BRYOPHYTE CONSERVATION FOR THE FUTURE

The conservation process involves recognizing and listing rare and decreasing species, recording their distribution, biology and specific threats, proposing conservation programmes, and executing these programmes. There are large gaps in our knowledge about bryophytes which must be filled before their conservation can be selective. These include taxonomy, bryogeography, habitat demands, natural dynamics, dispersal ability, population structure and genetics. In a long-term perspective, conservation must strive towards creating possibilities for the species to survive without too much artificial support. It is particularly important to focus on habitats and sites where the species may survive naturally during unfavourable periods. In the short term, creating nature reserves with large populations can save a species until our knowledge has increased. In practice, bryologists must be more active in collecting data and informing the conservation organizations and governmental authorities about the need for conservation.