No abstract

The island of Elba (Tuscan Archipelago, Italy) Natura 2000 habitat map (1:25,000) and the CORINE Biotopes habitat map (1:25,000) were derived from the phytosociological map of Elba integrated with recent studies and field knowledge of the vegetation units. Conventional geographical information system queries were used to manage and select the spatial information. For each map polygon, the following attributes were assigned: (i) habitat typology and (ii) percentage cover of each habitat type. Where multiple habitat types were associated with the same polygon, the percentage cover of each habitat type was estimated. A total of 27 Natura 2000 habitat types and 58 CORINE Biotopes habitat types were identified, these being distributed in single and/or multiple typological units. Distribution and covers of the different habitat types are discussed. The usefulness of this kind of map for monitoring and managing conservation actions is discussed.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

The Massaciuccoli Lake (northern Tuscany, Italy) Natura 2000 habitat map (1:10,000) was compiled from photo-interpretation and recent phytosociological studies, integrated by field surveys of the vegetation units. Conventional geographical information system procedures were used to select and manage spatial information. The following attributes were assigned to each map polygon: (i) vegetation type, (ii) habitat typology and (iii) percentage cover of the habitat type. Habitat types covering polygons smaller than 50 m 2 were treated as points. A total of nine Natura 2000 habitat types were identified and mapped; they cover almost 20% of the study area. The results show that of all sites on the Italian peninsula, Lake Massaciuccoli Calcareous fens with Cladium mariscus covers the largest surface area and is crucial for the national conservation of this habitat type. It is also of priority importance in Europe.ARTICLE HISTORY

The recent Landscape Plan of Tuscany Region pays particular attention towards the floodplain woods, for their conservation concern, landscape, and historical importance. The floodplain forest vegetation is defined as the natural and semi-natural wood vegetation located close to the rivers and submerged only during exceptional flooding. We gathered 180 both published and unpublished relevés coming from Tuscany and carried out in floodplain woods, where Alnus glutinosa, Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. oxycarpa, Quercus robur, Ulmus minor, Carpinus betulus, Populus nigra, P. alba and Salix alba were dominant, alone or in consociation with each other. On this dataset we performed a multivariate analysis, and the resulting groups were characterized by several points of view: floristic, ecological, chorological, by mean of diagnostic species, with the use of EIV. Moreover, their distribution in Tuscany was better defined. According to our results, six associations were found to be present in Tuscany. Thereby, one new association and three new subassociations were proposed. The syntaxonomic arrangement above the association level was discussed, with particular attention to the Italian Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. oxycarpa-rich communities. Finally, a comparison with the Annex I habitat types (sensu Directive 92/43/EEC) was carried out.

The contraction of lowland forests throughout Europe began in remote times and then intensified strongly with land reclamation by agriculture and urbanization during the first half of the last century. We present a map of the Floodplain Woods of Tuscany on a scale of 1:300,000 as a synthesis of that built at the scale of 1:10,000 and the methods used to obtain it. Nearly 90% of the patches contain habitats of concern to conservation, according to the Habitat Directive. The Tuscan Floodplain Woods remained prevalent in coastal areas, where some levels of protection are guaranteed by the presence of several protected areas, whereas they have practically vanished in the other parts of the regional territory. The resulting patches are very small and distant from each other, so only in-depth management of all potential floodplain forest areas, taking into consideration patches for their regeneration, can be useful to assure their conservation.