Biodiversity & Ecology

English

Abstract: The Dutch National Vegetation Database (GIVD ID EU-NL-001) is currently the largest database of its kind in the world, comprising more than 600,000 computerized vegetation-plot descriptions, covering the whole variety of vegetation types in the country. It was started in 1987, when the government – in close collaboration with a number of nature conservation agencies – commissioned a new national vegetation classification, based on field data and documented with vegetation tables. Within the framework of this initiative, it was decided to develop adequate software for handling the large amount of data that would be brought together. This has resulted in the computer package TURBOVEG. After the publication of the new vegetation classification between 1995 and 1999 (De Vegetatie van Nederland), the focus was shifted towards the development of so-called information systems, for which the vegetation databases form the basis. Within the Netherlands, the information system SynBioSys Netherlands has been developed, which proved to be a model for similar initiatives elsewhere in the world. The databases and allied information systems offer great opportunities for fundamental and applied research in the field of community ecology, nature conservation and landscape planning.