Toward a framework of integrated knowledge of terrestrial vegetation system: The role of databases of phytosociological releves

In this article, we consider the meaning of the phytosociological releve of the Braun-Blanquet's approach as a source of biodiversity matrices. We stress the importance of phytosociological releve for the integrated vegetation studies dedicated to understand the vegetation system and its ecosystem role at different hierarchical levels. We review the state of the art of building databases of the Italian vegetation under the perspective to develop a knowledge database of Italian vegetation based on formal ontologies. This would constitute a node in the possible network of knowledge databases of European Union and of the world that is proposed within the International Association of Vegetation Science.