YIR01BIO01 Dry and Mesic Grassland Habitats - Pressures and State A

YIR01BIO01 Dry and mesic grassland habitats - pressures and state A. Pressures Figure 1A Main impacts and activities in lowland areas with more than 30 % dry or mesic grassland habitat coverage in potential sites of Community interest

Main impacts and actvities in lowland pSCI's with dry/mesic grassland habitats per Country

Urbanization and 100% industrialization

90% Transportation and communication 80% Pollution 70%

60% Natural Processes (biotic and abiotic) 50% Mining and extraction 40% of materials

30% Leisure and tourism

sites with dry/mesic grasslands dry/mesic with sites 20% Human induced 10% changes in hydraulic

% of impacts and activities occurring in lowland lowland in occurring and activities impacts % of conditions 0% Hunting and collecting AT - 6 FI - 8 FR - GR - 11 IE - 6 IT - 391 PT - 11 ES - SE - 3,9 0,177 131 254 0,22 1 340 604 144 4 147 Agriculture, forestry 536 274 18 Country, number of sites and total surface areas in thounsands of hectares Note: Data as reported in NATURA2000 forms by end of 1999 by 9 countries.

Figure 1B Main impacts and activities in mountain areas with more than 30% dry or mesic grassland habitat coverage in potential sites of Community interest

Main impacts and actvities in mountain pSCI's with dry/mesic grassland habitats per Country

100%

90% Urbanization, industrialization and similar activities 80% Transportation and communication 70% Pollution and other human impacts/activities 60% Natural Processes (biotic and abiotic 50% Mining and extraction of

grasslands materials 40% Leisure and tourism 30%

Human induced changes in 20% hidraulic conditions

Hunting and collecting 10%

% of impacts and activities occurring in mountain sites with dry/mesic dry/mesic with sites in mountain occurring and activities impacts % of 0% Agriculture, forestry AT - 1 FI - 1 FR - 13 GR - 11 IR - 1 IT - 49 SP - 3 0,4 0,004 7,1 27,9 0,134 42,5 2,2 Country, number of sites and total surface areas in thounsands of hectares

Note: Data as reported in NATURA2000 forms by End 1999 by 7 countries .

Notes: - The number after the country code indicates the number of pSCIs analysed per country, and the number below indicates the sum of the surfaces of those sites in thousands of hectares. - The EC Habitat Directive reflects the European share of global concern for habitat types for conservation. It includes dry and mesic grasslands listed in Annex I of the Habitat Directive. EU Member States propose candidate Sites of Community Interest (pSCIs), to be further designated as Special Areas of Conservation and be part of the NATURA2000 Network. Depending on the biogeographic context and countries, the pressures due to human activities that may influence the conservation status of such habitat vary in nature and intensity. The analysis is based on data by 1999 from 984 pSCI sites (91 mountain sites, 893 lowland sites) where dry or mesic grassland covered more than 30 % of the area. Data on impacts was available only from 9 countries for lowland areas and 7 countries for mountain areas. Source: ETC/NC, analysis based on data in European Commission database on pSCIs.

Key messages

K Except for very limited areas of special natural grassland types, all European grasslands are maintained through grazing or cutting, the continuation and intensity of which are crucial for the protection of the grasslands and the species they harbour. LÃPressure on grassland habitats is increasing steadily. Sixty percent of the newly afforested area in the EU was formerly permanent pasture or meadows, 37 % was arable land and only 3 % was permanent cropland. Ã

B. Area of land

Figure 2 Permanent grassland and pasture in EU15 in 1995 in percent of utilised arable area (UAA)Ã

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Figure 3 Area of permanent grassland and pasture in EU9, 1975 to 1995 (million ha) PLOOLRQÃ

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Figure 4 Change in use of permanent pastures and meadows. Agricultural land afforested between 1993 and 1997 in EU15: previous use of the land (as percentage of the areas).

