| Summary: | Permafrost occurrence and distribution are highly dependent on climatic conditions. In Antarctica, permafrost occurs in deglaciated areas; it is usually associated with vegetation communities. A monitoring program based on the sensitive system “vegetation-permafrost” will allow to detect climate change effects. In this paper we propose a research protocol to monitor active layer changes and vegetation development through the phytosociological approach. In each study site different types of vegetation-permafrost systems have to be analysed to calibrate climate change effects both within the same study site and along the transect, thus avoiding the interference of local processes. A first step of the protocol has been realised at Jubany, King George Island, where 5 permanent plots have been installed in 2001. The next steps will be the creation of a monitoring site in Terra Nova Bay for Continental Antarctica and on Signy Island for Maritime Antarctica.
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