Plant resource conservation planning in protected natural areas: an example from the Canary Islands, Spain

Abstract

An approach to an overall management planning for the conservation of endangered species within protected natural areas is presented, based mainly on the development of methods for the diagnosis of the conservation status and the identification of critical life cycle stages (phenophases) of target species. This model includes other aspects inherent in the overall planning of a protected area so as to match its technical, human and economic resources in terms of research and conservation. We provide examples of some island endemics that are included in the “Recovery Plans for the Endangered Plants in the Canary Islands National Parks”. The use of demography and genetics is particularly emphasised. We propose reintroductions as one of the most important tools for the management and conservation of endangered plants and the use of “system dynamics” tools as an alternative to traditional population matrix analysis. We provide examples of the application of system dynamics to population dynamics studies and to the design of management actions.