Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission Working Group on the State of the Environment and Nature STATE & CONSERVATION Conservation 3-2015 Helsinki, Finland, 9-13 November, 2015

Document title Outcome of modernization of the HELCOM MPA database Code 3N-5 Category INF Agenda Item 3N – HELCOM network of coastal and marine Baltic Sea Protected Areas Submission date 2.11.2015 Submitted by Secretariat

Background The HELCOM MPA database has been modernized as agreed by the HELCOM Copenhagen Ministerial Meeting in 2013. The main improvements in the database include a map interface, new data sections on pressures and regulated activities within the MPAs, updated data fields and lists regarding , biotopes and biotope complexes, links to other relevant databases and a clarified database structure. The database draft has been harmonized as much as possible with both OSPAR’s MPA database and the Natura 2000 standard data form. The modernization of the database was carried out with financial support from Sweden and through guidance from the HELCOM MPA Task Group.

This document contains a description on the modernized HELCOM MPA database and the proposal for minor revisions to the reporting lists of the database. The database was opened for countries data reporting on 23 April and for the general public on 30 October 2015.

Action required The Meeting is invited to

 take note of the modernized HELCOM MPA database,  provide feedback on using the database and  comment on the proposed minor revisions to the data provider information and the predefined lists used for reporting species, biotopes and biotope complexes in the HELCOM MPA database.

Page 1 of 16

STATE & CONSERVATION 3-2015, 3N-5

Background The HELCOM MPA database has been modernized as agreed by the HELCOM Copenhagen Ministerial Meeting in 2013. The work started in May 2014 at the HABITAT 16 meeting (Outcome of HABITAT 16 paragraph 4.1-4.5 and document 4-2) by outlining the countries requests for improvements (please see Annex 1) and the different options for building the database. It was decided that the database would be developed through the Secretariat with the guidance of the HELCOM MPA Task Group. Sweden provided financial support for the project. Planning of the database started in November 2014 and the technical development in February 2015. In April 2015 first parts of the database were opened for the countries to update the data. The deadline for the initial data update was 7 October 2015, and the HELCOM MPA database was published for all users 30 October 2015.

New features of the modernized HELCOM MPA database The main technical improvement in the new database is a map interface which connects each HELCOM MPA datasheet directly to the map of the area. This GIS based map includes information on the location and size of the MPA, a shapefile download function as well as the Natura 2000 area(s) and the HELCOM Red Listed species and habitats. Information on subbasin, MPA size, MPA marine and terrestrial size as well as the size of the territorial water and the exclusive economic zone are read from the shapefiles. This ensures better reliability of the provided spatial data and eases the updating task of the countries.

Other technical improvements include new data sections on pressures on and activities regulated within the MPA, information on monitoring and threat status of the species, biotopes and biotope complexes reported in the MPA, and links to other relevant databases. The database draft has been harmonized as much as possible with both OSPAR’s MPA database and the Natura 2000 standard data form. Another major technical improvement is the possibility to enter several management plans for one HELCOM MPA, and to show the areas covered by the management plans as spatial information in the MPA map. To implement this possibility the Contracting Parties are urged to provide the Secretariat with shapefiles for management plan area(s) which has so far only be done for a few MPAs.

The applicability of the new database is dependent on the data provided by the Contracting Parties. The data on MPAs has been updated during summer 2015, and the database enables countries to continuously report their data, as agreed in Recommendation 35/1. The database will also function as a nomination tool for new MPA designations. The HELCOM MPA database is hosted by the Secretariat which enables modifications to the database structure and design when needed. Contracting Parties are invited to provide feedback regarding the modernized HELCOM MPA database to Project Coordinator Ms. Janica Borg ([email protected]) and Assisting Professional Secretary Ms. Petra Kääriä ([email protected]).

The information in the new HELCOM MPA database will serve the Contracting Parties, the general public and HELCOM MPA assessments such as the currently ongoing ecological coherence assessment. For a description of the general structure new database, please see Annex 2.