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Ã Key messages L The total area of grassland in the average EU9 country fell by 12 % between 1975 and 1995, with only some areas of increase. The total area of permanent grassland will increase significantly with further enlargement of the EU. Ã

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Figure 5 Importance of dry and mesic grassland habitat types for orchid species in selected countries. Species of orchids in selected countries. Number of species Netherlan Belgium Luxembour France ds g vulnerable extinc tot vulnerabl extin tot vulnerable extin tot vulnerabl extin tot t al e ct al ct al e ct al dry/mesic 9 3 17 14 1 18 8 3 16 46 0 72 grassland s other 14 4 27 24 6 35 11 5 23 46 0 75 habitats total 23 7 44 38 7 53 19 8 39 92 0 147

Note: Though only one orchid species is protected under NATURA2000 (Habitats Directive Annex II), the importance of grasslands for orchids is very high. In the four countries for which data were available, the proportion of orchids present in dry and mesic grasslands was high: 50 % in France and between 35 and 42 % in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Source: ETC/NC, analysis based on literature and information for the EC Habitats Directive.

Figure 6 Percentage of threatened butterflies occurring in broad habitat types, including dry and mesic grasslands in European countries.

Woodland and Dry/Mesic scrub grasslands 29% 34%

others 12% Alpine heath, bog and Humid grasslands fen grasslands 10% 8% 7%

Note: The assessment covers all known Butterflies species in all Europe including Madeira, the Azores, the Canary islands, Cyprus, the whole of Turkey and Russia east of the Urals (no information was received from the Caucasian Republics). This is the first comprehensive assessment of European status of Butterflies since a first preliminary review by John Heath in 1981.

Source: ETC/NC, analysis based on Council of Europe, 1999. Red Data Book on European Butterflies (Rhopalocera) Key messages L Out of a total of 576 European butterfly species 71 are threatened. Of these around 50 % occur in grasslands with 34 % alone in dry/mesic grasslands.

D. Protection measures Figure 7 Variation in surface area for sites with dry or mesic grassland habitat types, proposed for nature protection under the Flora, Fauna and Habitats Directive (pSCIs). Percentage per country of site numbers in 5 size categories. Lowland and mountain areas. Figure 7A Variation in surface area for pSCIs in EU lowland areas

Surface area of lowland pSCIs with dry/mesic grassland habitats per country

100%

80%

> 10 000 ha 60% 1000 to 9 999 ha 100 to 999 ha 10 to 99 ha 40% < 10 ha No data

20%

0% AT - 6 BE - 9 DE - 4 FI - 8 FR - 131 GR - 11 IE - 6 IT - 391 NE - 1 PT - 11 ES - 144 SE - 147 UK - 24

Figure 7B Variation in surface area for pSCIs in EU mountain areas

Surface area of mountain pSCIs w ith dry/mesic grassland habitats per country

100%

80%

> 10 000 ha 60% 1000 to 9 999 ha 100 to 999 ha 10 to 99 ha 40% < 10 ha

20%

0% AT - 1 B E - 1 F I - 1 F R - 13 GR - 11 IE - 1 IT - 49 ES - 3 S E - 4 UK - 3

Note: The analysis is based on data by the end of 1999 from 984 pSCI sites (91 mountain sites, 893 lowland sites) where dry or mesic grassland covered more than 30 % of the area. Source: ETC/NC, analysis based on data by End 1999 in European Commission database on pSCIs.

Figure 8 Increase in European Community support to projects for restoration and management of habitats and species. Examples of use of EC LIFE funds 1992-1999 for dry/mesic grassland areas.

Country Restoration and management projects including Projects Projects dry grassland habitat types and species 1992-1994 From 1995 Austria Pannonian sand dunes, Alluvial flood plain 2 Finland Grasslands and pastures in Archipelago 1 France Dry grasslands, chalk and limestone grasslands, 2 7 Xerotermic habitats, grassland species Germany Dune and meadow habitats, species 3 4 Greece Dry grasslands 1 Italy Various grassland habitat types and species 12 Portugal Grassland habitat types, Montados, steppic birds 2 1 Spain Steppic and dry grasslands and species 3 3 United Kingdom Chalk grassland habitat types 1

Source: ETC/NC, analysis based on European Commission LIFE-Nature Database http://europa.eu.int/comm/life/nature/databas.htm Key message K The number of projects that aim to ensure the conservation of dry and mesic grasslands and associated species is increasing.

E. Results and assessment (level of the indicator) Relevance of the indicator for describing developments in the environment Permanent grasslands play a major, but not always well recognised or understood role for society (production, employment), the environment, and biodiversity. The grasslands are key habitats for many species: herbs, grazing animals such as deer and rodents, butterflies and reptiles, and many bird species.

