II INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM
ON the Role of Plant Genetic Resources in Reclaiming Lands and Environment Deteriorated by Human and Natural Actions

We are pleased to invite you to attend at the II International Symposium on the Role of Plant Genetic Resources in Reclaiming Lands and Environment Deteriorated by Human and Natural Actions that will be held in Palermo, Italy, 9-12 October 2023, under the auspices of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS).

One of the major environmental issue at a global level is represented by land and habitat degradation, both due to natural and human factors. Such relevant processes have strongly negative effects on biodiversity and natural resources conservation, as well as on human well-being; they have caused, and still continue to do so, the loss of arable lands and are strongly linked to other environmental emergencies such as climate change, soil erosion and pollution. Whatever the reason, large areas are available to implement targeted interventions aimed to recover degraded sites, as well as to restore habitats for wildlife and areas for agriculture activities. For such purposes, plant genetic resources should play a crucial role for sustainable production, being the primary source of Biodiversity and providing a wide range of ecosystem services. Many strides have been made both in basic research including biological, ecophysiological and genetic aspects of plant species useful for recovery interventions, as well as in technical applications related to planting and afforestation techniques including the use of microorganisms that interact with plants, to restore degraded lands. The objective of the Symposium is to share interdisciplinary knowledge about the actions needed for the recovery of degraded lands and deteriorated environment in a broader sense, including the advancements in basic knowledge of plant species, as well as about the most recent tools and techniques adopted in habitat restoration and land recovery.

Yours truly,

Conveners
Francesco Paolo Marra
Emilio Badalamenti

Conveners