Key points

Criteria for the selection of native taxa for ex situ conservation

• Taxa at risk in Sicily and Malta (CR, EN, VU – IUCN);
• Taxa with fragmented or restricted distribution;
• Taxa of Annexes II and IV of the EU Habitat Directive;
• Taxa with endemic and sub-endemic distribution;
• Taxa with small populations;
• Structural taxa of Natura 2000 habitats and non-structural, but rare, threatened or endangered;
• Taxa which have a role in maintaining ecological processes or in restoring habitats;
• Taxa suitable for use in landscape and habitat conservation;
• related critical taxa;
• Taxa symbolic of priority habitats shared between Malta and Sicily

Target species

Natura 2000 network sites

Over 40 different sites of the Sicilian and Maltese Natura 2000 Networks were involved in the collection of seeds of the target species, for conservation in the germplasm banks and the production of plants for the strengthening of populations at risk.

• ITA010015 Monti complex of Castellammare del Golfo (TP)
• ITA010018 Mouth of the Calatubo stream and dunes
• ITA010029 Monte Cofano, Capo San Vito and Monte Sparagio
• ITA020016 Monte Quacella, Monte dei Cervi, Pizzo Carbonara, Monte Ferro, Pizzo Otiero
• ITA020017 Pizzo Dipilo and Querceti complex on limestone
• ITA020026 Monte Pizzuta, Costa del Carpineto, Moarda
• ITA020029 Monte Rose and Monte Pernice
• ITA020048 Monti Sicani, Rocca Busambra and Bosco della Ficuzza
• ITA020050 Madonie Park
• ITA030003 Cliffs of Taormina and Monte Veneretta
• ITA030011 Dorsale Curcuraci, Antennamare
• ITA030012 Oliveri Lagoon – Tindari
• ITA030019 Mountain section of the Fiumara di Agrò basin
• ITA030021 San Cataldo Stream
• ITA030025 Island of Panarea and Scogli Viciniori
• ITA030026 Stromboli and Strombolicchio islands
• ITA030036 Natural Reserve of the Alcantara River
• ITA030042 Monti Peloritani, Dorsale Curcuraci, Antennamare and marine area of the Strait of Messina
• ITA040005 Monte Cammarata – Contrada Salaci
• ITA050002 Vaccarizzo stream (terminal section)
• ITA050007 Cork wood by Niscemi
• ITA050011 Torre Manfria
• I TA060011 Contrada Caprara
• ITA060012 Woods of Piazza Armerina
• ITA070001 Mouth of the Simeto River and Lake Gornalunga
• ITA070009 High mountain range of Etna
• ITA070011 Poggio S. Maria
• ITA070015 Canalone del Tripodo
• ITA070015 Canalone del Tripodo
• ITA070019 Lake Gurrida and Skiing of S. Venera
• ITA070029 Biviere di Lentini, middle section and mouth of the Simeto River and area in front of the mouth
• ITA080001 Mouth of the Irminio River
• ITA080003 Valley of the Ippari River (Pineta di Vittoria)
• ITA080007 Maganuco beach
• ITA080012 Prainito Stream
• ITA090002 Vendicari
• ITA090003 Pantani of south-eastern Sicily
• ITA090004 Pantano Morghella
• ITA090007 Cava Grande del Cassibile, Quarry Cinque Porte, Quarry and Bosco di Bauli
• ITA090008 Capo Murro di Porco, Maddalena Peninsula and Pellegrino Cave
• ITA090009 Valley of the Anapo River, Cavagrande del Calcinara, Cugni di Sortino
• ITA090010 Isola Correnti, Pantani di Punta Pilieri, the Alga and Parrino lock
• ITA090029 Pantani of south-eastern Sicily, Morghella, Marzamemi, Punta Pilieri and Vendicari
• MT0000024
• Għar Ħasan, Wied Babu, Wied Żnuber
• MT0000012
• Ta ‘Pennellu