Dry grasslands contain some specialist species, for example orchids and butterflies, which can survive only in dry well-lit conditions. Grasslands, particularly calcareous grasslands, are an important habitat for orchids, and half of the orchid species in France, and between 35 and 42 % in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, occur in dry and mesic grasslands. A high proportion of these are either in a highly vulnerable state or close to becoming extinct.

Butterfly species are generally more specific to particular plant species than to habitat types, but it is possible to categorise the main broad habitat types where these plants - and therefore the butterflies - occur. Out of a total of 576 European butterfly species 71 are threatened. Of these around 50 % occur in grasslands with 34 % alone in dry/mesic grasslands.

Grasslands, especially those visibly rich in species (flowering plants, insects, raptors) have high recreation value. Grasslands have long been an important feature for landscape painting and the appreciation of the countryside. Grasslands such as steppes are the homes of ancestors to several of the now most widespread crops, garden bulbs, several spices and medicinal plants. Permanent grasslands are therefore gradually becoming an important issue of concern in

global, European, European Community and national decision-making, although to a widely varying extent.

The indicators used describe the central elements of the general trends of grasslands and responses to their problems, especially concerning nature conservation issues for dry and mesic permanent grasslands. The data do not allow appreciation of how much permanent grasslands is intensively or extensively managed. As a result of the Habitats Directive, EU countries now have some indication of the area of dry and mesic grasslands and of major impacts and initiatives in proposed sites of Community Interest (pSCIs). However, data limitations preclude the development of indicators to describe specific impacts or the effectiveness of specific measures (CAP, Birds and Habitats Directive) or the identification of links with climate change and desertification. The data based on agricultural statistics have some temporal information, but there are as yet very limited temporal data on nature conservation.

Policy relevance and policy references The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, Rio de Janeiro, 1992) was ratified by the European Community on 21 December 1993. It calls for an ecosystem approach in assessing and ensuring the sustainable use and development of biological resources. This approach prioritises some of the big biomes (global main groups of ecosystems) of the world such as forests, agro-ecosystems, wetlands, coastal and marine areas and permanent grasslands. Global CBD grassland interest is focused on dry grasslands, both natural and semi-natural, including steppes and savannas in all climatic zones, particularly on those most threatened in tropical and sub-tropical regions (UNEP/CBD/COP/5/V23). The CBD concerns for dry grasslands are associated with the global Conventions on Climate Change and on Desertification.

In Europe, grasslands range from the dry, almost desertic types in the southeast of Spain to steppic, mesic and very humid types. They can be found in the whole of Europe, the very dry types being concentrated mainly in southern and southeastern Europe, although important dry and mesic types also occur in colder climates where rainfall is low. The importance of grasslands differ greatly, as does the extent of implementation of measures to intensify production, maintain, abandon or convert them to other uses (other crops, Christmas trees and decoration greenery, afforestation, urbanisation, recreation). Almost all European grasslands are under management and their condition depends on the implementation of legal and financial instruments. The interests and regulations support developments which may clash: aiming for higher yields in improved grasslands (for production interests for grass or animal grazing) conflicts with aiming for lower yields in un-improved grasslands (for wildlife and landscape protection). The Common Agricultural Policy measures in the EU (covering around 20 % of the agricultural area) and its implementation in the Member States (through cattle and milk quotas, subsidies to preserve grassland biodiversity, restrictions on stock levels, continuation of farming, afforestation, reduction or non-use of inputs, raising water levels, maintenance of smaller biotopes, promotion of rare breeds) and several other regulatory instruments (use of genetically modified organisms, seed regulations) influence grasslands directly or indirectly. Local property- related implications may result in neighbouring farmers taking completely opposite decisions.

The main EU regulations for directly protecting or influencing grasslands habitat types and the species associated with them are: Directive 79/409/EEC on conservation of wild birds (Birds Directive, covering several species); Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna (Habitats Directive covering several habitat types and reptiles and insects); Directive 85/337/EEC (with amendments) on environmental impact assessment; and Regulation (EC) No 1467/94 on conservation, characterisation, collection and utilisation of genetic resources in agriculture.

Since 1981, the Council of Europe has recognised the importance of grassland habitat types, particularly dry grasslands, as a priority for conservation in Europe, encouraging member countries to include such habitat types in the network of European Biogenetic Reserves. Grasslands (natural and semi-natural humid, mesic and dry) are taken into consideration in the Bern Convention and in action theme 8 of the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity (PEBLDS).

