Biological valuation in mountain landscapes as a tool for the conservation of bryophytes in Baixo-Tâmega, Portugal

Abstract

Tendencies in landscape use in Portugal, such as abandoning agricultural land accompanied by the intensification of urbanization, have resulted in highly heterogeneous land mosaics with dissimilar conditions for bryophytes. The Baixo-Tâmega Region, in northern Portugal, was the target of a project aimed at evaluating the territory for its nature conservation and management value. The methodology presented is based on expert knowledge and resulted in a map showing conservation value for bryophytes. A positive correlation was found between highly valued areas and the total and threatened bryophyte species richness, providing evidence that biological valuation can be a useful tool for conservation and management. Landscape composition and configuration aspects such as heterogeneity, size, ecotones of natural and semi-natural mosaics, and low scrublands are relevant for the occurrence of threatened bryophyte taxa and must be considered in conservation management and planning at the landscape scale.

Publication
In Studia Botanica Hungarica
Date
Links