Mediterranews (English) APRIL 2016 | Page 21

GLOSSARY Glossary ADVC MARITIME SUCCULENT SCRUB (MSS) The Areas Voluntarily Destined for Conservation (ADVC) are lands voluntarily destined for preservation of natural ecosystems, including biodiversity, environmental services or cultural and historical values. They include sustainable development strategies that benefit the functional integrity of ecosystems and contribute to mitigate the effects of climate change. The Maritime Succulent Scrub (MSS) is a type of vegetation that is located in the southern part of the California Floristic Province. It is a dominant plant community on the West coast of Baja California between Ensenada and El Rosario. Due to the diversity and degree of endemism, it is considered as a biodiversity hotspot. The scrub is one of key ecosystems in the South of the California Floristic Province (CFP). ANP Protected Natural Areas (ANP) are the protected areas of the country where the original environment has not been significantly altered by human activity or where the environment needs to be preserved. SUCCULENTS Succulents are plants that inhabit desert areas and that have thick leaves and stems capable of storing water in order to survive during long drought periods. An example is the cholla. AGAVE SHAWII This species is one of the iconic plants within the Maritime Succulent Scrub. The succulent, ovate leaves have sharp teeth. The large panicle-like inflorescence has 8-14 branches atop a 6-9 ft spike-like stalk. The rosette of leaves dies after flowering. It was the most important terrestrial food source for the Kiliwa and other native peoples. Agave shawii spp. goldmaniana has a distinctly wider, often more branched inflorescence than A. shawii spp. shawii. It belongs to the Agavaceae family. CONANP National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (CONANP). ENDEMIC SPECIES It refers to a species that only exists in a defined geographical location; it can have different extents, but it is usually more restricted than those areas that other species inhabit. (CFP) CALIFORNIA FLORISTIC PROVINCE The California Floristic Province is one of 34 global biodiversity hotspots due to its variety of endemic species of flora and fauna. This zone occupies most of the state of California, USA, and Northwest Baja California. It is characterized by a high level of endemic species and for being one of the five Mediterranean-type climate regions of the planet. ROSETTE Set of leaves that are found in the base of a stem and which are very close together. RAMSAR SITES Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance designated under the Ramsar Conven [ۈۈ