Many countries have included permanent grassland considerations into national sustainability programmes, conservation regulations and recently the first Biodiversity Action Plans (national CBD implementation). Some countries have general protection of all permanent grasslands.

Red Data books are being produced in most countries as a background for assessing the threat status of species. They are widely used as background for national and international conservation strategies and for identification of species to be conserved under legal instruments such as NATURA2000 and Bern Convention. Though most use the global IUCN threat categories, Red Data books are not yet developed to a fully harmonised methodology and are only infrequently updated. Data can therefore not yet be used directly for long-term assessments.

Assessment There are permanent grasslands throughout Europe, ranging from the driest, almost desertic types as in the southeast Spain, to steppic, mesic and humid types, depending on the biogeographic context, local soil conditions and exposure. The focus in this fact sheet is mostly on dry to mesic types. The larger areas of these are concentrated on plains and in valleys or along flat coasts, but significant areas occur in mountains. Present Europe-wide mapping systems allow identification of larger areas and of general habitat types with some restrictions. Data on total area and distribution of special grassland types are poor, precluding detailed analysis.

Grasslands in Europe are nearly all fully dependent on maintenance through grazing or cutting. They are also highly changeable and dynamic and are influenced by various simultaneous pressures, making them particularly vulnerable. They change typically in decades, not in generations, as do forests. Predicted climatic changes are expected to result in expansion of dry and arid grassland types (even in desertification) in some parts of southern Europe, and change towards more mesic-humic types in northern Europe: dry grassland types can be expected to expand to the Apennines foothills, Southern Alps, Cévennes and Pyrenees. Atmospheric deposition of nitrogenic compounds destabilises the normal competition between plant species and facilitates the introduction or invasion of robust plants and insects. Since these influences are unevenly distributed over Europe, outlooks for grasslands and grassland types will vary geographically.

Maintenance of permanent grasslands was formerly done through haymaking and grazing in integrated labour-intensive systems. Maintenance at present tends to be either through grass cutting or grazing, and the intensity of cutting and grazing (over- or under-cutting or grazing) is a major issue for continuation of specific grassland types. Cattle farming with full or partial stabling and concentration of cattle geographically has caused considerable problems for the continuation of many grazing schemes for nature protection. Decrease or disappearance of old grazing regimes (mountain dairy meadows) and of transhumance (annual migrations of grazing flock) has led to the abandonment and disappearance of large grasslands.

Grasslands are maintained with different grazing animal types throughout Europe: cattle, horses, sheep, goats, and reindeer. Grazing by old breeds is being introduced in some areas for nature, historic and gene-pool conservation reasons. There is also some nature conservation grazing with exotic cattle, such as Scottish Highland. Natural grazing (maintenance, over- or under-grazing) is dependent on deer, rodents and birds, including large populations of migrating birds (geese, swans).

With the enlargement from EU9 to EU15, the total EU area of permanent grasslands and pastures in 1995 reached about 44,000,000 ha, but the generally tendency is downwards: the total grassland area in the EU9 countries fell by an average of 12 % between 1975 and 1995, with only some areas of increase.

The change of grassland areas to other use depends on the land-use policies of different countries; for example the threat to permanent grasslands reflects national plans for the conversion of grasslands to forests. For the EU15 as a whole, the breakdown of newly planted areas according to the previous use of the land shows that 60 % was formerly permanent

pastures or meadows, 37 % was arable and only 3 % had been under permanent crops. The distribution, however, varies widely: In the Netherlands and Denmark trees are planted on arable land, while in Ireland and Austria the planting is on permanent pastures and meadows.

The total area of permanent grassland will increase significantly with further enlargement of the EU. The Accession countries contain large areas of highly valuable and vulnerable permanent grassland, and the expected increase in agricultural intensification will place these areas under great pressure.