Nomination of new HELCOM MPAs via the HELCOM MPA database With the modernization of the HELCOM MPA database the nomination procedure of new HELCOM MPAs has changed (Outcome of S&C 2-2015 paragraph 3N.5 and document 3N-2). Contracting Parties will from now on enter the data on the nominated HELCOM MPA directly in the database, using the national login details provided to each country, and send the shapefiles for the area and its management plan(s) to the Secretariat per email ([email protected]). The Secretariat will review the entered data, complete it with spatial data calculated from the provided shapefiles and publish it in the database. The previous nomination pro forma will no longer be used. Guidelines will be developed for the new procedure.

Page 2 of 16

STATE & CONSERVATION 3-2015, 3N-5

Proposed revisions to data provider information and predefined lists in the HELCOM MPA database

Data provider information Data provider information contains for each MPA contact details to the person entering the data for a particular site in the HELCOM MPA database. This section of the database is only visible for the logged in users. It is proposed that this information will be made visible for all users of the database in order to improve the transparency of the data.

The Data provider information contains the following data fields:

 Name of data provider  Organization  Data provider position in the organization  Data provider email  Data provider phone number

Predefined lists for reportingspecies, biotopes and biotope complexes Species, biotopes and biotope complexes are reported per MPA based on predefined lists in the database. The aim is to report those features which are relevant for the MPA, not for example every possible species occurring in the MPA. The predefined lists were compiled together with the HELCOM MPA Task Group during spring 2015. During the data update in May-October 2015 countries provided feedback on the predefined lists, and the proposed amendments to the species and biotope complexes lists are presented in tables 1 and 2. There were no proposals for amending the biotopes list. The current predefined lists in the HELCOM MPA database are presented in Annex 3.

Table 1. Proposed additions to the current predefined specieslist used for reporting in the HELCOM MPA database. The current list covers 198 most relevant species of birds, invertebrates, macrophytes, mammals, and fish and lamprey species in the Baltic Sea. Please see annex 3 for the full predefined species list and detailed description of how it was compiled.

SPECIES SCIENTIFIC NAME ENGLISH NAME PROPOSAL MADE BY GROUP Birds Larus ridibundus Black headed gull Germany (Dieter Boedeker) Birds Anas acuta Northern pintail Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Anas crecca Common teal Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Anas penelope Eurasian wigeon Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Anas querquedula Garganey Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Anser albifrons Greater white-fronted goose Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Ardea cinerea Grey heron Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Aythya ferina Common pochard Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Aythya nyroca Ferruginous duck Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Branta canadensis Canada goose Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Calidris alba Sanderling Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Calidris canutus Red knot Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Calidris ferruginea Curlew sandpiper Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Calidris minuta Little stint Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Chlidonias hybridus Whiskered tern Poland (Andrzej Ginalski)

Page 3 of 16

STATE & CONSERVATION 3-2015, 3N-5

Birds Chlidonias leucopterus White winged tern Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Chlidonias niger Black tern Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Cygnus cygnus Whooper swan Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Egretta alba (Ardea alba) Great egret Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Fulica atra Eurasian coot Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Gallinago gallinago Common snipe Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Himantopus himantopus Black-winged stilt Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Limicola falcinellus Broad-billed sandpiper Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed godwit Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Mergellus albellus Smew Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Netta rufina Red-crested pochard Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Numenius arquata Eurasian curlew Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Phalaropus lobatus Red-necked phalarope Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Platalea leucorodia Eurasian spoonbill Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Pluvialis squatarola Grey plover Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Tachybaptus ruficollis Little grebe Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Tringa nebularia Greenshank Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Birds Tringa ochropus Green sandpiper Poland (Andrzej Ginalski) Table 2. Proposed additions to the current predefined biotope complexes used for reporting in the HELCOM MPA database. The current list covers 83 most relevant biotope complexes in the Baltic Sea. Please see annex 3 for the full predefined biotope complexes list and detailed description of how it was compiled.

