Ascension : Conservation Weekly - OTEP Funding for Conservation
Submitted by The Islander (Conservation Office) 03.04.2008 (Article Archived on 17.04.2008)

The Conservation Department learned a couple of weeks ago that our OTEP (Overseas Territories Environmental Programme) bid to support Ascension plant work was successful.

The bamboo fern shown above is one of Ascension’s endemic plants.

The Conservation Department learned a couple of weeks ago that our OTEP (Overseas Territories Environmental Programme) bid to support Ascension plant work was successful.  Titled “Ascension Island Endemic Plants Conservation,” the project will help to increase our population of endemic (occurring only on Ascension) plants.  Kew Gardens is a partner on the project, and will assist by providing training for staff and helping us to expand our ex-situ (off-island and/or non-wild) population of plants.  We also hope to gain further protection for our endemic plants by upgrading their status on the endangered species list.  We are very grateful to OTEP for their support and look forward to beginning the project.  If you have any questions or would like to help with our endemic plants project, please ring Susanna at the Conservation Centre at x6359.