The change in area alone presents a steadily increasing spatial pressure on grassland habitat types and their associated species. The data do not allow the increase or decline of the various types of grasslands to be followed in detail. The sites proposed under the Habitats Directive vary in number and size in the Member States, depending on the climate, the character of the landscape and historic and current land-use patterns. Based on the data available by the end of 1999, the Mediterranean biogeographic region comprises the highest proportion of proposed large sites with significant dry grassland habitat areas, including more than 80 sites between 1 000 and 10 000 ha. Among the sites more than 10 000 ha, 2 sites in Spain are about 25 000 ha, 1 is 52 000 ha and 1 is 75 000 ha. Though data coverage is till incomplete, the Continental biogeographic region can be seen to include also a significant proportion of large sites (larger than 1 000 ha): extensive drylands areas in France (in Burgundy, Massif Central, Cévennes, Jura) and in Austria, where important western outposts of Pannonic steppes remain. Data from Germany for that region are lacking. The large extensions of drylands generally correspond to low-intensity farming areas, in which biodiversity interest will be maintained through extensive grazing and hay cutting.

Analysis of data on national occurrence and area of grassland habitats listed for protection under the Directive (delivered under the pSCI process by Member States), of national Red Lists for species, and from other sources, indicates the awareness of the importance of permanent grasslands for nature conservation. The number of projects to ensure conservation of dry and mesic grasslands and associated species is increasing. The EC Life-nature projects show the trend in European Community interest: starting with a few projects in 1992 there has been a clear increase in the number of projects since 1995-1996. Several other projects related to large carnivores or raptors involve large areas of grasslands under extensive management in a mosaic of other habitat types.

Public and private interest in grassland species or in creating grassland habitats is manifest in the trade in wild flower seeds and use of wild flower seeds for road-verges, gardens and parks during the 1990s. This practice has led to domestication and subsequent spread of selected straits (gene pools) of wild flowers. Data on this are poor.

DATA Grassland ecosystems including dry and mesic grasslands have never been described as such in Europe and coordinated data and analysis are scarce. Analyses must be based on data sets from separate sources.

Table 1A (for Figure 1A) Main impact and activity types in lowland areas with more than 30 % dry or mesic grassland habitat coverage in potential sites of Community interest under the Flora, Fauna and Habitats Directive (pSCIs). Data as reported in NATURA2000 forms by the end of 1999.

Main impacts and activities in percentage In lowland pSCI’s with dry/mesic grassland habitats per country COUNTRY Agricultur Hunting Human Leisure Mining Natural Pollution Transpor- Urbanization, e, forestry and induced and and Processes and tation industrialization collectin changes tourism extractio (biotic other and and similar g in n of and human commun activities hydraulic materials abiotic) impacts/ i- conditions activities cation AT – 6 71.9 6.3 3.1 6.3 3.1 3.1 0.0 3.1 3.1 FI – 8 47.1 0.0 0.0 5.9 5.9 17.6 5.9 0.0 17.6 FR – 131 40.1 15.8 3.4 13.6 2.3 5.7 4.4 7.7 6.9 GR – 11 29.7 21.7 8.6 5.7 2.9 8.0 4.0 12.6 6.9 IE – 6 39.4 6.1 0.0 3.0 12.1 9.1 3.0 21.2 6.1 IT – 391 46.6 11.9 3.1 6.8 2.2 3.4 2.9 15.8 7.4 PT - 11 38.0 10.9 5.8 10.2 3.6 8.8 10.9 5.8 5.8 ES – 144 28.9 12.8 3.7 16.2 5.6 7.9 6.4 11.0 7.5 SE – 147 64.4 2.2 0.0 6.7 0.0 8.9 15.6 2.2 0.0

Table 1B (for Figure 1B) Main impact and activity types in mountain areas with more than 30 % dry or mesic grassland habitat coverage in potential sites for nature protection under the Flora, Fauna and Habitats Directive (pSCIs). Data as reported in NATURA2000 forms by the end of 1999. Main impacts and activities in percentage in mountain pSCI’s with dry/mesic grassland habitats per country COUNTRY Area Agricul Hunting Human Leisure Mining Natural Pollutio Transports Urbaniza number of -ture, and induced and and Processes n and and -tion, of sites forestr collectin changes touris extractio (biotic other communi industria sites in y g in hy- m n of and human -cations -lization 1000 draulic material abiotic) impact and ha conditio s s/ similar ns activitie activities s AT - 1 0,4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 FI - 1 0,004 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

