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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Why and how should we study rare segetal plants ?

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Rare arable plants were typical inhabitants of cropped fields since the origins of agriculture. Their cultural-historical value deserves they are considered part of human history. However, their survival is now threatened by last decades’ agricultural intensification. Conservation concepts and public concern aim at considering these plants as different from other weeds. They have iconic value for European people, and there are national conservation plans, albeit with quite a great disparity between countries. However, rare segetal plants are minute part of the biodiversity, and even their biodiversity and ecosystem service are still not clearly demonstrated. I wish to discuss here on the interest of studying such plants and the need to assess the relative success of different conservation measures with reference to the ecological requirements of different threatened species. I’ll present two European research proposals, one for a research grant and the other for a research mobility and exchange program, and I examine the reasons for which they were unsuccessful and I will give indications on how we can improve the submission. In contrast, I’ll show a successful but local grant based on the study of rare plants and agricultural services. The definition of common objectives with a high potential for media impact could be one of the strategies of the Weed and Biodiversity Working Group to get funding and rationalize research and management of these species.