Working with Swedish cryptogam conservation

The cryptogams constitute a very species-rich group. However, only a few taxa are well-studied and we thus know very little about the majority of the species. Moreover, cryptogams are usually small and hard to identify without training. The lack of knowledge is problematic to the conservation of cryptogams. Without basic information on actual distribution, population sizes and trends, susceptibility to anthropogenic environmental changes, etc., our ability to develop efficient conservation measures is put at risk. The necessity of additional research in, for example, taxonomy, population biology is clearly evident. In addition to better basic information, we also need more cryptogam experts, as well as good handbooks and identification keys. The level of cryptogam knowledge in Europe is, however, higher than in most other parts of the world. This presentation reviews the situation in Sweden, focusing on the red listing process and the ongoing publication of illustrated cryptogam floras.