Recent developments in phytosociology

During the last decade, a renewed interest in phytosociology can be observed, not only in The Netherlands but also abroad. In Rinteln, the traditional meetings on phytosociology have been organized since 1987, after an interruption of more than a decade. From 1992 onwards, each spring, vegetation researchers of more than 20 countries come together in Rome to encourage phytosociological study. These meetings are organized as part of the European Vegetation Survey, a network of scientists aiming at (1) the promotion of national projects on classification of vegetation, (2) a standardized European Data base for Phytosociology, (3) the publication of a book on the vegetation of Europe, and (4) in the long term, a comprehensive and well-documented overview on European plant communities (Pignatti 1990; Dierschke 1992; Mucina et al. 1993e; Rodwell et al. 1995; Schaminee 1995; Rodwell 1995). Long-term projects on national vegetation classification have been started in several European countries; the first results have been published already or will be published shortly. In Germany, the series Siiddeutsche Pflanzengesellschaften has been completed by the publication of the fourth volume, on woodlands and scrub (Oberdorfer 1992). In the former Soviet Union, Korotkov et al. (1991) published the first prodromus of vegetation syntaxa according to the method of Braun- Blanquel. Julve (1993) presented a synopsis of plant communities of France, Pott (1992) of Germany. In Austria, the research resulted in the publication of a standard work in three volumes, managed by Mucina and Grabherr (Grabherr & Mucina 1993; Mucina et al. 1993a,b). The national vegetation classification of Great Britain will be summarized in five volumes; until now, four of these have been published (Rodwell 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995). In Slovakia, a start of a series of syntaxonomic overviews was made by the publication of the first volume, on pioneer communities (Valachovic 1995). Finally, in The Netherlands, the first two volumes of the national vegetation classification have been launched (Schaminee et al. 1995a, 1995b).