African ecosystems comprise a wealthy repository of biodiversity with a high proportion of native and endemic plant species, which makes them biologically unique and providers of a wide range of ecosystem services. A large part of African populations, in both rural and urban areas, depends on plants for their survival and welfare, but many ecosystems are being degraded, mostly due to the growing impacts of climate change and other anthropogenic actions and environmental problems. Loss of habitat and biodiversity affects livelihoods, water supply and food security, and reduces the resilience of ecosystems in the African continent. Knowledge of the huge African plant and ecosystem diversity, and on the structure, composition and processes involved in vegetation dynamics, is crucial to promote their sustainable use and to preserve one of the most understudied regions in the world. This Special Issue aimed to gather contributions that update and improve such knowledge.

中文翻译：

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热带非洲植被和植物区系的生物多样性

非洲生态系统由丰富的生物多样性资源库组成，具有大量的本地和特有植物物种，这使其在生物学上独一无二，并提供了广泛的生态系统服务。农村和城市地区的很大一部分非洲人口都依靠植物维持生存和谋生，但是许多生态系统正在退化，这主要是由于气候变化和其他人为行动以及环境问题的影响越来越大。生境和生物多样性的丧失会影响生计，水供应和粮食安全，并降低非洲大陆生态系统的复原力。了解非洲巨大的植物和生态系统多样性，以及有关植被动态的结构，组成和过程，对于促进其可持续利用和保护世界上最未被充分研究的地区之一至关重要。本期特刊旨在收集有助于更新和改进此类知识的文稿。