Students gain experience of conservation challenges and practices during field course to the Azores

The second year students collaborated with local agencies to better understand native plant species and how to help them survive in future
Second year Biological Sciences students travelled to the Azores in the summer of 2023 for an annual field course studying the unique geography and exceptional biology of the remote volcanic island of São Miguel

Students and staff from the University of Plymouth have worked with community organisations in the Azores to reduce the impact of invasive species on the islands’ landscapes.
The second year Biological Sciences students travelled to the region this summer for an annual field course studying the unique geography and exceptional biology of the remote volcanic island of São Miguel.
This enables them to explore topics ranging from evolution and conservation, to the habitats favoured by extremophiles and the effects of human behaviour on fragile ecosystems such as invasive plants and animals.
While there during the summer of 2023, they also collaborated with local agencies to better understand some of the native plant species that are found on the islands, and also to create an environment in which they can survive and thrive in the future.
The University has been running the field course to São Miguel for a number of years in collaboration with colleagues at the University of the Azores, which is based on the island.

We have been running this field course since 2007, and have come to know the island and its people very well. In that time, we have seen some of the massive pressures that have been put on it from a very recent boom in tourism, and the impacts that is having on the island environment. To show our gratitude for the hospitality and help that has always been afforded to us on São Miguel, we have been working towards the idea of the field course actually having a positive impact on the island. This summer, we have put that into practice while also creating a space for conversations with our students about responsible global citizenship.

Richard BillingtonRichard Billington
Associate Professor of Biology

Second year BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences students travelled to the Azores in 2023 for an annual field course studying the unique geography and exceptional biology of the remote volcanic island of São Miguel
Second year BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences students travelled to the Azores in 2023 for an annual field course studying the unique geography and exceptional biology of the remote volcanic island of São Miguel
Second year BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences students travelled to the Azores in 2023 for an annual field course studying the unique geography and exceptional biology of the remote volcanic island of São Miguel
Second year BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences students travelled to the Azores in 2023 for an annual field course studying the unique geography and exceptional biology of the remote volcanic island of São Miguel
During the field course, the students spent two days working on practical initiatives alongside staff from the Environment and Climate Change Service of São Miguel, a department of the autonomous government of the region.
On one day, they collected seeds and fruit from three plant species commonly found across the Azores, so they can be stored in seed banks for future germination and planting as part of ongoing conservation projects.
This was designed to give students the opportunity to appreciate the work involved in this process, and the different collection and germination techniques required for different species.
On a second day, they then joined workers removing Chilean Rhubarb from a site on São Miguel where its invasive nature had led to it completely overcoming the native vegetation.
The students also removed more than 1,800kg of the plants, and the area will now be cleaned and replanted with slow growing native trees and shrubs that will have long-term benefits through the sequestering of carbon.

The students told us they really enjoyed these experiences, as it gave them a chance to understand the nitty gritty of practical conservation work and then enjoy a sense of pride in what they had achieved. The local government services were also very happy with their work, as they find it a struggle to employ enough people to work on projects like this. We think this initiative has allowed us to have a positive impact both on the students but more importantly on the island, and similar plans are already being discussed to repeat this next year.

Richard BillingtonRichard Billington
Associate Professor of Biology

 

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