Interpretation and management of the forest habitats of the Italian peninsula.

The article aims to present the Italian peninsula forest biodiversity based on the habitats listed under Annex I of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC. This put on evidence for the area, five categories corresponding to the codes 91 (Forests of temperate Europe), 92 (Mediterranean deciduous forests), 93 (Mediterranean sclerophyllous forests), 94 (Temperate mountainous coniferous forests) and 95 (Mediterranean and Macaronesian mountainous forests coniferous). After a brief presentation of the physical and biogeographical factors that characterize the Italian peninsular area, we proceed to review the different types of forest habitats acknowledged by the Directive for the Italian peninsula, highlighting their syntaxonomic position which is summarized in a complete syntaxonomic scheme. Regarding the habitat 91AA * "Eastern white oak woods" species related to the white oak group previously considered in synonymy (Quercus pubescens sl) 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 new associations (Arundo plinianae-Quercetum virgilianae, Ampelodesmo mauritanici-Quercetum virgilianae, Lauro nobilis-Quercetum virgilianae) and some new subassociations. In the conclusions some certain shortcomings and delays in implementing the Habitats Directive in Italy are highlighted.