Conservation status of habitats (Directive 92/43 EEC) of coastal and low hill belts in a Mediterranean biodiversity hot spot (Gargano - Italy)

The Gargano is one of the richest Mediterranean areas in biodiversity. The work reports an assessment of the presence and conservation status of the habitats according to the 92/43/EEC Directive of Gargano coastal and low hill belts, their relationships with plant communities, threatened species, phytoclimatology, threats, and suggestions for management purposes. The field surveys revealed 33 habitats of Directive, and 6 of them are priority (1150* Coastal lagoons, 2250* Coastal dunes with Juniperus ssp., 2270* Wooded dunes with Pinus pinea and/or Pinus pinaster, 6220* pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals of the Thero-Brachypodietea, 7210* Calcareous fens with Cladium mariscus and species of the Caricion davallianae, 91AA* Eastern white oak woods). The updates of six Special Areas Conservation and three Special Protection Areas of Natura 2000 network are provided.