On September 11, 2026, the technical-scientific team from the University of Catania monitored the survival of Silene hicesiae plants translocated to the island of Panarea in February 2025 and 2026.
Data collected in the field confirms an extraordinary success:
- – 2025 translocation: 20-month monitoring showed a 38% survival rate out of a total of 187 planted individuals (49% survival and 39% reproductive success as of October 2025), confirming the stabilization of the founder population in its natural habitat.
- February 2026 translocation: a 98% survival rate was recorded among the 400 individuals planted. This is a result of particular scientific significance: the young plants successfully withstood transplant stress as well as the summer months, which were characterized by severe aridity and high temperatures.
The project’s strategic goalβstrengthening the native population by introducing 400 new plantsβhas been amply achieved and surpassed!
