15.06.2025
Botanica Sudalpina Conference is in its third edition. Created in 2017 at the initiative of the Botanical Society of Ticino, the current edition is organized by the Natural History Museum of Canton Ticino in collaboration with InfoFlora, the Brissago Islands Botanical Garden, the Natural Sciences Society of Canton Ticino, and Agroscope Cadenazzo, and thanks to the financial support of Innovabridge, Cortesi&Associati SA and the Association Botanic Garden Islands of Brissago.
The event aims to serve as a platform for meeting and exchange among researchers and anyone passionate about the flora in the southern side of the Alps. It also aims to promote collaboration, provide an overview of the current situation, and eventually outline priorities and future prospects.
The conference welcomes scientific work examining biogeography, conservation, diversity, ecology, evolution, physiology, floristics, and systematics of native and alien plant species (and lichens). Anyone interested in these topics can submit an abstract or simply be part of the audience.
The 2025 conference will offer a rich program: four satellite events will be offered on the day preceding the main conference, and local field trips will mark the end of the event.
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InfoFlora, Bern (CH)
With its diversity, its fascinating adaptations to an extremely varied landscape and its many endemics, the flora of the Alps has always aroused the enthusiasm of botanists in all parts of the Alps. However, the Alps as a whole have rarely been a research unit and so far there is no central data and information centre. The data and knowledge about the Alpine flora is split and based in regional botanical institutions. The high mountains and deep valleys have set limits rather than promoted cooperation. FLORAlliance is a project launched by the AtlasFloraAlpina, a consortium of regional botanical experts founded in 2023. The aim of the project is to bring all the expertise on the Alpine flora together and to show the potential use of this aggregated knowledge. In this talk, we will explain the expected challenges but also the opportunities that arise from such an alliance of the leading flora competence centers across the Alps. If we bring together our taxonomic expertise and our experiences in biogeography, flora dynamics and conservation, we may have a powerful platform based on “sharing & pooling”. Not only the regional data centers themselves will benefit from such a platform, but also the scientific community, educational institutions, policy makers and the general public.
ETH Zurich, Zurich (CH)
Herbaria are essential repositories of plant biodiversity, providing invaluable insights into species distributions across time and space. While their foundational role in systematics remains crucial, herbaria have recently gained prominence in a wide range of scientific disciplines. Advances in molecular biology now enable the extraction of DNA from centuries-old specimens, allowing for population genetic monitoring, studies of plant adaptation, and detection of associated pathogens and mutualists. Furthermore, these collections offer irreplaceable time-series data to track morphological and physiological changes in response to global warming. Chemical and isotopic analyses of herbarium specimens further inform on the presence of pollutants, such as heavy metals, in the plant tissues. More importantly in the context of the ongoing biodiversity crisis and the increasing rate of biological invasions, herbaria have proven invaluable resources for conservation planning. The value of these collections even extends to the humanities, providing historians of science a glimpse into the socio-cultural contexts of botanical exploration. In sum, herbaria are no longer merely archives of dead plant material—they are living laboratories uniquely positioned to answer fundamental questions about the past and future of the Earth’s ecosystems. This talk will explore the expanding role of these collections across various scientific disciplines and highlight how their digitalisation foster modern research in innovative and unexpected ways.
Università degli Studi di Milano Statale, Milano (IT)
Mountains serve as critical biodiversity observatories, offering unique insights into the ecological impacts of climate change. Among the most striking transformations in these environments is the retreat of glaciers, which is reshaping species distributions, forcing new biotic interactions, and restructuring ecological networks. However, how these emerging networks assemble, develop, and respond following glacier retreat remains poorly understood. In this presentation, I will synthesize recent studies conducted in the Biodiversity Change research group examining how glacier retreat directly and indirectly alters biodiversity, plant interactions, and ecological networks. We observed sharp shifts in plant, animal, and soil microorganism communities, plant–pollinator and plant–soil microbe networks with glacier retreat. Plant facilitation and symbiotic interactions enhance biodiversity in recently deglaciated terrains, while plant competition driven by shrub encroachment and soil acidification in later successional stages reduced species persistence. Our findings reveal an initial increase in interaction diversity following glacier retreat, followed by an ultimate decline with glacier extinction. Cascading effects of biodiversity change undermine key ecosystem functions and services, including regulating and material contribution from pioneer, threatened plant species. These results highlight the value of ecological network approaches in biodiversity assessment and underscore the need for integrated, long-term monitoring strategies that enhance biodiversity maintenance, sustain plants’ contributions to people, and support human welfare in mountain regions.