FR - 13 7,1 20 9 1 18 0 4 6 9 3

GR - 11 27,9 43 22 0 15 1 23 6 7 0

IR - 1 0,134 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

IT - 49 42.5 22 9 1 10 1 1 3 11 1

SP - 3 2.2 2 1 0 2 0 1 0 1 0

Note: Information based on data from a selection of 984 sites proposed by Member States to European Commission DG Environment by the end of 1999. The sites were selected for analysis if they contained more than 30 % dry grassland habitat area of types from ANNEX 1 of the Habitat Directive and also contained impact information. The present analysis identified 893 sites situated in lowlands, and 91 in mountains. Only those sites where there was also impact information were analysed. The NATURA2000 process is continuing and more sites will be proposed during 2000. Data are delivered in an agreed standard format (the NATURA2000 format) including presence and coverage of habitat types and influence of human activities according to standard lists. The descriptions are based mainly on information from local experts and are harmonised nationally. The area coverage is mostly based on expert judgement, not measurements or remote sensing. List of dry-mesic grasslands habitat-types considered of such importance that they are included in of Annex I of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC to ensure EU protection. Dry/mesic habitat types in lowland/mid-mountain areas: Code P Description 1510 * Mediterranean inland salt steppes 1520 * Iberian gypsum vegetation 1530 Pannonic salt steppes and salt marshes 6110 * Rupicolous calcareous or basophilic grasslands of the Alysso-Sedion albi 6120 * Xeric sand calcareous grasslands 6130 Calaminarian grasslands of the Violetalia calaminariae 6180 Macaronesian mesophile grasslands 6210 * Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco Brometalia)(*important orchid sites) 6220 * Pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals of the Thero-Brachypodietea 6240 * Sub-Pannonic steppic grasslands 6250 * Pannonic loess steppic grasslands 6260 * Pannonic sand steppes 6270 * Fennoscandian lowland species-rich dry to mesic grasslands 6280 * Nordic alvar and precambrian calcareous flatrocks 6510 Lowland hay meadows

Dry/mesic habitat types in higher mountain areas 6140 Siliceous Pyrenean Festuca eskia grasslands 6150 * Siliceous alpine and boreal grasslands 6160 * Oro-Iberian Festuca eskia grasslands 6170 Alpine and sub-alpine calcareous grasslands 6230 * Species-rich Nardus grasslands, on siliceous substrates in mountain areas (and submountain areas in Continental Europe) 6520 Mountain hay meadow *: indicates habitat types considered as of priority importance at Community level.

Source: ETC/NC analysis based on data in European Commission database on pSCIs by 1999

Table 2 (for Figure 2) Permanent grassland and pasture in EU15 in 1995 in % of utilised arable area (UAA)Ã Percentage of Utilised Arable Area (UAA) Arable land 57 Permanent grassland and pasture 35 Permanent crops 8

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Table 3 (for Figure 3) Trend in permanent grassland area in EU9 between 1975 and 1995 (in million ha). Includes permanent grassland and pasture. 1 000 ha EU 9 EU 10 EU 12 EU 15

1975 1995 1983 1995 1987 1995 1995 Total utilised 86 549 87 087 88 745 90 552 115 401 119 707 128 384 arable land (UAA) Arable land 44 875Ã 50 426Ã 46 549Ã 52 325Ã 63 195Ã 67 436Ã 73 653Ã of whichÃ fallowÃ 1 015Ã 4 524Ã 1 043Ã 4 587Ã 4 101Ã 8 358Ã 8 784Ã Permanent 36 687Ã 32 448Ã 36 551Ã 33 014Ã 41 430Ã 42 238Ã 44 604Ã grassland and pastureÃ Permanent 4 835Ã 4 107Ã 5 528Ã 5 094Ã 10 613Ã 9 881Ã 9 967Ã cropsÃ

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Table 4A (for Figure 5) Importance of dry and mesic grassland habitat types for orchid species in selected countries. Number of species.

Species of orchids in selected countries. Number of species Netherlan Belgium Luxembour France ds g vulnerable Extinc tot vulnerabl extin tot vulnerable extin tot vulnerabl extin Tota t al e ct al ct al e ct l dry/mesic 9 3 17 14 1 18 8 3 16 46 0 72 grassland s other 14 4 27 24 6 35 11 5 23 46 0 75 habitats total 23 7 44 38 7 53 19 8 39 92 0 147

Table 4B (for Figure 5) Importance of dry and mesic grassland habitat types for orchid species in selected countries. Species percentage.

