Plants and Habitats in Changing World: New Data for Climate Change Interpretation and Sustainable Management

Dear Colleagues,

The global climate change and the disruption of socio-economic conditions that have characterized the last 50 years are significantly altering the distribution and abundance of plant species and habitats worldwide. Since these are the foundations of traditional landscapes and the economies of different countries, the urgency to address climate change and promote sustainable management policies becomes increasingly evident. In this regard, the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), published in March 2023, highlights the urgent need for immediate and ambitious action to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The report warns that the current efforts are insufficient to prevent the catastrophic impacts of climate change on ecosystems and biodiversity, emphasizing how effective mitigation policies can only be achieved by increasing knowledge concerning the state of ecosystems.

The importance of up-to-date floristic and vegetational data in better understanding climate change and sustainability policies cannot be underestimated. In fact, these data provide crucial information on the distribution of plants and habitats, thus allowing researchers to assess the impact of environmental changes on plant communities.

This Special Issue aims to gather new floristic and vegetational data, as well as to provide updates and reviews to facilitate a better interpretation of ongoing changes. The included articles will address a wide range of topics, including changes in the distribution of plant species, plant responses to climate change, conservation, and management strategies for habitats.

Therefore, we invite researchers, scholars, and professionals in the field to contribute their studies and research to this Special Issue, to enrich scientific knowledge, and to provide a solid foundation for environmental sustainability policies. International and multidisciplinary collaboration is essential for addressing complex challenges, such as climate change and biodiversity loss, and this Special Issue aims to be a platform that facilitates such an exchange of knowledge and ideas.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Geographic plants and habitats distribution;
• Alien and invasive species;
• Plant ecology;
• Synecology;
• Bio-indicators;
• Endangered plants and habitats;
• Neglected plants and habitats;
• Environmental dynamics and management;
• Environmental protection and recovery;
• Habitats assessment and restoration.

We look forward to receiving your contributions./p>

Dr. Giacomo Mei
Dr. Vedran Šegota
Guest Editors

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• floristic update
• alien species
• invasive species
• bryophytes
• biodiversity assessment
• biodiversity measurement
• habitats