The IBB reaffirms its commitment to the conservation of the cross-border heritage flora of the eastern Pyrenees within the framework of the Floralab+ project

Floralab+ is a project dedicated to the preservation, dissemination, and enhancement of knowledge about the heritage flora of the eastern Pyrenees (Eastern Pyrenees, Ariège, Catalonia, and Andorra).

Objectives:

Floralab+ (2024-2026) continues the previous project Floralab (2020-2022), relying on a network of open-air botanical laboratories, reference sites dedicated to the study and conservation of rare and threatened species in the eastern Pyrenees. The project also involves the public through awareness and training activities for students and professionals (livestock farmers, foresters, mountain guides, etc.). The main objectives of the project include:

• Consolidating existing botanical laboratories and establishing new ones, integrating additional species and territories.
• Promoting scientific research and interprofessional cooperation for collaborative habitat management.
• Training and raising awareness among ecology students, local stakeholders, and the general public about the challenges of conserving this unique flora.
• Supporting municipalities that wish to engage in the knowledge and preservation of flora through the “Pyrenean Botanical Villages” label.

IBB participation:

The IBB team participating in Floralab+ includes Oriane Hidalgo (responsible for the IBB-CSIC beneficiary partner), Teresa Garnatje, Jordi López-Pujol, Jesús Gómez-Zurita, Jaume Pellicer, and Gerard Talavera. Additionally, Neus Nualart participates as a collaborator through the CMCNB, an entity associated with the project.

IBB researchers will be involved in a series of scientific studies, such as the population genetics study of Maianthemum bifolium and the genomic and ecological niche analysis of various Pyrenean taxa. They will also carry out a variety of outreach activities aimed at a broad audience, including organizing a Biomarathon, workshops for children, an exhibition, and participating in the creation of an educational toolkit. These activities will focus especially on the pilot “botanical village” of Setcases.

Funding and partners:

Floralab+ is co-financed at 65% by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) within the framework of the Interreg VI-A Spain-France-Andorra Program (POCTEFA 2021-2027), in France by the National Land Planning and Development Fund (FNADT), and by self-financing from all beneficiary partners.