Preliminary Program
THURSDAY 20 OF NOVEMBER 2025
13:00 - 14:00 | Check-in |
14:00 - 17:00 | Satellite events |
17:15 - 18:15 | Plenary lecture - Dr. Stefan Eggenberg |
18:15 - 20:00 | Welcome Aperò |
Workshop with an introduction presentation and discussion (IT/EN)
Lara Lucini, Museo cantonale di storia naturale, Lugano,
Guido Brusa, biologo indipendente, Varese
Searching for new populations of species of conservation interest can be particularly onerous, especially for bryophytes that are small plants. The development of ecological suitability models can therefore be useful in directing field searches, especially for species that are presumably underestimated relative to existing population numbers. The currently known range of the moss Pseudoleskaea (Pseudoleskeopsis) artariae, considered Endangered (EN) according to the Red List of Europe, is limited to the Insubric territory between Lakes Como and Maggiore, with few known populations between Canton Ticino and western Lombardy and typically present on exposed limestone rocks. During the satellite event, both the model used to identify new populations and the results obtained for P. artariae will be presented. This will be followed by a discussion on the applicability of the model to other species.
Short presentations and discussion workshops (EN/DE/FR/IT)
Philippe Juillerat, InfoFlora Genève,
Stefan Eggenberg, InfoFlora Bern
Other members of the AFA-Project
The Atlas Flora Alpina (AFA) Project is an ongoing transnational collaborative project for an online atlas of the flora of the Alps. It involves over a dozen institutions and floristic data centers from across the entire Alpine arc (Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland). The project has been progressing thanks to four working groups that were set up with specific tasks each: ‘Pilot map’, ‘Perimeter Delimitation’, ‘Funding’, and ‘Taxonomy’. The main aim of this satellite event is to continue the efforts of the AFA by focusing on specific topics in the form of short presentations of preliminary results and open challenges followed by two or more parallel discussion workshops. The definitive program will be announced after registrations are closed. Although priority will be given to members of the AFA project, anyone interested is welcomed to participate.
Short presentations (EN) and discussion (EN/DE/FR/IT)
Antoine Jousson, Agroscope Cadenazzo & InfoFlora Lugano,
Ramona Maggini, Agroscope Cadenazzo
Brigitte Marazzi, InfoFlora Lugano
Blaise Petitpierre, InfoFlora Genève
Early detection of new invasive alien species is the most effective approach to reduce the negative impact of biological invasions, but remains a complex challenge that requires a multidisciplinary approach, spanning across various fields of research. Recent advances in ecological modelling (in particular horizon scanning) are providing new opportunities to support early detection and to anticipate current and future spread patterns of invasive alien plants. Field observations, whether from experts or citizen science, combined with taxonomic knowledge and insights into species’ biological traits, offer valuable data to inform species distribution models. Integrating these elements helps to identify emerging threats and generate targeted preventive measures; at the same time it contributes to increasing our understanding of ecological processes that enable alien species integration in ecosystems. In this satellite event, we aim to present and discuss the opportunities and challenges linked to each of these components, to foster the dialogue across disciplines and therefore strengthen the scientific basis of the national scheme for assessing the invasive potential of alien plants in Switzerland. Anyone interested in presenting a case study or example related to the topic is kindly invited to contact us.
