the bluffs I love so much. Yet at the same time, I found out they were invasive and choking out the native plants. I just really hope the native plants do their thing, and the cliffsides look pretty again someday soon. I felt a little bit this way watching this. But it certainly helps to show how pretty the native plants are. I just hope they move in quick to fill in the bald spots, and keep the cliffs from eroding.

[@Dave_Sisson]

I thought those Ice Plants looked familiar, they look like Carpobrotus sp. They are common in similar habitats of Australia (we call it Pigface) and South America, but I suspect they do not belong in Europe.

[@MossyEarth]

That's right they are Carpobortus spp! Here usually identified as C.edulis but there is some taxonomic debate since there is also C. acinaciformis as well as hybrids. They were brought to Europe by humans and originate from South Africa. Here they are wreaking havoc in coastal ecosystems, unfortunately. Thanks for the thoughtful comment. Cheers, Tiago

[@williammcduff6531]

Thanks for the update and keep up the good work!

[@MossyEarth]

Thanks, will do!

[@jeralwood6290]

This is such a great team with an awesome goal. I am so glad that you guys got more subscribers since last video!

[@MossyEarth]

Thank you Jer! We are working on it. Very excited to be getting a bit of traction here on KZbin finally :) - Cheers, Duarte

[@angolomat882]

This wonderful and the dog in the background is cute pupper.

[@tao.of.history8366]

I’m gardener, you might experiment just keeping the dry pile covered with the dark tarp (kept down with rocks) & leaving it to decompose in place after your current drying process (thus not requiring removal costs & what to do with it back in town.) … This method is used by organic gardeners all the time. It might work for you guys too? I’m not sure how the succulents would react though because of their natural superpower to reproduce multiple ways, but it would be super easy and inexpensive to experiment with offsite. … If left in place the plant material would decompose into dirt for rocky pockets & flatter shelves, great for space for other plants to take hold. This might also allow you to make smaller piles along your removal routes. The tarps are also then super light to transport to your next site once the piles have decomposed. This is commonly how species grow where I’m from in the solid rock of the Canadian Shield. Debris gets blown into cracks, tiny pockets, & onto shelves in the rock, then decomposes into soil & in nature’s genius way allows a huge range of species to take hold, including huge trees in our case!

[@joaquimbarbosa896]

This is awsome, and I didn't even know the ice plant was invasive considering how commun it is to see one in any cliff But I have to ask, if the ice plant is winning the competition because they spread faster, I think removing isn't enought. I mean, they can just spread again, so I think it would be better to also plant the species you are trying to save. Correct me if I am wrong tho

[@MossyEarth]

Hi Joaquim, we are working on this idea. Our removal action focused on a core area that is important for the two endangered species we are working with more out of urgency than as a final solution. In the future we would like to propagate the plant and make sure its population thrives in its native range. For this we will need some more planning and collaboration with both ICNF and the Portuguese Botanical Society. More news on this son hopefully!

[@joaquimbarbosa896]

@@MossyEarth Dam, this sure is what I call quality. A fast, complete and informative reply. Keep the amazing work bro

[@MossyEarth]

@@joaquimbarbosa896 Thanks! Happy to come back after a Christmas break and see all these interesting questions :)

[@rakeemrobinson]

Awesome work!!!

[@MossyEarth]

Thank you Rakeem!

[@ankitpoudel1863]

awesome team good luck guys ...cool job

[@MossyEarth]

Thanks for the positive feedback!

[@iuliiavasiuta2740]

Thank you! Great project

[@denvernonis4127]

Nice video . mountain climbers , local volunteers , expertise in the job . ❤

[@rbj5767]

❣️

[@pauldurkee4764]

I have a question about the native Convolvulus. Will you intervene and propagate the Convolvulus, or let nature take its course? From my limited knowledge as a gardener, many of the Convolvulus family tend to be invasive themselves, so it should be easier to propagate to increase the numbers. 👍

[@Hansulf]

Oh, those plants are also a problem where I live... I always take them out and throw them to the water... I Hope salty water kill them. Beaches are watched and protected against this plant, but cliffs or rock areas are completly forgotten.

