Article

This study presents the results of the conducted in-situ and ex-situ activities targeting the effective protection of the populations of Spiraea crenata, one of the rarest plant species in Bulgaria, currently known from two very restricted localities, near Kaspichan town (Northeastern Bulgaria) and near Stefanovo village (Western Bulgaria). A long-term monitoring of the two populations for identification of the main threatening factors, as well as the trends in the population state has been conducted. It is estimated that the potential for conservation in-situ actions exists in the locality near Kaspichan (the other locality is very small, situated in private lands and surrounded entirely by cultivated fields). The main activities conducted are the clearing of the habitat of branches of competitive trees and shrubs, as well as support of breeding abilities by in vitro propagation and return of acclimated plants back to the locality. Two ex-situ live collections of in vitro propagated plants were created and stored at the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem research and Shumen Agricultural Institute.