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Criterion Description Information source 147
Aii and/or reference
A total of 238 records of these species were found
Site contains European Species included in the and georeferenced, most of them being included in
threatened species EU Red List (Sérusiaux, protected areas (Fig. 1).

1989) Twenty-one Italian Lichen IPAs are proposed: 10 in
northern Italy, 6 in central Italy, 5 in southern Italy (Tab.
Aiii, Aiv Site contains restricted Species included in the 3). Eighteen IPAs were identified under Criterion A,
range species with IT Red List (Nimis & 17 including regional threatened species, 1 an endemic
demonstrable threat species. Seven IPAs include near endemic species,
Martellos, 2008) mostly Mediterranean-Macaronesian lichens (such as
Caloplaca canariensis, Lecanora rhodii, Ramalina
B Site contains high Expert judgement clementeana, Topelia spp., Xanthoria resendei).
number of species (Lichen Working Group
within a range of of the Italian Botanical Excluding occasional collections - to satisfy the
defined habitat or added Criterion D - there are a total of and Italy 106
Society) records of Criterion A species in the Italian Lichen
vegetation type IPAs. Compared to other countries, Italy recognizes
both more Criterion A threatened lichens and Lichen
D Site subject of a Italian lichen IPAs (Tab. 4).
complete floristic bibliography
Criterion B was assessed in 17 IPAs with the
investigation minimum value of 102 in the riparian Natural Reserve
Vincheto di Celarda (92 ha) and the maximum of 750
Tab. 1 - Criteria used for the selection of Italian Lichen IPAs in Valsesia (67.000 ha) a group of valleys in north-east
of Piedmont. Only 3 IPAs were identified exclusively
site (Giacobini et al., 1986; Nimis et al., 1987) and on the basis of Criterion B: Adamello Natural
representing a refuge for a few species when the Park, Natural Reserve Vincheto di Celarda and the
natural habitat is threatened (Ariño & Saiz-Jimenex, archaeological park of Tusculum.
1996). Following the EUNIS level I classification, this
habitat could be considered a complex type (EUNIS Discussion
habitat type code: X).
In the “Important Plant Areas in Italy project” a
Site selection was undertaken using lists of indicator special effort was devoted to include non-vascular
species to assess species richness for different habitats
where possible. Such lists are available for woodland, Fig. 1 - Map of all georeferenced data of lichen species
parkland, grassland and rock habitats (Ravera et al., fulfilling Criterion A.
2006) and archaeological sites (Nimis et al., 1987) of
Central Italy, Quercus woodland habitats in Sardinia
(Zedda, 2002) and Tyrrhenian and Ionian coastal
dune habitats (Nimis & Schiavon, 1985; Potenza et
al., 2010in press). Species richness for other habitats
was assessed on the base of publications from the
last twenty years (reviews in: Nimis, 1993; Nimis &
Martellos, 2008), reports (Nimis, unpublished data)
and expert knowledge.

Criterion D
A site can be selected as an Important Plant Area if

there is comprehensive information on its lichen biota.

Results

Seventy two lichens fulfill Criterion A (Tab. 2):
27 are Regional (European) Threatened taxa (ii), 4
are National Endemic Threatened taxa (iii), 41 are
Near Endemic/Limited Range Threatened (iv) taxa.