Article

The Valencian Community is home to approximately 3050 vascular plant species, of which 23 can be considered endangered relict species. Its distribution follows distinct geographical pattems that determine the disturbances to which different taxa are subject. In the studied species, rarity is inextricably linked to their evolutionary history, but human intervention and issues such as land use have had a significant impact in their current status. Habitat loss is the issue perceived as more pressing with regard to their conservation. Many relict taxa will only survive if interactions between disturbance agents are acknowledgcd. Conservation of relicts requires a long-term fine-scale approach to management in which the maintenance of heterogeneous landscapes must be recognised as a crucial strategy.