Integrating technical and scientific approaches to restore rupicolous plants threatened by climbing activities

Introduction Rocky habitats are fragile ecosystems that host unique biodiversity and are increasingly threatened by the rapid expansion of outdoor climbing. In the northwestern region of El Bierzo (Spain), populations of the endemic rupicolous species Petrocoptis grandiflora and P. pyrenaica ssp. viscosa have experienced severe declines linked to climbing disturbance. Objectives This study aimed to test and evaluate practical reinforcement techniques to support the recovery of these two threatened cliff‐dwelling species. Methods Three treatments were implemented in two impacted populations: direct seed sowing, seed encapsulation in cotton balls, and transplantation of pre‐germinated seedlings (the latter applied only to P. pyrenaica ssp. viscosa ). Survival, establishment, and early reproduction were monitored over 1 year. Results Direct sowing produced the highest number of surviving individuals of P. grandiflora after 1 year, while transplantation yielded the greatest success for P. pyrenaica ssp. viscosa . Several individuals reached reproductive maturity within 7 months, and overall germination and survival exceeded 10 and 5%, respectively. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that simple reinforcement techniques can facilitate early establishment and reproduction in threatened Petrocoptis species. Direct sowing proved broadly effective, while transplantation was particularly suitable for P. pyrenaica ssp. viscosa . These results confirm that targeted interventions can support the recovery of cliff‐dwelling plants affected by recreational disturbance.