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Sacred Natural Sites are relevant for biodiversity conservation, as in the case of forest sites that, across centuries, developed old growth structures and are now crucial for the conservation of epiphytic lichens and other specialized forest organisms. In this study, we investigated the epiphytic lichen flora of a small forest patch included in the Majella National Park (Abruzzo), whose old growth features and naturalness reflect its long lasting spiritual role that perfectly fits with the concept of Sacred Natural Site. Results revealed that the "Bosco di Sant'Antonio" hosts a rich and interesting epiphytic lichen flora, thus indicating the potential of this Sacred Natural Site for lichen conservation. Fifty-six species were found including two species newly recorded in Abruzzo, two red-listed species, and the sensitive species Lobaria pulmonaria. This study corroborates the hypothesis that sacred forest sites are relevant for the conservation of specialized epiphytic lichens. In particular, in the Italian forest landscape where old-growth stands are practically absent, sacred forest sites may provide unique old-growth structures and buffer anthropogenic disturbance.

In this contribution, new data concerning bryophytes, fungi and lichens of the Italian flora are presented. It includes new records and confirmations for the bryophyte generaBryum,Cryphaea,Didymodon, andGrimmia; the fungal generaBryostigma,Cercidospora,Conocybe,Cortinarius,Endococcus,Inocybe,Psathyrella, andSphaerellothecium; the lichen generaAgonimia,Anisomeridium,Bilimbia,Diplotomma,Gyalecta,Huneckia,Lecidella,Lempholemma,Myriolecis,Nephroma,Pannaria,Pycnothelia,Pyrrhospora,Rinodina,Stereocaulon,Thalloidima,Trapelia,Usnea,Variospora, andVerrucaria.

Terricolous lichens, threatened in many areas of Europe, have been greatly overlooked in conservation policies. This work provides a provisional Red List of the terricolous lichens of Italy, to favour their inclusion in conservation policies. The taxa were assigned to IUCN categories according to a simplified assessment procedure based on their rarity and past/current distribution in the administrative regions and ecoregions of Italy. We evaluated 162 species: 30 were listed as regionally extinct, 22 critically endangered, 16 endangered, 49 vulnerable, 27 near-threatened, 7 least-concern, and 11 data deficient. A quarter of the terricolous lichens of Italy is likely to be threatened, but a rigorous assessment is hindered by the scarcity of data. Further field work is needed for more precise assessments of their conservation status.