Interpretation and management of the forest habitats of the Italian peninsula

This article aims to present the Italian forest biodiversity based on the habitats of Annex I of the Habitats Directive. This puts on evidence for the area five categories corresponding to the codes 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95. After a brief presentation of the physical and biogeographical factors that characterize the Italian peninsular area, we review the different types of forest habitats acknowledged by the Directive for this peninsula, highlighting their syntaxonomic position which is summarized in a complete syntaxonomic scheme. Regarding the habitat 91AA(star) Eastern white oak woods, species related to the white oak group previously considered in synonymy (Quercus pubescens s.l.) have been recognized. This led to the correction of the association Roso sempervirentis-Quercetum pubescentis Biondi 1986 into Roso sempervirentis-Quercetum virgilianae and the description of three new associations.