Vegetation mapping and phytosogiological analysis of Cilento National Park riparian vegetation - Cartografia della vegetazione e analisi fitosociologica della vegetazione ripariale del Parco Nazionale del Cilento

47° Congresso S.I.S.V. - 12-14 / 09 / 2012 - Facoltà di Agraria, Borgo XX giugno, 74 -Perugia, Italy "Opportunità e sfide per la Scienza della Vegetazione in un mondo che cambia" "Opportunities and Challenges for Vegetation Science in a Changing World. Vegetation mapping and phytosogiological analysis of Cilento National Park riparian vegetation. Riparian and freshwater ecosystems are strongly endangered throughout Europe as they suffer for the ongoing human pressure, habitat destruction, pollution and eutrophication. Monitoring species and habitats is essential to address conservation efforts and to evaluate the results of restoration actions. Furthermore, habitat and vegetation mapping are relevant both for scientific purposes and conservation issues. In this context we present the main results of a two-year (2010-2011) research project founded by the Cilento e Vallo di Diano National Park focusing on: riparian habitat and vegetation mapping; phytosociological analysis and characterization of riparian and aquatic vegetation; land quality assessment. Vegetation Mapping were performed within a 300 m width buffer along the main water bodies of the National Park. The Park's contiguous areas were also considered in this study. Main water bodies surveyed and mapped were Calore, Alento, Lambro, Mingardo and Bussento River. Photointepretation was based on 2005 digital aeroimages and GIS assistes; field surveyes were stratified on water bodies, environmental unit and vegetation physognomy and recorded using GPS with 2-5 m precision. We collected 273 releves and detected 748 taxa of vascular plants (approx.1/3 of the regional flora) with several new findings for Cilento and Campania region; a not negligible amount of these are alien species showing an invasive behaviour in riparian habitats. We mapped at 1:5.000 scale 10 water bodies amounting to 13.835 ha; map legend has a hierchical framework and is composed by 70 items; main riparian forest types were identified as belonging to Roso sempervirenti-Populetum nigrae-Populetum albae, Hyperico hircini-Alnetum glutinosae, Rubo ulmifoliiSalicetum albae; 27 habitats sensu Natura2000 were identified accounting to 45% of the mapped area; the most widespread ryparian habitats are represented by 92A0, 9160, 3250, 3270 types. The project results could contribute to assess the reference conditions of Southern Italian Peninsula water bodies, a needed data to answer to the European Water Framework Directive (WFD 2000/60 CE). Furthermore they represent a first step of monitoring actions of species and plant riparian communities of the National Park that are an essential activity to address conservation efforts and to evaluate the results of management and restoration policies as explicitly requested by art. 11 of Habitats Directive.