The importance of taking into account ecosystems, plant communities and habitats for the
development of biodiversity conservation strategies is increasingly acknowledged. Recently,
the first ever European Red List of Habitats was produced, which provided an evaluation of
the extinction risk of EUNIS-based natural and semi-natural habitats in Europe. As
assessment unit, it used the habitat intended as a plant community, thus representing a
landmark for the role of vegetation science in nature conservation. In the present paper, the …

In this contribution, an analysis of the threats affecting the terrestrial habitats at national level
is performed, paying particular attention to the inconsistencies that may occur when
comparing assessments carried out at different spatial scale. The outcomes of this
evaluation highlight a rather widespread decline of habitats in Italy, particularly critical for
specific habitat types.