Flora e habitat di interesse comunitario (Direttiva 92/43/CEE) in Lombardia: sintesi della distribuzione e importanza di conservazione*

Flora and habitats of community interest (Directive 92/43/EEC) in Lombardy: distribution outline and conservation importance. The Habitats Directive protects some plant species and habitats in the European Union, also thanks to the establishment of Natura 2000. The present study summarises the distribution of this flora and these habitats of Community interest in Lombardy, with the aim of comparing it with the occurrence of Natura 2000 Sites; in addition, a relative conservation importance was established for each species and habitat. The results underline the presence of important areas for the conservation both in the Alpine biogeographic region (Orobie Alps and Bergamasche, Bresciane and Gardesane Prealps) and in the Continental biogeographic region (western part of Lombardy). However, these hot spots are only partially overlapped with Natura 2000 Sites. Species and habitats related to aquatic ecosystems tend to be of greater conservation importance, especially for ecosystems involving peat deposition or for which the dynamic is somehow connected to watercourses, despite not being strictly hygrophilous. Management, conservation and monitoring actions should primarily be directed towards these particular species and habitats.