BIOTOPE COMPLEX BIOTOPE COMPLEX NAME PROPOSAL MADE BY CODE 1310 Salicornia and other annuals colonizing mud and sand Estonia (Liina Vaher) 6430 Hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities of plains and of the montane Estonia (Liina Vaher) to alpine levels 7150 Depressions on peat substrates of the Rhynchosporion Estonia (Liina Vaher)

Page 4 of 16

STATE & CONSERVATION 3-2015, 3N-5

Annex 1. Contracting Parties requests for improvements to the BSPA database presented at HABITAT 16 and the solution to meeting these requests in the modernized HELCOM MPA database

Request for improvement (HABITAT 16) Solution in the modernized HELCOM MPA database Possibility to modify the structure of the The database is hosted by the Secretariat which enables database according to HELCOM needs, including modifications to the database structure and design linking to HELCOM GIS. when needed. The database is linked to HELCOM GIS maps. Less confusing layout and subcategories in the The layout, structure and subcategories of the database database. have clarified. Pop up information boxes by each data field to Pop up boxes have been included in the login view of guide the providing of data. the database. Refrain from free text fields and use drop down The database does not contain any free text fields and menus as far as possible. drop down menus are used widely. More flexible search functions. The built in search functions have improved, and the user can build own search functions on the interactive reports. Possibility to enter information for several The user can provide as many management plans per management plans per MPA. MPA as needed. Possibility to show the area covered by the The technical structure exists, but shapefiles for management plan on the map. management plan areas have not been provided by most countries. Information on the period for which the The database contains the following data fields for management plan is valid or when it should be management plan periods: renewed.  implementation date of first management plan  implementation date of current management plan  intended revision date of current management plan Guidance is needed on interpretation of the The request has only been partially implemented; It is management plans; they are often detailed for possible to list for each management plan whether is terrestrial areas (such as islands), but do not covers the marine or terrestrial areas (or both) of the always contain information on management of MPA. A guidance document has however not yet been the actual marine or sub-surface habitats. done. Better suited for Natura 2000 information, e.g.  several Natura 2000 codes can be entered per possibility to enter more than one Natura 2000 MPA code and to view overlapping Natura 2000 areas  there is a data field for the status of the Natura on the map. 2000 site (SCI/SAC; SPA; both)  direct links to the Natura 2000 standard data form overlapping with the site are provided  A built in search function for viewing the MPAs by their Natura 2000 status has been created  the Natura 2000 sites are shown on the map The grouping of national and international legal National legal protection is reported according to protection systems need to be clarified. separate lists of protection categories made by the each country. International protection status (IUCN, Natura 2000, Emerald status, OSPAR, IBA, WDPA, Ramsar) is reported the same way for each country.

Page 5 of 16

STATE & CONSERVATION 3-2015, 3N-5

Annex 2. General structure of the modernized HELCOM MPA database

Home page These screen shots portray the structure of the database in the public view, which looks the same as the login view except for the missing action buttons for editing the data and the data provider information. The picture below shows the Home page. The tabs on the top of the page allow you to view all information under different sub-topics. Choosing the Sites tab allows you to view the site specific information.

Sites Page The Sites page displays all existing HELCOM MPAs (or sites) and gives and overview of the most relevant information per site.

Page 6 of 16

STATE & CONSERVATION 3-2015, 3N-5

Page contents within a site Under the Sites page you can view individual HELCOM MPAs by clicking on the HELCOM MPA name link (see previous picture). The MPA specific information is divided under seven sections which can be expanded using the arrow symbol: General Information of site, Map, Species on site, Biotopes on site, Biotope complexes on site, Management and regulated activities of site, Pressures on site. Data provider information of site is currently only displayed in the login view.