[@MossyEarth]

They are really widespread unfortunately. Well done for helping address this problem yourself! Ideally you can leave them on site (preferable a rock surface) with the roots facing up. They can survive up to 3 weeks in saltwater and so there is a small risk that they could be carried to new locations if thrown in the sea. Cheers, Tiago

[@Hansulf]

@@MossyEarth Oh, nice! Yeah, I though about them beaching somewhere else... So I crushed them a litle bit before throwing them to the water. I didnt want to leave them on the rock because It only takes one small branch to touch the ground to root again jajajaja BTW, is there any plan to push reintroduction of beavers on the Iberian Península? I think they are going to be even more necesary now that droughts are getting longer.

[@theogrhino1144]

America need a mossy earth

[@Black___Book]

Update on this project would be interesting

[@camillastacey4674]

There's a big problem with these on The Lizard in Cornwall, it looks beautiful until you learn it shouldn't be there. There's another invasive succulent on The Lizard but I can't remember the name. Would be great if you could do a similar project here.

[@petris90]

One question I have would be, there is no biological pest control you could implement to fight any of these invasive plants?

[@TheTdZt]

Hi Oscar, that’s a good question, thank you for the interest! This is Tiago from ME here. I know experiments have been done using the scale insect (Pulvinariella mesembryanthemi) which very specifically feeds on the plant. The results were published last year and look very promising. The most effective strategy in the future is likely to include a combination of mechanical and biological control so we will be following the research closely and with high hopes!

[@MarijnvdSterre]

An other great initiative. But how do you guys decide what projects to take on? Since there must be way more possible projects (unfortunately) then you have time and recourses.

[@MossyEarth]

Thank you! Project selection is definitely a challenge. Put simply, we do our best to focus on the issues where we think we can have the greatest impact to restore nature. This has to do with the type of intervention but also to how much an issue is already being dealt vs it being truly neglected. And we are also constrained by logistics and the opportunities we have available. I would probably have to write a few pages to answer this but hope this helps give you an idea. Cheers, Tiago

[@MarijnvdSterre]

@@MossyEarth Though that would be interesting, that would be to much effort. I think I get the gist of it! Thanks for the response!

[@michaeldescande8931]

They are native to South Africa

[@massimo931]

Why don't you use Round-Up? You'd cover MUCH more ground, It's biodegradable and you wouldn't have to remove the biomass AND you'd leave all the sequestered nutrients in situ for the native plants. It's a win-win-win.

[@anthonymorris615]

Couldn't the invasive species just be composted and help improve the soil? Wouldn't need to travel far or long to dispose of them.

[@matt45540]

why remove them? seems like the cliffs could use the nutrients that were stolen from them

[@islanoliveira]

Maybe they were afraid they could root again, had propagative structures or could release toxic compounds in the environment.

[@nolram]

If I am not mistaken, these can re-root. Also, dirt/compost isnt natural to the cliffs and wont propagate through the rock

[@MossyEarth]

This is a plant that was introduced to Portugal by humans and is converting areas that have a unique community of rare plants into matts of a single species. They release compounds into the soil and make it more acidic which prevents other plants from growing. Since they are outside the place where they evolved (South Africa) they don't have natural enemies and competitors to keep them in check here. Hope that makes sense. Cheers, Tiago

[@Sksk27547]

Hilarious 😂 Salt water kills those plants. You all could of just dropped it in that sea-water. Hilarious 😂

[@chiphog]

These ice plants are endemic here in South Africa. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aizoaceae But they seem to fit in nicely with loads of other plants in the Cape Floristic Region. I wonder what keeps under control here.

[@MossyEarth]

That is quite an interesting question actually!

