NEWS: PROMONT SPECIES SPOTLIGHT: ITALY – MT. BALDO

Welcome to a new chapter of PROMONT’s project!
In this series, we’ll be introducing the species at the heart of our work, giving you the chance to discover more about them and learn something new about our mountain ecosystems.

Let’s start with the target species identified by our Italian partner: LAG Baldo-Lessinia.

Scientific name: Callianthemum Kernerianum

Common name: Kerner’s buttercup – Ranuncolo di Kerner 

Family: Ranunculaceae

Conservation status: critically endangered

Causes: The Callianthemum kernerianum faces several threats that contribute to its decline. Abandonment of traditional pasture maintenance has allowed invasive species to spread, disrupting the native ecosystem. Climate change further alters its fragile alpine habitat, while tourism—through trampling and flower picking—adds physical stress to the plant populations. Additionally, the gradual loss of botanical knowledge and public awareness reduces efforts toward its conservation.

Information about the species: a small flower, which height reaches 6-7 cm, that is only present on the narrow mountain ridge of Monte Baldo, in Italy, with a range and area of occupancy of 20 km². With its flowering season limited to four weeks a year, after the snow melts (usually in May), it grows on limestone rocks in subalpine pastures between 1,500 and 2,100 metres above sea level but can also be found on rocky areas adjacent to pastures. The most recent estimates reckon there are 3,000,000 mature individuals divided into 17subpopulations.

Interesting facts: It has been regarded as the symbol of Mount Baldo ever since Francesco Calzolari, the first naturalist from Verona, selected the Callianthemum kernerianum to feature on the cover of his renowned essay Il Viaggio di Monte Baldo (The Journey of Mount Baldo).

PROMONT supports mountain ecosystems by testing solutions for flora and fauna restoration. Follow us and get insights on the project’s results towards maintaining mountain biodiversity using green infrastructure!

Photo by:
Callianthemum Kernerianum by Luuk Vermeer on Saxifraga Foundation