Geobotany Revisited - A Glimpse at the Blooming and Influential Discipline With Its Strong Roots in the Beauty of Nature and the Pragmatic Need of Its Protection

The dreams of Humboldt and many of his successors have not yet come true. Despite the great achievements of the last century, we still do not know the total number of vegetation types or the difference in the patterns of the distribution of diversity above and below the ground, we cannot predict all the effects of climate change on vegetation at the regional and global scale, we do not know the hidden and dark parts of species diversity in most ecosystems, nor are we able to make historical vegetation maps for many areas of the Earth. We also do not know the cultural contribution of many plant communities for the development of human populations and civilization, nor do we know the future recreational and therapeutical potential of vegetation (e.g., aromatherapy, ecotherapy). Geobotanical methods can effectively contribute to finding the answers to hot questions in current ecology. Since there are so many gaps in our geobotanical knowledge and so many young researchers still speechless with delight when looking at endless steppes, lush rainforests, tall-herbs, or colorful meadows, there is no doubt that geobotany will be a thriving and developing discipline in the future. Its driving force is the passion of researchers and admiration for the beauty of various types of vegetation and their dynamics as well as awareness of the need to protect them for generations to come.

Automated summary

Despite the achievements in geobotany in the last century, there are still many unanswered questions. We lack knowledge about the total number of vegetation types, the distribution patterns of diversity above and below the ground, the effects of climate change on vegetation at different scales, the hidden parts of species diversity in most ecosystems, and historical vegetation maps for many areas. Geobotanical methods can contribute to addressing these questions and the discipline will continue to thrive due to researchers' passion for and admiration of the beauty of vegetation and their awareness of the need for conservation.