Pollen stratigraphies are the most spatially extensive data available for the reconstruction of past landcover change. Detailed knowledge of past land-cover is becoming increasingly important to evaluate the present trends in, and drivers of, vegetation composition.
The European Pollen Database (EPD) was established in the late 1980s and developed in the early 1990s to provide a structure for archiving, exchanging, and analysing Quaternary pollen data from Europe. It provides a forum for scientists to meet and engage in collaborative investigations or data analysis.
In May 2007 several EPD support groups were developed to assist in the task of maintaining and updating the database.