As part of the LIFE IP AZORES NATURA project, the team from the Graciosa Environment and Climate Action Service carried out measures to control invasive alien species in an area where the endemic species Tolpis graciosensis is found. The interventions focused on species such as Ice Plant (Carpobrotus edulis), Giant Reed (Arundo donax), and Elmleaf Blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius).

Endemic to the island of Graciosa, Tolpis graciosensis was recently described as a new species. It occurs mainly in rocky habitats and coastal cliffs, as well as on dry stone walls near the coast, and is classified as ‘Critically Endangered’.

Given its limited range and the small number of known individuals, controlling invasive alien species is essential for its conservation. These interventions improve habitat conditions and increase the area available to the species, thereby promoting population growth and improving its conservation status. With the financial support of the LIFE Programme of the European Union.