Liliana Bernardo

Liliana Bernardo is an Associate Professor of Systematic Botany at the Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, where she has been a faculty member since 2015. She is also a member of the academic board for the PhD program in Life Science and Technology at the same university. Her career includes a prior role as a Researcher (Assistant Professor) from 1991 to 2014.

Her research interests are centered on plant biodiversity and conservation, with a strong regional focus on Calabria. Key areas include:

• Plant conservation biology, particularly of threatened species and communities in southern Apennines
• Floristics and vegetation science of wetlands and high mountain areas
• Taxonomic and phytogeographic studies on genera such as Dianthus, Paeonia, Campanula, and Genista
• Reproductive biology and demography of endemic and rare plant populations
• Climate-vegetation-soil relationships and monitoring global change impacts in the Pollino Massif
• Red List assessments of threatened plants according to IUCN criteria

Her recent publications reflect a consistent focus on plant systematics, conservation, and functional ecology, with frequent contributions to major Italian flora checklists and studies on Dianthus and Campanula species. Her work often involves collaborative, multidisciplinary research on biodiversity assessment and conservation strategies.

She has received research funding from the Calabria Regional Government and the Pollino National Park Authority for projects on old-growth forests and nature mapping. She has also participated in national projects coordinated by the Italian Ministry of the Environment and the Italian Botanical Society, including the IUCN Red List of Italian flora and the mapping of Italian vegetation series.

Liliana Bernardo has supervised thesis students and mentored PhD candidates, including Domenico Gargano. She has also held advisory roles in research grants and led funded projects as Principal Investigator.

She is actively involved in research groups at the University of Calabria, leading the section on 'Taxonomy, Conservation and Plant Ecology' within the Plant Biology research group. She also serves on the Scientific Council of the Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden of Calabria and has held governance roles in the Pollino National Park Authority.