Manuale nazionale di riferimento per la raccolta dei dati di vegetazione nella rete italiana CONECOFOR LII

ICP Forests coordinated monitoring programmes, developed in the frame of UN-ECE and the CLRTAP Convention, under EC regulations. Sound data have been claimed about changes of forest systems descriptors to investigate the effects of disturbances and pressures, namely air pollution. Vegetation surveys are conducted on more than 700 Plots throughout the 41 Countries participating in the ICP Forests. In Italy first surveys started 1996 with 20 permanent plots, at present increased up to 31, within the CONECOFOR monitoring network (managed by the National Forest Service). The ICP Forests Expert Panel on Ground Vegetation Assessment prepared, and periodically updates, the related Manual on methods and criteria for harmonized sampling, assessment, monitoring and analysis. The needs of a field manual as a protocol for the effective standardization of procedures, sampling design, techniques, and interpretation rules was taken from the Italian responsible of the vegetation assessment, and definitely produced, after some field test and debriefing with surveyors and researchers. The manual is officially adopted by the Italian Focal national Centre (CFS - National Forest Service), and includes Quality Assurance and Quality Control issues. The full Manual contents are presented and described here, following the structure of the official accepted version. General overview on aims and context are briefly described. Sampling design and methods are illustrated as well as the principles leading to surveys approach. Taxonomic reference and definition rules are explained, respect to the target organisms (terricolous vascular plants, lichen, and bryophytes and vertical layers up to dominant trees). The structure of a full-survey working plan is adopted, by defining levels and variables to be observed or derived. Ground vegetation mapping, survey method and techniques both at the community level are described in a system of 10*10 m sampling units, and the population level in a system of 50*50 cm sampling units are described. Operational procedures and problems are depicted by using examples of specific cases and conventional agreements and rules. Some details are also given on actions devoted to Quality Assurance and Control, data handling and transmission, impact avoidance. The standard forms adopted for the field surveys are added in the Annexes section, as well as the cover conversion table from the Braun-Blanquet scale to percentages.