Sardinia Hosts Successful 11th European Committee for the Conservation of Bryophytes Conference

From 19 to 22 May 2026, the Botanical Garden (HBK) of the University of Cagliari in Sardinia, Italy, successfully hosted the 11th Conference of the European Committee for the Conservation of Bryophytes (ECCB). Organised by the ECCB in collaboration with the Bryology Working Group of the Italian Botanical Society, the University of Cagliari’s Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, and the HBK, the event brought together global experts to address critical preservation strategies.

Conference Overview and Key Themes

The programme integrated laboratory research with practical field application. Discussions primarily focused on the direct effects of environmental and climate changes on bryophyte diversity, before tracking the practical journey of bryophyte conservation from initial redlisting to active interventions. Attendees also learned about the intricacies of bryophyte systematics, diversity, and floristics, alongside recent breakthroughs in experimental biology. This academic exchange was paired with field excursions to two of Italy's most valuable bryological habitats: the Giara and Laconi Park, and the Marganai Forest.

Celebrating Young Researchers

Pensoft Publishers’ Best Oral Presentation Award was given to researcher Dr. Alberto Aleffi. Recognised by the committee for the exceptional scientific content and outstanding clarity of his work, Aleffi received a certificate alongside the prize of a free publication in one of Pensoft’s peer-reviewed journals.

Reflecting on his presentation and future research goals, Aleffi stated:

“At the Conference I presented a poster with the results of a survey of bryophytes carried out in Apulia (South of Italy), and in particular in the habitat of Mediterranean Temporary Ponds, where bryophytes play a key ecological role but are often overlooked.

For the publication I'd like to submit a study I'm carrying on at Eurac Research in Bolzano (South Tyrol) about the diversity of bryophytes in different types of forests.”