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Natura 2000 code: 9110
CORINE code: 41.1
Distribution in Piedmont: on the whole alpine range,  800-1500 m a.s.l.
Associated species: Vaccinium myrtillus, Luzula nivea, Veronica urticifolia, Prenanthes purpurea.
Image: Sessera valley

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Natura 2000 code: 91E0* priority in EU 92/43 Directive
C code: 44.1
Distribution in Piedmont: increasingly rare, them are bound to same areas of lowland  or low valley, 100-500 m a.s.l.
Associated species: Carex spp., Lythrum salicaria, Filipendula ulmaria, Angelica sylvetris, Myosotis scorpioides, Lycopus europaeus, Cardamine amara, Scirpus sylvaticus.
Image: Susa valley

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Natura 2000 code: 6210
CORINE code: 34.3
Distribution in Piedmont: localized, 300-1000 m a.s.l.
Associated species: Bromus erectus, Brachypodium pinnatus, Heliantemum apenninum, Dianthus sylvestris, Stipa pennata, Ophrys spp., Anacamptis pyramidalis.
Important orchid site in Susa Valley. Image Susa valley out of season to see orchid blooms

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Natura 2000 code: 8120
CORINE code: 61.2
Distribution in Piedmont: high altitude Alps, 1500-2500 m a.s.l.
Associated species: Thlaspi rotundifolia, Leontodon montano, Hutchinsia alpina, Linaria alpina, Cerastium uniflorum, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Valeriana montana, Artemisia genipi.

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Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Liliales
Family: Colchicaceae
Genus: Colchicum
Species: C. autumnale
Vernacular names: Colchico, Falso zafferano, Meadow saffron, Autumn crocus.
Perennial herbaceous plant widespread in the humid meadows of the mountain and submountain area.
Plant is characterized by a tuber-bulb from which spring up 2-6 flowers in autumn, in late spring the fruit emerges (a capsule) containing numerous seeds.

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The flowers, as for all Liliales, is divided into three parts or multiple.

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Colchicine is an alkaloid drug kept in the bulb and in the seeds. It is the alkaloids more aboundant, about 0,6% in weight. Colchicine is extremely toxic to humans, 10 mg give serious disorders and 40 mg are lethal.
Based on the traditional use of the plant, colchicine was shown to be uniquely effective as an anti-inflammatory agent for the

treatment of gout, and is also known to induce polyploidy in

plants.  Colchicine  has  several  other  more  recently  approved uses.  Low dosage  oral consumption  of  colchicine is

presently the standard flare treatment for cardiovascular dis-

eases. Combined with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

(NSAIDs), colchicine is a suitable agent for the treatment of

idiopathic pericarditis,  and is  a promising  drug for  the

prevention  of  its  recurrence.  It  is  also  the  mainstay treatment for Familial  Mediterranean fever (FMF), and the  anti-cancer  activity of  colchicine  as a  tubulin  inhibitor has been the  focus of numerous  studies.  By binding to

microtubules at the α/β interface, colchicine provides a soluble complex, slowing down the polymerization as a disrupt-

ing agent.  It  also inhibits  cell mitosis  and  suppresses tumor

growth. However, it is regarded as too toxic for use as a clin-

ical  anti-cancer  agent,  although  it  remains  a very  important biological tool.

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Aida Rodriguez-Garcia et al., 2017. Multi-target Activities of Selected Alkaloids and Terpenoids. Mini-Reviews in Organic Chemistry. 2017, 14, 000.
Schwier N, Tran N. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and aspirin therapy for the treatment of acute and recurrent idiopathic pericarditis. Pharmaceuticals 2016;9:1-18.
Maugini E. et al., 2011. Manuale di Botanica Farmaceutica. VII Edizione. Piccin. Padova

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Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Pinales
Family: Taxaceae
Genus: Taxus
Species: T. baccata
Vernacular names: Tasso, albero della morte, common yew, European yew.
It is the only species of the family present in Europe. It is a small tree up to 15 m tall. The leaves are flat linear. The seed is surrounded by a red aril for the presence of rodoxantin. The whole plant except the aril is very toxic due to the presence of alkaloids

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The arils, red fleshy cups are not poisonous, they are eaten by the birds that provide the dissemination.

