Conservation assessment and monitoring methods for the Annex V Clubmoss group (Lycopodium spp.) in Ireland

Clubmoss species are moss-like plants without flowers. Ireland is home to four members of the Clubmoss group (Lycopodiaceae): Huperzia selago (L.) Bernh. ex Schrank & Mart., Diphasiastrum alpinum (L.) Holub, Lycopodium clavatum L. and Lycopodiella inundata (L.) Holub. All four species are listed as a group in Annex V of the European Union Habitats Directive (92/42/EEC). Annex V lists species whose taking in the wild may be subject to management measures. Under Article 11 of the Directive, each member state is obliged to undertake surveillance of the conservation status of the species in the Annexes and under Article 17, to report to the European Commission every six years on their status. The conservation status of a species is assessed under four parameters: Range, Population, Habitat for the species and Future prospects. This project investigated these four parameters for the four species in the group and devised methods and protocols for the next round of reporting 2012-2018 which is due in 2019.