Ascension : Conservation Weekly
Submitted by The Islander (Gary Robinson) 10.08.2006 (Article Archived on 05.10.2006)

Pteris adscensionis - Our Critically endangered Endemic plant

The Pteris adscensionis is a fern that is endemic to Ascension. It is listed on the World Conservation Union (IUCN) redlist  as critically endangered because other plants that were introduced  grew and invaded the area where the fern grows therefore they were beginning to die out, they were on the brink of extinction. Observations from the 1980’s recorded that there were only 80 of these plants left in the wild, this year there are less than 50.

Stedson Stroud who is the Assistant Conservation Officer decided to do something about this critically endangered endemic plant so that it is not lost to Ascension forever . The Conservation Department secured funding to make Green Mountain a National Park. Part of the project was to focus on saving the endemic plants from extinction.

Stedson went to Kew for plant propagation training and put this to good use propagating Pteris adscensionis.  He went out to collect spores of the ferns and planted them in the nurseries which are situated at Green Mountain. From there he potted them on and re-introduced them back into the wild. He has had help from some volunteers to do this. Margaret Cripps one of the main volunteer helpers.

Now Stedson is planting the Pteris and experimenting to see the outcomes of planting them in different environments to see if this helps with the reintroduction of Pteris adscensionis.

This is a great success story, it looks like we have managed to save this endemic plant  from extinction – there are 5 others that we want to ensure do not go down the same path.