As part of Action C11 – Support for the design of a pilot action programme for the prevention of the introduction, early detection and rapid control of invasive alien species on Corvo, part of the LIFE IP AZORES NATURA project – a new occurrence of Beach Morning Glory (Ipomoea pes-caprae) on that island was recently reported via the iNaturalist/BioDiversity4All platform.

The record, submitted by Bárbara Ambros, can be viewed at: https://www.biodiversity4all.org/observations/379469349

Following validation of the sighting, the operational team from LIFE IP AZORES NATURA, part of Corvo Environment and Climate Action Service, visited the site and removed all detected specimens, in an effort to prevent the species from becoming established and spreading across the island.

This intervention highlights the importance of early detection and rapid response mechanisms in controlling invasive alien species, as well as the vital role of public participation through citizen science platforms in identifying new occurrences and protecting ecosystems.

The area where the intervention took place will continue to be monitored regularly to assess its effectiveness and detect any reappearance of the species.

Protecting biodiversity is a shared responsibility. If you spot a species you do not recognise, record it on iNaturalist and help conserve nature. With the financial support of the LIFE Programme of the European Union.