Discussion panel (EN/IT)
Vincent Fehr, WSL Cadenazzo,
Boris Pezzatti, WSL Cadenazzo
Non-native species are often seen as ecological threats – unwelcome invaders that degrade ecosystems and drive costly long-term management. But in the face of rapid environmental change, could some of these species become unexpected allies? The Insubric region is a hotspot for non-native tree species, both deciduous (e.g., Ailanthus altissima, Paulownia tomentosa, Robinia pseudoacacia) and evergreen (e.g., Cinnamomum glanduliferum, Ligustrum lucidum, Prunus laurocerasus, Trachycarpus fortunei). Some are classified as invasive and are subject to restrictions as they are spreading rapidly, particularly in collapsing chestnut forests hit hard by pests and diseases. These forests, crucial for preventing landslides and rockfall, now face stress from climate change and heavy browsing, making native tree regeneration difficult. In this context, non-native trees – often more resilient, less affected by browsing and already widespread – may offer an alternative path to forest recovery and adaptation. This new reality raises pressing questions: Should we resist the spread of all non-native trees at any cost? Or reconsider their role in future forest management? Join experts from ecology, forestry, invasion biology and public authorities as they debate the future of Insubric forests. This forward-thinking discussion panel will move beyond all-or-nothing invasion narratives and explore how we might promote resilient, climate-adapted forests.
FRIDAY 21 OF NOVEMBER 2025
08:30-09:30 | Check-in |
09:30 - 09:45 | Welcome & Opening |
09:45 - 10:30 | Plenary lecture – Dr. Alessia Guggisberg |
10:30 - 11:15 | Short presentations - SESSION I |
11:15 - 11:45 | Coffee break with poster session |
11:45 - 12:30 | Short presentations - SESSION II |
12:30 - 13:30 | Lunch break |
13:30 - 14:15 | Plenary lecture – Dr. Gianalberto Losapio |
14:15 - 15:30 | Short presentations - SESSION III |
15:30 - 16:00 | Coffee break with poster session |
16:00 - 17:15 | Short presentations - SESSION IV |
17:15 - 17:30 | Final discussion |
17:30 - 19:00 | Awards best poster/oral presentation & Closing aperò |
Saturday 22 NOVEMBer 2025
(IT/FR; max. 20 pp.)
Urban walk in Bellinzona through historic gardens and castles (recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site), with the support of an expert local tour guide. In addition to historical and cultural aspects, current topics such as future projections of new urban crops for the changing climate, urban biodiversity in the narrow sense, neophytes and more will be covered.
Duration: morning (3 hours)
Guido Maspoli, Ufficio cantonale della natura e paesaggio
Claudia Maspoli, local guide
Guided tour (EN, ev. IT/FR; max. 20 pp.)
St. Pancrazio Island is home to the Cantonal Botanical Garden, established in 1950 on the remains of the former 19th-century park. The collection houses plants from all continents with particular emphasis on those from subtropical climates, whose cultivation is possible as a result of a microclimatic singularity unique for the alpine region. This guided tour, in addition to the historical and cultural context, will allow participants to discover the most valuable collections and to admire some autumn blooms that are not usually visible to the public.
Duration: morning, approx. 3 hours (including transfer to the island from Porto Ronco)
More informations: Brissago Islands
Alessio Maccagni, Giardino botanico cantonale delle Isole di Brissago
Guided tour and excursion (IT/FR, ev. EN/DE; max. 20 pp.)
This activity will begin at the Cantonal Museum of Natural History in Lugano (approx. 15 minutes by train from Bellinzona) with a look at the temporary exhibition “The Hand of Climate and the Hand of Man” and at the “hidden” collections of the herbarium. We will then continue by bus (a few minutes) to the Gandria Trail, which is of rare scenic beauty and which even in November can provide some interesting botanical gems. From the small village of Gandria there will be the possibility to return to the city by boat or bus.
Duration: approx. 3 hours.
More informations: La mano del clima e la mano dell’uomo / Gandria Trail
Pia Giorgetti, Museo cantonale di storia naturale
Antonella Borsari e Brigitte Marazzi, Società Botanica Ticinese
Registration fee includes all events, as well as welcome drink, coffee breaks and lunch (without alcoholic beverages).
Address: Società Botanica Ticinese, c/o Museo cantonale storia naturale, Viale Cattaneo 4, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
Bank name: Banca Raiffeisen Locarno, Switzerland
IBAN code: CH80 8080 8006 6547 7639 6
Swift/BIC code: RAIFCH22379
Add mention: “Botanica Sudalpina 2025, YOUR FULL NAME”
Organizing Committee
Scientific Committee