Present dataset compiles all the vascular plant taxa existing in Sierra Nevada, together with relevant features including taxonomical, morphological-ecological traits, distribution, habitats, conservation status and abundance. Data were compiled according to all the available information sources on taxonomy, ecology and plant-species distribution. The resulting dataset includes 2,348 taxa belonging to 1,937 species, 377 subspecies and 34 hybrids, and with a total of 756 genera and 146 families represented in the collection. The data were compiled according to all the available information sources on taxonomy, ecology, and plant‐species distribution. The resulting data set includes 2,348 taxa belonging to 1,937 species, 377 subspecies and 34 hybrids, from a total of 756 genera and 146 families represented in the collection. For each taxa, together with taxonomical information (Phylum, Class, Family, Genus, Taxa), we compiled plant traits (life‐form, spinescence, flower symmetry, flower sexuality, plant gender, androecium:gynoecium ratio, flower color, perianth type, pollinator type, flowering, seed dispersal, vegetative reproduction), and their environmental association (origin, endemic character, general distribution, substrate, elevation, habitat, local abundance, hygrophilous behavior, conservation status).

Traditionally managed mountain grasslands are declining as a result of abandonment or intensification of management. Based on a common chronosequence approach we investigated species compositions of 16 taxonomic groups on traditionally managed dry pastures, fertilized and irrigated hay meadows, and abandoned grasslands (larch forests). We included faunal above- and below-ground biodiversity as well as species traits (mainly rarity and habitat specificity) in our analyses. The larch forests showed the highest species number (345 species), with slightly less species in pastures (290 species) and much less in hay meadows (163 species). The proportion of rare species was highest in the pastures and lowest in hay meadows. Similar patterns were found for specialist species, i.e. species with a high habitat specificity. After abandonment, larch forests harbor a higher number of pasture species than hay meadows. These overall trends were mainly supported by spiders and vascular plants. Lichens, bryophytes and carabid beetles showed partly contrasting trends. These findings stress the importance to include a wide range of taxonomic groups in conservation studies. All in all, both abandonment and intensification had similar negative impacts on biodiversity in our study, underlining the high conservation value of Inner- Alpine dry pastures.