Page 7 of 16

STATE & CONSERVATION 3-2015, 3N-5

General Information All seven sections under a specific HELCOM MPA open up to display more information. For example the General information section has the following data fields:

Page 8 of 16

STATE & CONSERVATION 3-2015, 3N-5

Annex 3. Current predefined lists of species and biotope complexes used for reporting in the modernized HELCOM MPA database

Predefined species list The predefined species list (table 3) for the HELCOM MPA database was compiled based on

 HELCOM Red List for Baltic Sea Species from 2013 (BSEP 140), including DD, NT, VU, EN, CR and RE species, but not LC or NA  HELCOM List of threatened and/or declining species of the Baltic Sea from 2006 (BSEP 113)  OSPAR List of threatened and/or declining species from 2008 (only species occuring in the Baltic Sea were included)  those species occurring on both relevant national checklists of HD Annexes II, IV and V and BD Annex I and the HELCOM Checklist for Baltic Sea macro-species (2012).

Finally all duplicate species were removed. The list covers the 198 most relevant species for reporting for the HELCOM MPAs. Please note that the Baltic Sea Checklist for Macro-species (2012) covers macrophytes, benthic invertebrates, fish and lamprey species, Baltic breeding birds and marine mammals, but it does not cover coastal terrestrial species. Therefore coastal terrestrial species relevant for HELCOM MPA reporting might still need to be added from the national checklists of HD Annexes II, IV and V and BD Annex I.

Table 3. Current predefined species list in the HELCOM MPA database.

SPECIES GROUP SCIENTIFIC NAME ENGLISH NAME Birds Actitis hypoleucos Common sandpiper Birds Alca torda Razorbill Birds Anas clypeata Shoveler Birds Anas platyrhynchos Mallard Birds Anas strepera Gadwall Birds Anser anser Greylag goose Birds Anser fabalis fabalis Taiga bean goose Birds Anthus petrosus Eurasian rock pipit Birds Anthus pratensis Meadow pipit Birds Arenaria interpres Ruddy turnstone Birds Aythya fuligula Tufted duck Birds Aythya marila Greater scaup Birds Branta bernicla hrota Brent goose Birds Branta leucopsis Barnacle goose Birds Bucephala clangula Goldeneye Birds Calidris alpina alpina Dunlin Birds Calidris alpina schinzii Southern dunlin Birds Calidris temminckii Temminck's stint Birds Cepphus grylle arcticus Black guillemot Birds Cepphus grylle grylle Black guillemot Birds Charadrius alexandrinus Kentish plover Birds Charadrius hiaticula hiaticula Ringed plover Birds Clangula hyemalis Long-tailed duck Birds Cygnus olor Mute swan Birds Gavia arctica Black-throated diver

Page 9 of 16

STATE & CONSERVATION 3-2015, 3N-5

Birds Gavia stellata Red-throated diver Birds Gelochelidon nilotica Gull-billed tern Birds Haematopus ostralegus Eurasian oystercatcher Birds Haliaeetus albicilla White-tailed sea-eagle Birds Hydrocoloeus minutus Little gull Birds Hydroprogne caspia Caspian tern Birds Larus argentatus Herring gull Birds Larus canus Mew gull Birds Larus fuscus fuscus Lesser black-backed gull Birds Larus fuscus intermedius Lesser black-backed gull Birds Larus marinus Greater black-backed gull Birds Larus melanocephalus Mediterranean gull Birds Limosa limosa limosa Black-tailed godwit Birds Melanitta fusca Velvet scoter Birds Melanitta nigra Common scoter Birds Mergus merganser Common merganser Birds Mergus serrator Red-breasted merganser Birds Motacilla alba White wagtail Birds Oenanthe oenanthe Northern wheatear Birds Pandion haliaetus Osprey Birds Phalacrocorax carbo Long-tailed cormorant Birds Philomachus pugnax Ruff Birds Podiceps auritus Horned grebe Birds Podiceps cristatus Great-crested grebe Birds Podiceps grisegena Red-necked grebe Birds Polysticta stelleri Steller's eider Birds Recurvirostra avosetta Pied avocet Birds Riparia riparia Sand martin Birds Rissa tridactyla Black-legged kittiwake Birds Somateria mollissima Common eider Birds Stercorarius parasiticus Parasitic jaeger Birds Sterna hirundo Common tern Birds Sterna paradisaea Arctic tern Birds Sterna sandvicensis Sandwich tern Birds Sternula albifrons Little tern Birds Tadorna tadorna Common shelduck Birds Tringa totanus Common redshank Birds Uria aalge Guillemot Birds Vanellus vanellus Northern lapwing Birds Xenus cinereus Terek sandpiper Fish and lamprey species Acipenser oxyrinchus Gulf sturgeon Fish and lamprey species Alosa alosa Allis shad Fish and lamprey species Alosa fallax Twaite shad Fish and lamprey species Anarchichas lupus Striped wolffish Fish and lamprey species Anguilla anguilla European eel Fish and lamprey species Aspius aspius Asp

