European Vegetation Archive (EVA): an integrated database of European vegetation plots
Authors: Chytrý Milan , Hennekens Stephan M. , Jiménez‐Alfaro Borja , Knollová Ilona , Dengler Jürgen , Jansen Florian , Landucci Flavia , Schaminée Joop H.J. , Aćić Svetlana , Agrillo Emiliano , Ambarlı Didem , Angelini Pierangela , Apostolova Iva , Attorre Fabio , Berg Christian , Bergmeier Erwin , Biurrun Idoia , Botta‐Dukát Zoltán , Brisse Henry , Campos Juan Antonio , Carlón Luis , Čarni Andraž , Casella Laura , Csiky János , Ćušterevska Renata , Dajić Stevanović Zora , Danihelka Jiří , De Bie Els , de Ruffray Patrice , De Sanctis Michele , Dickoré W. Bernhard , Dimopoulos Panayotis , Dubyna Dmytro , Dziuba Tetiana , Ejrnæs Rasmus , Ermakov Nikolai , Ewald Jörg , Fanelli Giuliano , Fernández‐González Federico , FitzPatrick Úna , Font Xavier , García‐Mijangos Itziar , Gavilán Rosario G. , Golub Valentin , Guarino Riccardo , Haveman Rense , Indreica Adrian , Işık Gürsoy Deniz , Jandt Ute , Janssen John A.M. , Jiroušek Martin , Kącki Zygmunt , Kavgacı Ali , Kleikamp Martin , Kolomiychuk Vitaliy , Krstivojević Ćuk Mirjana , Krstonošić Daniel , Kuzemko Anna , Lenoir Jonathan , Lysenko Tatiana , Marcenò Corrado , Martynenko Vassiliy , Michalcová Dana , Moeslund Jesper Erenskjold , Onyshchenko Viktor , Pedashenko Hristo , Pérez‐Haase Aaron , Peterka Tomáš , Prokhorov Vadim , Rašomavičius Valerijus , Rodríguez‐Rojo Maria Pilar , Rodwell John S. , Rogova Tatiana , Ruprecht Eszter , Rūsiņa Solvita , Seidler Gunnar , Šibík Jozef , Šilc Urban , Škvorc Željko , Sopotlieva Desislava , Stančić Zvjezdana , Svenning Jens‐Christian , Swacha Grzegorz , Tsiripidis Ioannis , Turtureanu Pavel Dan , Uğurlu Emin , Uogintas Domas , Valachovič Milan , Vashenyak Yulia , Vassilev Kiril , Venanzoni Roberto , Virtanen Risto , Weekes Lynda , Willner Wolfgang , Wohlgemuth Thomas , Yamalov Sergey 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe European Vegetation Archive (EVA) is a centralized database of European vegetation plots developed by the IAVS Working Group European Vegetation Survey. It has been in development since 2012 and first made available for use in research projects in 2014. It stores copies of national and regional vegetation‐ plot databases on a single software platform. Data storage in EVA does not affect on‐going independent development of the contributing databases, which remain the property of the data contributors. EVA uses a prototype of the database management software TURBOVEG 3 developed for joint management of multiple databases that use different species lists. This is facilitated by the SynBioSys Taxon Database, a system of taxon names and concepts used in the individual European databases and their corresponding names on a unified list of European flora. TURBOVEG 3 also includes procedures for handling data requests, selections and provisions according to the approved EVA Data Property and Governance Rules. By 30 June 2015, 61 databases from all European regions have joined EVA, contributing in total 1 027 376 vegetation plots, 82% of them with geographic coordinates, from 57 countries. EVA provides a unique data source for large‐scale analyses of European vegetation diversity both for fundamental research and nature conservation applications. Updated information on EVA is available online at http://euroveg.org/eva-database.