MISURE INTEGRATE DI CONSERVAZIONE DI CALENDULA MARITIMA GUSS., SPECIE RARA E MINACCIATA DELLA COSTA OCCIDENTALE DELLA SICILIA

The last century witnessed a significant rise in human impact on Mediterranean coastal areas, leading to extensive habitat destruction and the extinction of numerous plant species. Among these, Calendula maritima Guss. (Asteraceae), a rare herbaceous plant endemic to western Sicily, faced a critical decline, with only 16 small, scattered populations remaining along the coast and surrounding islets. Classified as Critically Endangered by IUCN, it ranks among the Top 50 Mediterranean island plants at risk of extinction. To address this, the LIFE project CalMarSi (https://lifecalmarsi.eu/) initiated a comprehensive conservation strategy. Key actions included i) genetic characterisation of all populations to assess the genetic variability and prevent the risk of genetic pollution by the congeneric species C. fulgida Raf. to conserve the purest and most diverse lines; ii) in-vitro propagation of genetically selected lineages for in situ and ex situ conservation actions, and iii) population reinforcement/reintroduction following translocation principles. Additionally, efforts targeted invasive species removal, reducing mechanical disturbances, enacting legal protection laws, and raising awareness about the vulnerability of both habitat and species. This integrated approach aimed to secure the long-term conservation of C. maritima and mitigate the imminent threat of extinction.