In the era of the Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to achieve universal benefits with the motto "NO ONE LEFT BEHIND," it is crucial for plant scientists to bridge the existing knowledge gaps in habitats and associated species distribution. In this context, the Habitats Directive (European Directive 92/43/EEC) stands as one of the most comprehensive tools for the management and conservation of our natural legacy.

Building on the substantial progress made over the past half-decade in the implementation of the Habitats Directive by the journal Plant Sociology, this Topical Collection intends to establish a repository for even more significant and synergistic efforts in the future. It emphasizes enhanced collaboration from plant scientists across EU Member States, ensuring a wider and more collective approach to conservation efforts.

With this Topical Collection, our goal is to dedicate the remaining half-decade until 2030—a pivotal new milestone for the future of our planet—towards establishing a scientific platform dedicated to a series of articles concerning the Habitats Directive, with a particular focus on the distribution and monitoring of Annex I habitats.

The Topical Collection will include "New Habitat Records," following the style and content of the already published contributions. For a model and the data sources, see Annex I in the paper https://doi.org/10.7338/pls2019561/04.

This Topical Collection is a continuation of the one launched under the previous journal title, Plant Sociology, and the earlier publications are available here.