[@chiphog]

@@MossyEarth I have no serious botanical/biological/evolutionary background. But I did have rather a lot of thoughts about this: My first idea: "Since these vygies (that's what we call all these 1782 species of ice-plants that live in the Cape Floral Region (CFR from now)) don't overrun the CFR, maybe it's because of the huge density of OTHER species that they need to deal with." Like, in the video above, it looks like a density of (maybe) 20 species/m^2 on those Portuguese cliffs, but the CFR is famous for it's massive species/m^2 (it could be 2000, or maybe just 200, but it's bigger than anywhere else) and the idea is that some of these vast numbers of other species that you are directly interacting with, might steal some of your nutrients. I think idea 1 is wrong. This CFR, with it's massive species/m^2, it should be immune to invasive species yet it is suffering terribly from Australian aliens like: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_saligna (see: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasive_species_of_Australian_origin#Acacia_in_southern_Africa) and dodder: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuscuta (the CFR, the associated places in Australia and the Portuguese cliffs are all nutrient low) So, idea 2: The CFR REQUIRES regular burning to stay healthy. In bits far away from human settlements, the conservation authorities purposefully ignite fires, because nearby farmers often extinguish the natural lighting-caused-fires before they can get to the nature conservation areas. Many (if not most) species will not seed, or germinate, or even open their seed-pods until they get some fire. Those Portuguese cliffs don't look like they EVER see fire! Maybe that's the answer? But these vygies are succulents, so surely they'll actually cope BETTER than their enemies under fire stress? Ja, so I dunno. One thing to maybe bear in mind during your clean-up - South African gardeners have a belief that you only need half a leaf of a vygie to form a cutting - without rooting powder or anything - you just stick it in the dirt. I dunno whether this rumour is true. Just something to bear in mind with dealing with this invasion.

[@chiphog]

I just came back from my weekly walk to the mj dealer. On the route I took, I saw 8 gardens with vygies - all are looking in FANTASTIC health, aggressive, invasive. I spoke with 3 gardeners (it is/was sunset) about these plants and what's bad for them. Comments I got: - you never need to water them - they don't get bugs - you don't need to give them fertilizer - you often need to cut them back (😭😬) - an old oom said they are very different from each other[*] But I'm living in Johannesburg, at about 1600m (here in Bez Valley) while most of the CFR is below 1000m (much is below 500m). Joburg is nutrient rich (CFR is nutrient poor) and has exactly the OPPOSITE rainfall as the CFR (which is Mediterranean - wet winters, dry summers (which is why it isn't a surprise that CFR plants invade Portugal)). Why are these CFR plants doing so well in Joburg? Lack of predators? I noticed, while looking at plant-biodiversity-hotspots, that many of them are nutrient poor. I would have expected the opposite. Looking at those cliffs of yours, I'd guess they are chalk or dolomite or some Ca mineral. How nutrient rich are they? [*] This old oom (uncle) was quite aggressive with me so I didn't interview him as much as I would have liked, but he informed me that: - these 'vygies' are more than 100 species (Wikipedia informs us that it's 1782 just from the CFR) - they are completely different for each other - some succumb to too much water - others can't handle aphids and lot's of other issues (I don't understand Afrikaans too well). He says (grumpily) that I must just bring him a picture of the flower of one of them and he'll tell me how to kill it. So just tell me which species of ice-plant you're dealing with (I'll Google a flower pic), and I'll get some more advice about their impending doom.

[@jeremygilmore3208]

@@chiphog Ja, the Vygie family (Aizoaceae) is huge. The 1782 species (in 132 genera) from Wikipedia refers to arid southern Africa, which includes Namibia - not just South Africa. This number is constantly changing though. However, the family Aizoaceae also includes many species that are not like typical Vygies; and so the tribe Ruschieae (subfamily Ruschioideae) is a more accurate representation of "true" Vygies. If looking at all Aizoaceae, I'd say the Cape Floristic Region (most of the Western Cape and some of the Eastern Cape - to near Port Elizabeth) has about 800 species. But for true Vygies (Ruschieae), there are around 700 in the CFR - I'd estimate. These may be higher but the comparison should be accurate.

[@jeremygilmore3208]

These in the video are indeed a Carpobrotus sp. Of these, 7 are native to South Africa, 5 to Australia, and 1 to Chile. All are pink except for one yellow-flowered species (C. edulis) which is only yellow; so this is not it. These are either C. acinaciformis (from South Africa) or C. chilensis (from Chile) - or even a hybrid as Tiago mentioned in another comment. EDIT: we Saffas like to call them Sourfigs but overseas they say Sea Fig, Iceplant, or Pigsface ;)