Species of orchids in selected countries. Percentages Netherlan Belgium Luxembour France ds g Vulnerable extin tot vulnerabl extin tot vulnerable extin tot vulnerabl extin tot ct al e ct al ct al e ct al dry/mesic 21.4 7.1 35.7 26.4 1.9 34.0 20.5 5.1 41.0 31.3 0.0 49.0 grassland s other 33.3 2.4 64.3 45.3 9.4 66.0 28.2 7.7 59.0 31.3 0.0 51.0 habitats

Source: ETC/NC, analysis based on : Landwehr, L. 1983, Les orchidées sauvages de Suisse et d’Europe, Vol I, II; Société Française d’orchidophilie, 1998, Les orchidées de France, Belgique et Luxembourg

Table 5 (for Figure 6) Percentage of threatened butterflies occurring in broad habitat types, including dry and mesic grasslands in European countries. Broad habitat Corine habitat type Average percentage types occurrence of SPEC 1- 3 Dry/meso grasslands dry calcareous grasslands and steppes 15,5 Dry/meso grasslands mesophile grasslands 11 Alpine grasslands alpine and subalpine grasslands 9,6 Dry/meso grasslands dry siliceous grasslands 8,4 Humid grasslands humid grasslands and tall herb communities 7,3 Woodland and scrub broad-leaved deciduos forests 5,5 Woodland and scrub heath and scrub 5,5 Woodland and scrub mixed woodland 5,2 heath, bog and fen raised bogs 3,9 Woodland and scrub coniferous woodland 3,6 Woodland and scrub broad-leaved evergreen woodland 3,1 Woodland and scrub sclerophyllous scrub 3 others inland cliffs and exposed rocks 2,3 heath, bog and fen fens, transition mires and springs 2,1 heath, bog and fen blanket bogs 1,9 Woodland and scrub Phrygana 1,8 others agriculture land and artificial landscapes 1,7 others fallow land, waste places 1,7 others water-fringe vegetation 1,4 Woodland and scrub alluvial and very wet forests and brush 1,1 others Screes 1,1 others tree lines, hedges, small woods, bocage, parkland dehesa 0,8 others inland sand dunes 0,6 others urban parks and large gardens 0,4 others volcanic features 0,4 others coastal sand-dunes and saand beaches 0,3

others orchards, groves and tree plantations 0,3 others towns, villages, industrial sites 0,3 others cliffs and rocky shores 0,1 others islets and rock stacks 0,1 Note: Data quality: The source states that knowledge on some species distribution and trends in populations is still poor. The habitat types are based on the Palaearctic Habitat Classification. The assessment covers all known Butterflies species including some genuine steppic species. All Europe including Madeira, the Azores, the Canary islands, Cyprus, the whole of Turkey and Russia of the Urals (no information was received from the Caucasian Republics). Threatened European butterflies include 19 species that are endemic to Europe and considered as globally threatened (Species of European Conservation Concern - 1 = SPEC1), 5 species concentrated in Europe and threatened in Europe (SPEC2), 47 species occurring both within and outside Europe, but threatened in Europe (SPEC3). In addition, 170 species are European endemics and though not threatened provide a specific responsibility to Europe for their conservation (SPEC4). Though Butterfly species are more specific to the individual plants that host them than to habitat types, it is possible to categorise the main broad habitat -types where these plants - and therefore the Butterflies - occur. Over half of the most threatened Butterflies species (SPEC1- SPEC3) are linked to grasslands habitat types, and a large proportion (34%) to dry/mesic grasslands. The assessment co-ordination was ensured by Dutch Butterfly Conservation and by British Butterfly Conservation, based on questionnaires in June 1997. It excludes extra-European species, distinguishes between European endemics and species that can be found outside Europe, applies new IUCN threat categories (1994), with an assessment of trend over 25 years instead of 10 years. It is the first comprehensive assessment on the European status of Butterflies since a first preliminary review by John Heath in 1981. Source: Council of Europe, 1999. Red Data Book on European Butterflies (Rhopalocera)

Table 6A1 (for Figure 7A) Variation in surface area for sites with dry or mesic grassland habitat types, proposed for nature protection under the Flora, Fauna and Habitats Directive (pSCIs). Percentage per country of site numbers in 5 size categories. Lowland sites. Number of sites. Number of pSCI with lowland habitats Category total AT BE DE FI FR GR IE IT NE PT ES SE UK No data 1 1 < 10 ha 66 1 1 7 2 1 4 48 2 10 to 99 ha 140 4 7 2 25 5 20 69 8 100 to 999 ha 194 1 1 1 1 37 109 5 28 11 1000 to 9 999 ha 337 1 48 2 230 1 51 2 2 > 10 000 ha 155 19 9 27 11 88 1

Table 6A2 (for Figure 7A) Variation in surface area for sites with dry or mesic grassland habitat types, proposed for nature protection under the Flora, Fauna and Habitats Directive (pSCIs). Percentage per country of site numbers in 5 size categories. Lowland sites. Percentage of sites.