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This plant contains two diterpenic molecules that are used as anticancer: paclitaxel (taxol) and docetaxel. Both work by disrupting the normal function of microtubules and thereby stopping cell division. Docetaxel was patented in 1986 and approved for medical use in 1995 as anti-cancer. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.

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The taxol was initially isolated from the bark of T. brevifolia but its very low content (0,01%) made it unusable. Now, the farmaceutical industry extracts deacetylbaccatin from the leaves of T. baccata to synthesize docetaxel and taxol.

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It is a precursor to the anti-cancer drug docetaxel.

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Aida Rodriguez-Garcia et al., 2017. Multi-target Activities of Selected Alkaloids and Terpenoids. Mini-Reviews in Organic Chemistry. 2017, 14, 000.
Wani MC, Taylor HL, Wall ME, Coggon P, McPhail AT. Plant antitumor agents. VI. Isolation and structure of taxol, a novel antileukemic and antitumor agent from Taxus brevifolia. Journal of the American Chemical Society 1971;93:2325-7.
Maugini E. et al., 2011. Manuale di Botanica Farmaceutica. VII Edizione. Piccin. Padova

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Europe has several important mountain chains which stretch across the majority of the countries. Within the EU, five of the longest and highest ranges have been included in the Alpine biogeographic region. They comprise the Alps. The Alpine region has very rich and diverse biodiversity. Almost two thirds of the plants on the European continent are present here. The high peaks harbour many endemics whilst, on the lower slopes, species diversity is more influenced by its transition with other biogeographical regions and the long history of compatible human land uses. This biogeographical region covers only  7,6% of the continent surface but contains as many as 105 different types of habitats. These mountains may be amongst the richest in Europe but they are also amongst the most intensively exploited. Over 11 million people live in the Alps, mostly in the increasingly urbanised valleys. A further 100 million people visit the mountains for tourism and recreation. All this puts immense pressure on the fragile environment. Most major alpine rivers have been dammed for hydroenergy or straightened and canalised for agricultural purposes causing wide ranging environmental impacts both within and outside the Alpine region.

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Overall, a total of 956 Sites of Community Importance were selected covering almost 97,000 km². This represents 37% of the region. As we can see from the map below the surface covered by S.C.I. (Sites of Community Importance) is also high in the Alps.

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On the Alps there are plants that can complete their reproductive cycle at high altitudes, for them the main stress factor are: wind, drought, high radiation, few nutrients, snow cover for several months a year and few pollinators. Because of these numerous factors, the plants have devised specific adaptations aimed at defense from the extreme conditions that characterize the high mountains.

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Climbing at high altitude, the plants are extremely reduced in size. The advantage lies in the ability to better withstand wind and atmospheric agents as well as the weight of snow.
Old leaves and flowers remain trapped in the bearing and then decomposed into humus, in this way, it obtain a self-regenerating (at least in part) necessary for the development.

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A reserve of water is essential in an enviroment where it is often accumulated as snow or it flows away and can not be assimilated by plants. Sempervivum and Sedum have the classic aspect of succulent plant but also some types of Primula and Saxifraga can be in that shape. In many case the leaves are collected in embricate position in such a way providing further protection from transpiration.
Photo: Saxifraga florulenta an endemic species of West Alps.

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The hairs have the double effect of protecting the plant from radiation while preventing the traspiration of liquids. The fluff create a thin insulating layer able to reduce the difference in humidity between the outside air and the inside of the plant.

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In the absence of pollinators, the plant's ability to produce new propaguleis fundamental.