Page 10 of 16

STATE & CONSERVATION 3-2015, 3N-5

Fish and lamprey species Barbus barbus Barbel Fish and lamprey species Cetorhinus maximus Basking shark Fish and lamprey species Cobitis taenia Spined loach Fish and lamprey species Coregonus albula Vendace Fish and lamprey species Coregonus maraena Maraene Fish and lamprey species Cottus gobio Bullhead Fish and lamprey species Cyclopterus lumpus Lumpsucker Fish and lamprey species Dipturus batis Blue skate Fish and lamprey species Enchelyopus cimbrius Four-bearded rockling Fish and lamprey species Gadus morhua Cod Fish and lamprey species Galeorhinus galeus Tope shark Fish and lamprey species Hippocampus hippocampus Short-snouted seahorse Fish and lamprey species Lamna nasus Porbeagle Fish and lamprey species Lampetra fluviatilis River lamprey Fish and lamprey species Lebetus guilleti Guillet's goby Fish and lamprey species Lebetus scorpioides Diminutive goby Fish and lamprey species Lesueurigobius friesii Fries's goby Fish and lamprey species Lota lota Burbot Fish and lamprey species Lycodes gracilis Checker eelpout Fish and lamprey species Melanogrammus aeglefinus Haddock Fish and lamprey species Merlangius merlangus Whiting Fish and lamprey species Merluccius merluccius European hake Fish and lamprey species Misgurnus fossilis Weatherfish Fish and lamprey species Molva molva European ling Fish and lamprey species Pelecus cultratus Razor-fish Fish and lamprey species Petromyzon marinus Sea lamprey Fish and lamprey species Phrynorhombus norvegicus Norwegian topknot Fish and lamprey species Pomatoschistus norvegicus Norway goby Fish and lamprey species Pomatoschistus pictus Painted goby Fish and lamprey species Raja clavata Thornback ray Fish and lamprey species Rhodeus sericeus/Rhodeus amarus Bitterling (european) Fish and lamprey species Salmo salar Atlantic salmon Fish and lamprey species Salmo trutta Brown trout Fish and lamprey species Scophthalmus maximus Turbot Fish and lamprey species Squalus acanthias Spiny dogfish Fish and lamprey species Squatina squatina Angel shark Fish and lamprey species Thunnus thynnus Atlantic bluefin tuna Fish and lamprey species Thymallus thymallus Grayling Fish and lamprey species Zeugopterus punctatus Topknot Fish and lamprey species Zoarces viviparus Eelpout Invertebrates Abra prismatica Invertebrates Agrypnetes crassicornis Invertebrates Alderia modesta Modest alderia Invertebrates Amauropsis islandica Iceland moonsnail Invertebrates Amphipholis squamata Brooding snake star Invertebrates Anisus vorticulus Lesser ramshorn snail

