Il Centro per la Flora Autoctona della Regione Lombardia.

The “Centro per la Flora Autoctona” of Lombardy - Lombardy is characterized by a remarkable variety of plant communities and landscapes that often show a high species richness with the presence of several endemic and rare species. However the region is one of the first areas for density of population, development rate and productive activities in Italy and Europe as well: very peculiar ecosystems (limestone prairies, lowland heathlands, peat-bogs, etc.) often intermingle with towns, factories, quarries and so on. Beyond the traditional enterprises for the conservation of biological diversity based on the creation of protected areas, the regional administration has recently founded the “Centro per la Flora Autoctona” (Wild Plants Protection Centre), whose main aim is the acquisition of knowledge and techniques to warrant the availability of wild shrubs and herbs suited to 1) environmental restoration, and 2) rare and/or endangered species conservation project.