Action Plan

The general aim of the Action Plan is to ensure the existence of the species Pulsatilla patens in the Czech Republic and thus to preserve the largest part of its Central European population. More specifically, it is aimed to preserve the species in all five geographical areas of the present occurrence range: in the Doupov Mountains, Podkrušnohorská Basin (Krásná Lípa), Central Bohemian Highlands, Central Povltaví (Líšnice) and Dokesko (Bělá pod Bezdězem and Hradčanské stěny).

Almost all localities in the Czech Republic require regular management. Therefore, the main priority of the Action Plan is given to ensuring regular management and monitoring of populations at all recent sites.

The objectives of the Action Plan for Pulsatilla patens are:

Long-term objectives:

• To stop the decline and reduction of Pulsatilla patens population size at all priority sites of the species.
• To improve the conditions of species populations in at least one locality in each geographical area. The average number of flowering individuals should increase by 25% for very small and small populations and by 15% for medium and large populations.

Mid-term objectives (for the first ten years of the Action Plan):

• Provide or optimize management at all 20 priority localities. At each locality it is necessary to ensure quality management of a sufficient area.
• Continue regular monitoring of all recent sites of the species, observe changes in populations depending on the applied management.
• Improve the knowledge regarding biology and ecology of the species in the Czech Republic, determine primary and secondary habitat types.
• Appropriately inform the public and stakeholders, as well as landowners and farmers about the conservation of the species.
• Create a list of potential source and target sites for species repatriation.
• Study the genetic structure of populations in the Czech Republic.

The objectives of the Action Plan will be achieved through special measures that include:

Habitat management

• Biomass cutting (mowing)
• Manual biomass removal
• Grazing
• Removing of litter
• Mechanical removal of turf
• Removal of self-seeding trees (shrubs)
• Fencing of the site or individual clusters
• Burning of old biomass

Species management

• Ex-situ and in-situ cultivation
• Support for existing populations
• Repatriation of species
• Preservation of seeds in a gene bank

Monitoring

• Intensive monitoring
• Extensive monitoring
• Recording management and site conditions
• Performing phytosociological relevés of vegetation

Research

• Study of seedling growth and survival
• Study of the impact of individual management interventions
• Study of population genetic structure of the species
• Study of invertebrate herbivores and parasites