Page 11 of 16

STATE & CONSERVATION 3-2015, 3N-5

Invertebrates Arctica islandica Ocean quahog Invertebrates Atelecyclus rotundatus Circular Invertebrates Boreotrophon truncatus Bobtail trophon Invertebrates Clelandella miliaris Invertebrates Cliona celata Boring Invertebrates Corophium multisetosum Invertebrates Corystes cassivelaunus Masked crab Invertebrates Cryptonatica affinis Arctic moonsnail Invertebrates Deshayesorchestia deshayesii Invertebrates Ekmania barthii Invertebrates Epitonium clathratulum Invertebrates Epitonium clathrus Common wentletrap Invertebrates Epitonium turtonis Invertebrates Eurydice pulchra Speckled sea louse Invertebrates Gammarellus angulosus Invertebrates Gammarus inaequicauda Invertebrates Geryon trispinosus Invertebrates Haploops tenuis Invertebrates Haploops tubicola Invertebrates Hippasteria phrygiana Rigid cushion star Invertebrates Hippolyte varians Chamaeleon prawn Invertebrates dorsenttensis Invertebrates Leach's spider crab Invertebrates Lekanesphaera rugicauda Invertebrates Leucorrhinia pectoralis Yellow-spotted whiteface Invertebrates Limnoria lignorum Gribble Invertebrates Lunatia pallida Pale moonsnail Invertebrates Macoma calcarea Chalky macoma Invertebrates Macroplea pubipennis Invertebrates Modiolus modiolus Northern horsemussel Invertebrates Mya truncata Truncate softshell clam Invertebrates Myosotella myosotis Mouse-eared snail Invertebrates Nucella lapillus Dogwhelk Invertebrates Nucula nucleus Common nut clam Invertebrates Orchestia gammarellus Invertebrates Ostrea edulis European flat oyster Invertebrates Palaemonetes varians Atlantic ditch shrimp Invertebrates Parvicardium hauniense Copenhagen cockle Invertebrates Pelonaia corrugata Invertebrates Pleurogonium rubicundum Invertebrates Roxania utriculus Invertebrates Sabella pavonina Peacock worm Invertebrates Scrobicularia plana Peppery furrow shell Invertebrates Skeneopsis planorbis Planorb skenea Invertebrates Solaster endeca Purple sun star Invertebrates Stomphia coccinea Spotted swimming anemone

Page 12 of 16

STATE & CONSERVATION 3-2015, 3N-5

Invertebrates Stylurus flavipes Invertebrates Talitrus saltator Sand hopper Invertebrates Thia scutellata Thumbnail crab Invertebrates Unio crassus Thick shelled river mussel Invertebrates Upogebia stellata Invertebrates Vitreolina philippi Macrophytes Alisma wahlenbergii Macrophytes Botrytella reinboldii Macrophytes Chara braunii Braun's stonewort Macrophytes Chara horrida Macrophytes Chara sp. Macrophytes Crassula aquatica Macrophytes Delamarea attenuata Macrophytes Helmonthora dicaricata Macrophytes Hippuris tetraphylla Fourleaf mare's tail Macrophytes Lamprothamnium papulosum Foxtail stonewort Macrophytes Myriocladia lovenii Macrophytes Nitella hyalina Many-branched stonewort Macrophytes Nitellopsis obtusa Starry stonewort Macrophytes Persicaria foliosa Macrophytes Potamogeton friesii Flatstalked pondweed Macrophytes Rosenvingiella constricta Macrophytes Stypocaulon scoparium Macrophytes Zostera noltii Dwarf eelgrass Mammals Halichoerus grypus Grey seal Mammals Lutra lutra Eurasian otter Mammals Phoca vitulina vitulina (Southern Baltic subpop) Harbour seal Mammals Phoca hispida botnica Baltic ringed seal Mammals Phoca vitulina vitulina (Kalmarsund subpop) Harbour seal Mammals Phocoena phocoena (Baltic Sea subpop) Harbour porpoise Mammals Phocoena phocoena (Western Baltic subpop) Harbour porpoise

