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Fitosociologia vol. 48 (2) suppl. 1: 145-153 2011

The role of lichens in selecting Important Plant Areas in Italy.

*S. Ravera1, P. L. Nimis2, G. Brunialti3, L. Frati3, D. Isocrono4, S. Martellos2, S. Munzi5, J. Nascimbene2, G. Potenza6
& M. Tretiach2
1University of Molise, C.da Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche (IS), Italy;
2University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, Italy;
3TerraData environmetrics, Spin-off company of the University of Siena, Loc. Campo al ciotolo 2 bis, 58025
Monterotondo Marittimo (GR), Italy;
4University of Torino, Via da Vinci 44, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy;
5University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy;
6University of Basilicata. Campus di Macchia Romana, 85100 Potenza, Italy.

Abstract
Aim of the Important Plant Area (IPA) program - integral part of the CBD Global Strategy for Plant Conservation - is the constitution of a network of
the most important natural or semi-natural sites for wild plant and fungi conservation. Giving lower plants and fungi the same importance as vascular
plants, the program provides to individual countries a considerable freedom of action in the implementation of IPAs number.
Three main principles rule the site identification: Criterion A, based on species contribution; Criterion B, based on floristic richness in relation to the
biogeographic zone; Criterion C, based on threatened habitats.
Italian botanists from different areas of research responded to the call comprehensively, including all the groups of plants in the definition of the
IPAs. Nevertheless, experts in lichens, fungi and freshwater algae found some operational difficulties, mostly due to the incomplete knowledge of
species distribution, the lack of updated databases and official red lists.
In this paper, the methodological approach used to include Italian lichens in the IPA definition is discussed. Seventy two taxa were selected as species
of national interest and 21 areas critical for long-term preservation of lichen populations were proposed, including an archaeological area considered
representative of cultural heritages as a lichen complex habitat.

Key words: Italy, IPA, lichens.

Riassunto
Il programma Important Plant Area (IPA) ha lo scopo di identificare una rete di siti che siano critici per la vitalità a lungo termine delle popolazioni
naturali di piante e funghi. Il programma concede un’ampia libertà di applicazione e attribuisce per la prima volta a licheni, alghe e briofite la
stessa rilevanza data alle piante superiori. I criteri base da utilizzare per l’identificazione dei Siti sono tre: il criterio a è basato sul contributo fornito
da singole specie, il criterio b sulla ricchezza floristica, il criterio c su habitat minacciati. La risposta dei Botanici italiani alla definizione delle
IPA è stata globale, tuttavia proprio nei settori sino ad oggi negletti - funghi, alghe d’acqua dolce, licheni - si rilevano difficoltà operative dovute
all’incompleta conoscenza della distribuzione delle specie, alla mancanza di data-base aggiornati e di liste rosse ufficiali.
In questo contributo si presenta l’approccio utilizzato per l’inclusione dei licheni nella definizione delle IPA italiane. Sono stati selezionate settantadue
specie d’interesse nazionale e individuate ventuno aree critiche per la conservazione a lungo termine dei licheni. Tra queste, si propone il un’area
archeologica considerata rappresentativa di un habitat lichenico complesso ma di massimo rilievo.

Parole chiave: Italia, IPA, licheni.

Introduction of representation for fungi and lower plants in national
and European conservation policies.
The European Strategy for Plant Conservation
(ESPC), developed by Planta Europa and the Council Despite the fact that lichens are an important
of Europe in 2001, is the regional response to the component in many ecosystems (European
implementation of the CBD Global Strategy for Commission, 2007), they are not listed in the
Plant Conservation. Targets 1.4, 1.5 and 2.14 of this main annexes of Habitat Directive neither in Bern
document pointed to the identification, monitoring Convention Appendix I, mainly due to a poor
and management of Important Plant Areas (IPAs) knowledge of their ecology and distribution when the
(Anderson, 2002). In the IPAs program, the concept European Community adopted the Bern Convention in
of plants includes vascular plants, bryophytes, algae, 1979.
and fungi (both non-lichenized and lichenized),
suggesting innovative approaches for more integrate Although a renewed interest in the Lichenology
nature conservation actions. In particular, the new text, since the beginning of the 80s, the gaps caused by its
published by Planta Europa (2008), emphasizes the decline during the last century are still to be filled. In
importance of all types of plants, underlining the lack this framework, it should be also considered that there
are severe constraints in determining the conservation
status of lichen species in Europe according to the