Percentage of pSCI with lowland habitats Category AT - 6 BE - 9 DE - 4 FI - 8 FR - 131 GR – 11 IE - 6 IT - 391 NE - 1 PT - 11 ES - 144 SE - 147 UK - 24 No data 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 < 10 ha 0.0 10.0 25.0 87.5 1.5 0.0 16.7 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 32.7 8.3 10 to 99 ha 71.4 70.0 50.0 0.0 19.1 0.0 83.3 5.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 46.9 33.3 100 to 999 ha 14.3 20.0 25.0 12.5 28.2 0.0 0.0 27.9 0.0 0.0 3.5 19.0 45.8 1000 to 9 999 14.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 36.6 18.2 0.0 58.8 100.0 0.0 35.4 1.4 8.3 ha > 10 000 ha 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 14.5 81.8 0.0 6.9 0.0 100.0 61.1 0.0 4.2

Table 6B1 (for Figure 7B) Variation in surface area for sites with dry or mesic grassland habitat types, proposed for nature protection under the Flora, Fauna and Habitats Directive (pSCIs). Percentage per country of site numbers in 5 size categories. Mountain sites. Number of sites.

Number of pSCI with mountain habitats Category Total AT BE FI FR GR IE IT ES SE UK < 10 ha 3 1 1 1 10 to 99 ha 11 7 1 3 100 to 999 ha 24 1 2 1 16 1 3 1000 to 9 999 ha 35 6 5 23 1 > 10 000 ha 14 5 6 2 1

Table 6B2 (for Figure 7B) Variation in surface area for sites with dry or mesic grassland habitat types, proposed for nature protection under the Flora, Fauna and Habitats Directive (pSCIs). Percentage per country of site numbers in 5 size categories. Mountain sites. Percentage of sites.

Percentage of pSCI with mountain habitats Category AT – 1 BE - 1 FI - 1 FR - 13 GR - 11 IE - 1 IT – 49 ES - 3 SE - 4 UK - 3 < 10 ha 0 100 100 0 0 0 2.04 0 0 0 10 to 99 ha 0 0 0 0 0 0 14.28 33.33 75 0 100 to 999 ha 100 0 0 15.38 0 100 32.65 33.33 0 100 1000 to 9 999 ha 0 0 0 46.15 45.45 0 46.95 0 25 0

> 10 000 ha 0 0 0 38.46 54.54 0 4.081 33.33 0 0

Note: The analysis is based on data by End 1999 from 984 pSCI sites (91 mountain sites, 893 lowland sites) where dry or mesic grassland covered more than 30 % of the area.

Source: ETC/NC, analysis based on data by End 1999 in European Commission database on pSCIs. Table 7 (for Figure 8) Increase in European Community support to projects for restoration and management of habitats and associated species. Examples of use of EC LIFE funds 1992-1999 for dry/mesic grassland areas. Country Restoration and management projects including Projects Projects dry grassland habitat types and species 1992-1994 From 1995 Austria Pannonian sand dunes, Alluvial flood plain 2 Finland Grasslands and pastures in Archipelago 1 France Dry grasslands, chalk and limestone grasslands, 2 7 Xerotermic habitats, grassland species Germany Dune and meadow habitats, species 3 4 Greece Dry grasslands 1 Italy Various grassland habitat types and species 12 Portugal Grassland habitat types, Montados, steppic birds 2 1 Spain Steppic and dry grasslands and species 3 3 United Kingdom Chalk grassland habitat types 1

Source: ETC/NC, analysis based on European Commission LIFE-Nature Database http://europa.eu.int/comm/life/nature/databas.htm

15 ANNEX Map 1 Area under permanent grassland in utilised arable area (UAA) in EU15 in 1995.

Area under permanent grassland

Source: European Commission, 1999. Agriculture, environment, rural development. Facts and Figures. A Challenge for Agriculture.( Data source: Eurostat, 1999)