Traditionelle Heilpflanzen als kulturelle Schlüsselarten für Naturschutz und Ökosystemrenaturierung - Ergebnisse einer Studie in den Südtiroler Alpen

Despite the manifold environmental legislation, initiatives, agreements, and conventions at the national and international level, loss of biodiversity at the global level has not yet been significantly halted. Thus, new strategies are needed, especially with regard to the restoration of ecosystems and land-use systems that have high biodiversity and pro-vide diverse ecosystem services. In order to involve local communities more in conservation and restoration efforts, the concept of Cultural Keystone Species could be applied. Focusing on traditional medicinal plants in the Autonomous Province of Bozen-South Tyrol in the Alps (northern Italy), we identified 10 such Cultural Keystone Species with high importance (e.g., multiple benefits, medicinal uses) for the local population. The occurrence of these species in open land and forests and their use as wild plants or cultivation in gardens can promote the acceptance of the protection and active restoration of corresponding habitats