The phytosociological tradition in Europe vegetation databases and information systems

Copenhagen, 3-4 October 2011, The EUNIS habitat classification, governance and future developments

Joop Schaminée & John Rodwell

Vegetation databases

Biological information systems

Vegetation databases

1915 Oldest relevés according to Braun-Blanquet

1928 Pflanzensoziologie – Grundzüge der Vegetationskunde

1992 First version of Turboveg (DOS-version)

1992 First meeting of European Vegetation Survey

1994 First questionnaire on overview of European vegetation data

1995 Update of the installation of Turboveg in Europe

1996 Turboveg for Windows

2002 The Diversity of European Vegetation and crosswalk to EUNIS

2009 Overview Vegetation-plot data and databases in Europa

2011 Global Index of Vegetation-Plot Databases (GIVD)

Country Respondent Total number Computerized Turboveg

         

Germany Various 800,000 120,000 60%

Netherlands Schaminée 625,000 560,000 90%

France Various 300,000 200,000 1%

Italy Various 200,000 3,000 100%

Spain Various 150,000 65,000 25%

Czech Republic Chytrý 130,000 100,000 100%

Switzerland Wohlgemuth 112,000 68,000 1%

Austria Willner 100,000 45,000 80%

Slovak Republic Various 85,000 55,000 100%

United Kingdom Rodwell 80,000 58,000 44%

Poland Various 80,000 20,000 100%

Romania Various 70,000 1,000 100%

Ukraine Yakushenko 43,000 10,000 8%

Belgium Hoffmann 40,000 25,000 100%

Hungary Csiky 38,000 20,000 50%

Lithuania Rašomavičius 34,000 16,000 45%

Russia Ermakov 32,000 13,000 100%

Ireland Various 30,000 12,000 100%

Bosnia-Herzegovina Redzić 27,000 7,000 20%

Greece Various 27,000 23,000 100%

Slovenia Čarni 22,000 12,000 100%

Portugal Various 20,000 4,000 100%

Latvia Pakalne 18,000 8,000 35%

Luxembourg Ries 15,000 14,000 100%

Croatia Stancic 12,000 6,000 50%

Bulgaria Apostolova 6,600 3,700 100%

Estonia Paal 4,000 2,500 0%

         

Total number   > 3,100,000 > 1,400,000 45%

Data base driven

Operational on different levels

Incorporating a GIS platform

Acting as electronic encyclopedia

Generating new information by combining data sets

Important for nature planning and policy making

Biological information systems

SynBioSys Europe