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It's a word used by Humboldt referred to study and investigate the interaction of all the forces of nature, in other words find the unity of nature. Every element of the natural sciences interacts with each other. In my opinion this concept of "connecte the nature including human beeing as a part of it" inspired the sociobiologist Edward O. Wilson to expose his concept of Biophilia (Biophilia, 1984, Harvard University Press) and help him to elaborate The Theory of Island Biogeography (1967, Princeton University Press). So, now we must said many thanks Humboldt for laying the foundations of ecology.

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The historical analysis of the data measured on the Piedmont region shows a positive trend in the temperatures, in particular in the maximum values, meaningful from the statistical point of view. This trend, which reaches 2 ° C in the last 58 years, is in line with what is highlighted by the literature for the Alpine area. Chart from ARPA (Regional Agency for Enviromental Protection).

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Even the minimum daily temperatures have increased, even if less, around 1.5 ° C in 58 years. There is no change in trend in recent periods, in fact in the entire period 1958-2015 the minimum temperatures have increased by 0.25 ° C / 10 years, in the period 1981-2015 0.21 ° C / 10 years. Chart from ARPA (Regional Agency for Enviromental Protection).

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Very famous italian meteorologist he also monitors a data detection unit in Piedmont Region. Unfortunately, an English version of the video is not avaiable.

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"Il cambiamento climatico" - intervista a Luca Mercalli

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Gli eventi meteorologici estremi indubbiamente hanno sempre colpito l'umanità e fanno parte del nostro patrimonio di rapporto con la natura. Luca Mercalli ci spiega come sono cambiati i fenomeni climatici e la reazione dell'uomo ad essi; cosa bisogna fare per muoversi verso una prospettiva sostenibile per il pianeta e come i comportamenti individuali di ognuno di noi influiscano quanto le grandi decisioni della politica internazionale.

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Annual Report for submission under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.

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National Inventory Report 2018 - Italiano

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National Inventory Report 2018 - Italian Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990-2016. Nel documento si descrive la comunicazione annuale italiana dell'inventario delle emissioni dei gas serra in accordo a quanto previsto nell'ambito della Convenzione Quadro sui Cambiamenti Climatici delle Nazioni Unite (UNFCCC), del protocollo di Kyoto e del Meccanismo di Monitoraggio dei Gas Serra dell'Unione Europea.

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2. Tropical Andean trees migrate to higher altitudes where the air is cool enough to support their existence. Due to the fast climatic change they have to move faster in order to remain in equilibrium with their preferred temperatures.

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3. Replacing fossil fuels with biofuels is highly controversial since it solves one problem but creates new ones.

The deforestation for the new business would produce a new substantial loss of biodiversity, also the food production market would be affected, in my opinion more sustainable alternatives are needed.

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Génépy is an Aosta Valley liqueur produced with Artemisia genipi and A. glacialis. They are alpine herbs collected in the glacial moraines at over 2000 m altitude. Once selected and dried, it gives rise to a fragrant distillate with well-known digestive properties. As tradition requires, the seedlings are patiently harvested and then transformed according to jealously preserved recipes.

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This is a particular wine, coming from grapes grown in terracing on the Alps. The vineyards are placed at a variable altitude from 750 to 1000 m a.s.l., among the highest in Europe. Despite the isolated production locality, a few years ago, the amount of grapes and consequently of drink fell due to the parasite Daktulosphaira vitifoliae which has demage Vitis vinifera.

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In Piedmont the traditional Christmas tree is spruce. Although most of the trees used now for decorations are of synthetic origin as a model they use Picea abies. More rarely it is possible to see decorated Abies alba.

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The family of rosaceae is widely spread in Piedmont, many species are endemic or naturalized. Some species are actively cultivated as Malus domestica, Pyrus sp., Prunus domestica, others are easily found in the spontaneous state as Mespilus germanica and Prunus avium. The food uses are a lot, from fresh fruit to compotes.
Image: local cultivar "Buras" of Malus domestica.

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The images are not related to my BioArea but I think they are important testimonies of what happens to the glaciers of our planet.