Page 13 of 16

STATE & CONSERVATION 3-2015, 3N-5

Biotope Complexes list The predefined Biotope Complexes list was created as follows:

 The Habitats Directive Annex I list (complete, not only marine) was used as a starting point.  The list was crosschecked against the national HD Annex I checklists for the 8 shared members of HELCOM and EU, and 1) habitats not occuring on the national checklists were deleted 2) habitats occuring only in the alpine regions were deleted 3) habitats occuring only in the atlantic regions or named 'atlantic' were deleted 4) habitats named something 'alpine' or 'mountain' and occuring in both alpine and another region were deleted  The list was also crosschecked against the corresponding list in the old BSPA database. 1) Habitats not present in the old database were deleted

The predefined biotope complex list for the Baltic Sea MPAs contains 83 of the 231 habitats in the HD Annex I.

NOTE that the Biotope Complexes correspond directly to the HD Annex 1 habitats and follow the same codes. They represent larger landscapes which can comprise several biotopes (reported separately in the HELCOM MPA database).

Table 4. Current predefined biotope complex list in the HELCOM MPA database.

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3

HELCOM /HD Biotope Complex name Annex 1 code

1. COASTAL 11. Open sea and tidal areas 1110 Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea AND water all the time HALOPHYTIC 1130 Estuaries HABITATS 1140 Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide 1150 Coastal lagoons 1160 Large shallow inlets and bays 1170 Reefs 1180 Submarine structures made by leaking gases 12. Sea cliffs and shingle or stony 1210 Annual vegetation of drift lines beaches 1220 Perennial vegetation of stony banks 1230 Vegetated sea cliffs of the Atlantic and Baltic Coasts 16. Boreal Baltic archipelago, coastal 1610 Baltic esker islands with sandy, rocky and shingle and landupheaval areas beach vegetation and sublittoral vegetation 1620 Boreal Baltic islets and small islands 1630 Boreal Baltic coastal meadows 1640 Boreal Baltic sandy beaches with perennial vegetation 1650 Boreal Baltic narrow inlets 2. COASTAL 21. Sea dunes of the Atlantic, North 2110 Embryonic shifting dunes SAND DUNES Sea and Baltic coasts 2120 Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria ("white dunes")

Page 14 of 16

STATE & CONSERVATION 3-2015, 3N-5

AND INLAND 2130 Fixed coastal dunes with herbaceous vegetation DUNES ("grey dunes") 2140 Decalcified fixed dunes with Empetrum nigrum 2160 Dunes with Hippophaë rhamnoides 2170 Dunes with Salix repens ssp. argentea (Salicion arenariae) 2180 Wooded dunes of the Atlantic, Continental and Boreal region 2190 Humid dune slacks 23. Inland dunes, old and decalcified 2310 Dry sand heaths with Calluna and Genista 2320 Dry sand heaths with Calluna and Empetrum nigrum 2330 Inland dunes with open Corynephorus and Agrostis grasslands 3. 31. Standing water 3110 Oligotrophic waters containing very few FRESHWATER minerals of sandy plains (Littorelletalia uniflorae) HABITATS 3130 Oligotrophic to mesotrophic standing waters with vegetation of the Littorelletea uniflorae and/or of the Isoëto-Nanojuncetea 3140 Hard oligo-mesotrophic waters with benthic vegetation of Chara formations 3150 Natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition – type vegetation 3160 Natural dystrophic lakes and ponds 3180 Turloughs 3190 Lakes of gypsum karst 32. Running water – sections of water 3210 Fennoscandian natural rivers courses with natural or semi-natural 3260 Water courses of plain to montane levels with dynamics (minor, average and major the Ranunculion fluitantis and Callitricho- beds) where the water quality shows Batrachion vegetation no 3270 Rivers with muddy banks with Chenopodion rubri p.p. and Bidention p.p. Vegetation 4. 40. ?? 4030 European dry heaths TEMPERATE 4060 Alpine and Boreal heaths HEATH AND 4080 Sub-Arctic Salix spp. Scrub SCRUB 5130 Juniperus communis formations on heaths or calcareous grasslands 6. NATURAL 61. Natural grasslands 6110 Rupicolous calcareous or basophilic grasslands AND SEMI- of the Alysso-Sedion albi NATURAL 6120 Xeric sand calcareous grasslands GRASSLAND 6150 Siliceous alpine and boreal grasslands FORMATIONS 62. Semi-natural dry grasslands and 6210 Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia) (* important orchid sites) 6230 Species-rich Nardus grasslands, on silicious substrates in mountain areas (and submountain areas in Continental Europe) 6270 Fennoscandian lowland species-rich dry to mesic grasslands 6280 Nordic alvar and precambrian calcareous flatrocks 64. Semi-natural tall-herb humid 6410 Molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or meadows clayey-silt-laden soils (Molinion caeruleae) 6450 Northern boreal alluvial meadows 65. Mesophile grasslands 6510 Lowland hay meadows (Alopecurus pratensis, Sanguisorba officinalis) 6530 Fennoscandian wooded meadows 71. Sphagnum acid bogs 7110 Active raised bogs

