European Vegetation Survey
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UnclaimedA working group of the International Association for Vegetation Science uniting plant ecologists interested in vegetation survey and classification in Europe and beyond.
Last updated September 28, 2026
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Overview
The European Vegetation Survey (EVS) is a working group of the International Association for Vegetation Science (IAVS), described as uniting plant ecologists interested in vegetation survey and classification in Europe and beyond. It functions as a collaborative scientific network rather than a commercial enterprise, bringing together researchers who study, describe and classify plant communities across European and Eurasian landscapes. The group's principal public activity is the organisation of an annual conference series. The EVS conference has been held in a rotating series of European host cities and regions, with recent and forthcoming editions including the 31st conference in Rome, Italy (21–25 May 2023), the 32nd in Madeira (16–20 September 2024), the 33rd in Perugia, Italy (28 April – 2 May 2025), the 34th in Clermont-Ferrand, France (7–11 September 2026), and the 2027 conference planned for Joensuu, Finland (13–17 September 2027). Alongside the main conference, EVS communicates related events such as the Eurasian Grassland Conference and the meetings of the Eastern Alpine and Dinaric Society for Vegetation Ecology (EADSVE). EVS also maintains a presence in scientific publishing through special collections associated with the journal Vegetation Classification and Survey, including collections on the broad-scale classification of European vegetation and on the vegetation classification of islands and archipelagos. Its website serves as a news hub for the community, announcing conferences, field workshops, seminars and obituaries of prominent vegetation scientists such as Sandro Pignatti and Edoardo Biondi. Governance is provided by a steering committee; a new EVS Steering Committee for the 2024–2028 term was announced in December 2024. The group's scope extends beyond the geographical boundaries of Europe, as reflected in its Eurasian grassland activities and its stated interest in vegetation survey and classification 'in Europe and beyond'.
History
The European Vegetation Survey (EVS) is a working group of the International Association for Vegetation Science (IAVS), described as uniting plant ecologists interested in vegetation survey and classification in Europe and beyond. It operates as a scientific community rather than a commercial business, and its history is documented primarily through its conference series, publications and community news. The group's most visible recurring activity is its annual conference, which has been held in a rotating series of European locations. By the early 2020s the series had reached its fourth decade: the 31st EVS Conference took place in Rome, Italy, from 21 to 25 May 2023, with its website and registration opening in February 2023. The 32nd EVS Conference was held in Madeira from 16 to 20 September 2024, with its website opened in January 2024. The 33rd Conference, titled 'European Vegetation Survey', was held in Perugia, Italy, from 28 April to 2 May 2025, announced in September 2024. The 34th European Vegetation Survey conference was scheduled for Clermont-Ferrand, France, from 7 to 11 September 2026, announced in December 2025. The 2027 conference was announced for Joensuu, Finland, on 13–17 September 2027. Beyond its own conference, EVS communicates and supports related meetings. These include the Eurasian Grassland Conference — the 19th edition was held in Bolzano, Italy, from 26 August to 1 September 2024, and the 21st was announced for Sofia, Bulgaria, from 20 to 24 July 2026 — and the meetings of the Eastern Alpine and Dinaric Society for Vegetation Ecology (EADSVE), whose 41st meeting was announced for Skopje, North Macedonia, from 27 to 30 May 2026. EVS also publicises field workshops, such as the EDGG conference and field workshops in 2026. EVS is active in scientific publishing through special collections in the journal Vegetation Classification and Survey. In November 2024 a special collection on 'Vegetation classification of islands and archipelagos' was announced, and in July 2025 a special collection on 'Broad-scale classification of European vegetation' was announced. These collections reflect the group's core scientific focus on the description, survey and classification of plant communities. The community also marks the passing of leading vegetation scientists. In November 2024 EVS reported the death of Professor Edoardo Biondi, and in June 2025 the death of Professor Sandro Pignatti (28 September 1930 – 13 June 2025); a seminar in Pignatti's honour was announced for Rome on 21 October 2025. In December 2024 a new EVS Steering Committee for the 2024–2028 term was announced, indicating a four-year governance cycle. The group's news also extends to conservation advocacy, such as a June 2023 item on the need for protection of the Svydovets Massif in the Ukrainian Carpathians.
31st EVS Conference website and registration open; conference held in Rome, Italy, 21-25 May 2023
EVS highlights the need for protection of the Svydovets Massif (Ukrainian Carpathians)
New website of the Italian Society for Vegetation Science announced
32nd EVS Conference website open; conference held in Madeira, 16-20 September 2024
19th Eurasian Grassland Conference announced for Bolzano, Italy, 26 August – 1 September 2024
33rd Conference 'European Vegetation Survey' announced for Perugia, Italy, 28 April – 2 May 2025
New Special Collection 'Vegetation classification of islands and archipelagos' announced in Vegetation Classification and Survey
Professor Edoardo Biondi passed away
New EVS Steering Committee 2024-2028 announced
Website of the European Vegetation Survey conference, Perugia, Italy, 28 April – 2 May, announced
Products and positioning
A collaborative scientific working group and conference network for vegetation survey and classification in Europe and beyond.
Annual European Vegetation Survey conference
Rotating annual conference series; recent editions in Rome (2023), Madeira (2024), Perugia (2025), Clermont-Ferrand (2026) and Joensuu (2027).
Special Collection 'Broad-scale classification of European vegetation'
A special collection in the journal Vegetation Classification and Survey announced in July 2025.
Special Collection 'Vegetation classification of islands and archipelagos'
A special collection in the journal Vegetation Classification and Survey announced in November 2024.
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