Crown cover density and changes in alpine forests and species: a georeferenced field dataset

The dataset contains data on tree crown cover, both total and by species, collected in 528 forest plots located in the Italian eastern Alps. The study area has been affected in recent years by extensive wind and snow damage, followed by severe damage caused by bark beetle (Ips typographus, L.). The data were collected as part of an ongoing project aimed at detecting changes in crown cover in small forest patches.The forest species covered by the dataset are widely distributed across the Eurasian continent. This makes the dataset potentially useful for many users and researchers studying forest biodiversity or using remote sensing applications to monitor changes in forest cover.