Page 15 of 16

STATE & CONSERVATION 3-2015, 3N-5

7. RAISED 7120 Degraded raised bogs still capable of natural BOGS AND regeneration MIRES AND 7140 Transition mires and quaking bogs FENS 7160 Fennoscandian mineral-rich springs and springfens 72. Calcareous fens 7210 Calcareous fens with Cladium mariscus and species of the Caricion davallianae 7220 Petrifying springs with tufa formation (Cratoneurion) 7230 Alkaline fens 73. Boreal mires 7310 Aapa mires 7320 Palsa mires 8. ROCKY 81. Scree 8110 Siliceous scree of the montane to snow levels HABITATS (Androsacetalia alpinae and Galeopsietalia AND CAVES ladani) 8120 Calcareous and calcshist screes of the montane to alpine levels (Thlaspietea rotundifolii) 82. Rocky slopes with chasmophytic 8210 Calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation vegetation 8220 Siliceous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation 8230 Siliceous rock with pioneer vegetation of the Sedo-Scleranthion or of the Sedo albi-Veronicion dillenii 8240 Limestone pavements 83. Other rocky habitats 8310 Caves not open to the public 8330 Submerged or partially submerged sea caves 9. FORESTS 90. Forests of Boreal Europe 9010 Western Taïga (Sub)natural 9020 Fennoscandian hemiboreal natural old broad- woodland leaved deciduous forests (Quercus, Tilia, Acer, vegetation Fraxinus or Ulmus) rich in epiphytes comprising 9030 Natural forests of primary succession stages of native species landupheaval coast forming 9040 Nordic subalpine/subarctic forests with Betula forests of tall pubescens ssp. czerepanovii trees, with typical 9050 Fennoscandian herb-rich forests with Picea abies undergrowth, 9060 Coniferous forests on, or connected to, and meeting glaciofluvial eskers the following 9070 Fennoscandian wooded pastures criteria: rare 9080 Fennoscandian deciduous swamp woods or residual, 91. Forests of Temperate Europe 9110 Luzulo-Fagetum beech forests and/or 9130 Asperulo-Fagetum beech forests hosting species of 9180 Tilio-Acerion forests of slopes, screes and ravines Community 9190 Old acidophilous oak woods with Quercus robur interest on sandy plains 91D0 Bog woodland 91E0 Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Padion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae) 91F0 Riparian mixed forests of Quercus robur, Ulmus laevis and Ulmus minor, Fraxinus excelsior or Fraxinus angustifolia, along the great rivers (Ulmenion minoris)

Page 16 of 16