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CAMBIAMENTO CLIMATICO: ECCO LE IMMAGINI DI QUANTO SI SONO RIDOTTI I GHIACCIAI NELL'ULTIMO SECOLO - blueplanetheart.it

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CAMBIAMENTO CLIMATICO: ECCO LE IMMAGINI DI QUANTO SI SONO RIDOTTI I GHIACCIAI NELL'ULTIMO SECOLO Dall'Alaska al Karakorum, passando per le Ande e il Caucaso.

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They are generally annual herbs with tap root systems. Leaves are alternate, inflorescence is either raceme or corymb. Corolla is polypetalous (4 petals). Petals are yellow in color, valvate, unguicolate and cruciform (Cruciferous is another term referred to these plants). Fruit is either siliqua or silicula.
Important plants of the family:
Brassica campestris (mustard)
Brassica oleracea botritis (cauliflower)
Brassica oleracea capitata (cabbage)
Raphanus sativus (radish)

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Crocus sativum, vernacular name Saffron, is probably native to Mesopotamia region. Now the main  producer is Iran. In my region the cultivations of this spice have increased enormously in the last decades with the birth of numerous specialized items even though many are small land owners. The presence of carotenoids in its pistils make this spice one of the most appreciated both for the color it gives to dishes and for its nutritional value

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Rosmarinus officinalis is a perennial herb, evergreen, native to the Mediterranean region. It belongs to the family of the Lamiaceae. The flowers are bilaterally symmetrical with five united petals and five united sepals. The leaves are coriaceous and them are dried and used as spices to season baked potatoes. Another use in the food industry is as an additive with the name E392 thanks to its antioxidant properties. Essential oil contains camphor, a-pinene and cineole used for disorder of digestive system.
Referencies
Maugini E. et al., 2011. Manuale di Botanica Farmaceutica. VII Edizione. Piccin. Padova

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These botanical treaties are ordered notes in books that Theophrastus wrote while observing plants and they were meant of as "didactic material" for his lessons to the students. These books documented types of plants commonly used at that time and he described attempts to cultivate wild plants. He paused localities, size, modes of generation, pratical uses as food, methods of preparing the soil, smells, taste and also medicinal uses...but, of course, not all of them have been confirmed by modern scientific research.

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I read with interest the work done by Eliana Yepes's PlantArea CO. The neotropical flora of Colombia is far from the composition of the Alps, wet enviroments have a high level of complexity in the interactions and this fact evolutionarily leads to fascinating flowers shapes. The diversity of plants instead is much more similar to Portugal as evidenced by the work of Maria Robalo PlantArea PT, many species of Asteraceae, Poaceae, Malvaceae are in common.

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Climate change occurs in many forms in many countries around the world. The negative effects on biodiversity can be added to other causes such as loss of habitat directed by anthropic factors, making it even more serious and destructive. I saw Luisa Restrepo PlantArea CO showing a consistent and constant loss of glaciers in the Andes, comparable to what is happening in the Alps. We must remember that we have only one planet and the negative effects can be verified everywhere.

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The flora of Piedmont follows the national red list. Many Italian species have entered the level assessments global, contributing to represent our flora in the IUCN world list. The most endangered species appears to be Isoetes malinverniana Ces. & De Not. endemic of Piedmont and now reduced to a couple of narrow sites in ditches.

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With Mediterranean plant biodiversity is strongly threatened by environmental changes caused by the current socio-economic and social dynamics use of the soil associated with them. Some of the main reasons are: climatic change (plant do not shift fast enough), land consumption for agriculture (in Piedmont rice, cereals and corn), land consumption for buildings (we do not understand where a city ends and where the next one begins), the indiscriminate collection ( plants used for alcoholic beverages at high altitude), invasive alien plants (enormous spread in recent decades and very little is done to contain them even in protected areas). Thus the need arises continuous monitoring of the most endangered species and of the most appropriate land management practices (management of the existing protected areas, realization of new protected areas, Sites of Community Importance, etc.). Finally, a further effort for the evaluation of the conservation status of a greater number of species is strongly desirable for the near future.

