A new population of the endemic species Angelica lignescens has recently been identified on the island of São Miguel, in the Lombadas area.

The discovery was made by Guilherme Roxo, a PhD student at CIBIO – Centre for Research on Biodiversity and Genetic Resources at the University of the Azores, during a field expedition.

The species Angelica lignescens is one of the conservation targets of the LIFE IP AZORES NATURA project, coordinated by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action. It is a plant endemic to the Azores protected by the Habitats Directive, and is currently classified as having an unfavourable conservation status. On the island of São Miguel, its distribution is quite restricted, being limited to a few known sites.

The identification of this new population is therefore very positive news for the conservation of the species, helping improve knowledge of its distribution and opening new opportunities to implement measures to manage and protect its habitat.

Discoveries of this kind demonstrate the importance of ongoing fieldwork, scientific research and collaboration between conservation projects and research institutions for the protection of biodiversity in the Azores.

With the financial support of the LIFE Programme of the European Union.