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Isoetes malinverniana a very rare endemic endangered species! Become a volunteer to... save the fern!

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Isoetes malinverniana a very rare endemic endangered species! Become a volunteer to... save the fern!

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Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pterydophyta
Order: Isoetales
Family: Isoetaceae
Genus and species: Isoetes malinverniana Ces. & De Not.

Description: It is an aquatic fern, with the roots anchored to the muddy bottom, characterized by a subnull stem and leaves (fronds)

very long ribbon, about 25 cm, membranous at the edge and almost devoid of stomata, given the species' hygrophilia.

Distribution: endemic to Northwestern Italy, until about the second half of the '900, it included more disjoint areas of Piedmont and Lombardy regions. Now the species has disappeared in most of the areas, while maintaining some extremely localized nucleuses in the Vercelli and Novara areas.

Degree of threat and protection: The species has been included in the risk category IUCN (2001) CRITICALLY ENDANGERED, on a national scale (Barni et al., 2010) and European (Abeli ​​et al., 2013), due to the strong reduction in the area over the last decade. Since the species is endemic, we can consider it CR also on a global level. In addition it is included in the annexes II and IV of the european   92/43/EEC Directive.

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Threats for conservation and protection interventions

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Threats for conservation and protection interventions

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Major threats: The main threats derive from processing agricultural, such as land drainage, mechanical excavation of the bottom of the ditches and the use of particular herbicides for the cultivation of rice, to which the species is sensitive.

Local volunteer organization: Invisible Natura not profit Association. It is composed by a team of professional naturalists and by a mixed group of student volunteers or ordinary local people who actively want to participate in conservation actions.

Actions: Naturalists through the support of the Botanical Garden of Turin, will realize tanks for the reproduction of the fern in a controlled environment and will monitor the chemical-biological conditions of the waters for the correct success of the operation. Subsequently the plants will be reintroduced in those sites suitable for its development.
At the beginning of the project farmers who work in the drainage area will be involved in order to find an agreement on the non-use of pesticides for a sufficient range to reduce water pollution. They will be strongly encouraged to use such land in an alternative way, such as grazing for those who have the opportunity.
Volunteers will be involved twice a year in removing branches from ditches or other material that can obstruct the flow of water, thus replacing the need to mechanically excavate the substrate.
Volunteers will also be fundamental for a correct information campaign for the local population and for monitoring along the route to identify critical situations such as, for example, illegal water withdrawals or discharges of dangerous substances.

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Rossi G., Montagnani C., Gargano D., Peruzzi L., Abeli T., Ravera S., Cogoni a., Fenu G., Magrini S., Gennai M., Foggi B., Wagensommer R.P., Venturella G., Blasi C., Raimondo F.M., Orsenigo S. (eds.), 2013 – Lista Rossa della Flora Italiana. 1. Policy Species e altre specie minacciate. Comitato Italiano IUCN, Ministero Ambiente e Tutela Territorio e Mare. Roma. 54 pp.

Troia A. & Greuter W., 2015. Isoetaceae (vers. 1.0). In: Peruzzi L., Cecchi L., Cristofolini G., Domina G., Greuter W., Nardi E., Raimondo F.M., Selvi F. & Troia A. (Eds.), Flora critica d'Italia. Fondazione per la Flora Italiana, Firenze.

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I have seen different types of projects about the protection of endangered species, some concern many different species within special gardens where medicinal plans, spices and some fruits and vegetable can be planted (Luisa Restrepo's PlantArea CO). Others are targeted for the conservation of a single species (Iraklis Spyridopoulos's PlantArea and my PlantArea) but all of them foresee a direct involvement of the local population which I think it plays a key role for the success of the project and for a correct future awareness.

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Consulting the list 20 species are present in Italy but none is widespread in the western Alps. Many of them are endemic of islands.