ANNEX VI - Factsheets forest habitat group Annex to the Input Document for the Second Alpine Natura 2000 Seminar 21 – 23 June 2017, Padova, Italy Contents 91D0 * Bog woodland ................................................................................................................ 2 91E0 * Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Padion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae) .............................................................................................................. 7 9130 Asperulo-Fagetum beech forests ..................................................................................... 13 9180 * Tilio-Acerion forests of slopes, screes and ravines ...................................................... 17 9260 Castanea sativa woods ..................................................................................................... 21 9410 Acidophilous Picea forests .............................................................................................. 25 91H0 Pannonian woods with Quercus pubescens .................................................................... 29 91L0 Illyrian oak –hornbeam forests (Erythronio-Carpinion) ................................................ 33 91M0 Pannonian-Balkanic oak forests .................................................................................... 36 91WO Moesian beech forests .................................................................................................. 39 91Z0 Moesian Silver lime woods ............................................................................................. 42 9050 Fennoscandian herb-rich forests with Picea abies .......................................................... 45 9110 Luzulo-Fagetum beech forests ........................................................................................ 48 9170 Galio-Carpinetum oak hornbeam forests ........................................................................ 52 9270 Hellenic beech forests with Abies borisii-regis ............................................................... 57 9510 Southern Apennine Abies alba ........................................................................................ 60 9560 Endemic forests with Juniperus spp. ............................................................................... 63 1 91D0 * Bog woodland x Selected for first round of Biogeographical Seminar Selected using ‘Low hanging fruit’ approach Habitat summary The assessments of Sweden and Finland led to the overall conservation status of this priority habitat type in the Alpine region being favourable. Habitat 91D0 is distributed in the Scandinavian mountains, Alps, Carpathians and mountains of Bulgaria; it occurs also in the Pyrenees and is absent in the Apennines. The main part of the habitat area (84 %) is located in Sweden. Improving the conservation status of the habitat requires improvement of the habitat structure and functions in all countries except Scandinavia and Germany. The most important measure is the restoration of hydrological conditions. Other measures should ensure appropriate forest management. Peat extraction in sites should also be stopped or significantly reduced. The declaration of protected sites is very relevant for this habitat type as it could help implementation of the above-mentioned measures and prevent further pressures. Habitat restoration is needed in particular in Italy, Romania, and Slovakia, because the reported habitat area is smaller than the reference value. Habitat description Coniferous and broad-leaved forests on a humid to wet peaty substrate. Hydrological regime and high water level play the most important role. Ground or surface water is acidic and poor in nutrients (raised bogs and acid fens). These communities are generally dominated by Betula pubescens, Frangula alnus, Pinus sylvestris, Pinus rotundata and Picea abies. The undergrowth consists of various species specific to bogland or, more generally, to oligotrophic environments, such as bilberries (Vaccinium sp.), sedges (Carex sp.) and bog mosses (Sphagnum sp.). This habitat sometimes hosts hygrophytic vascular plant species of orchids (Corallorhiza trifida, Dactylorhiza maculata, D. fuchsii). Distribution in the Alpine region and coverage by Natura 2000 network The habitat is distributed in the Scandinavian mountains, Alps, Carpathians and mountains of Bulgaria; it also occurs in the Pyrenees and is absent in the Apennines. A relatively small part of the habitat area (around 20 %) is protected in the Natura 2000 network. In Bulgaria the entire national habitat area is located in Natura 2000 sites; a large part of the habitat area is located in Natura 2000 sites in Italy, Poland, and Slovenia. 2 Natura 2000 sites in the Alpine region Country Habitat Area /km2/ Coverage /%/ Number of sites Austria 1.40 23 41 Bulgaria 2.69 100 4 Finland 110-140 65-82 14 France 1.79 6 12 Germany 2-2.5 38-48 11 Italy 11.27 99 52 Poland 10.78 98 10 Romania 45-46 60-61 23 Slovakia 10-15 42-63 29 Slovenia 10.00 90 3 Spain 0.23 N/A 1 Sweden 204.00 11 50 Total 409 - 445 19 - 21 250 The table above shows the size of the habitat area in Natura 2000 sites and its proportion compared to habitat area in the whole biogeographical region (‘coverage’) as reported by MS in the 2013 Article 17 report. The number of sites was extracted from the 2015 Natura 2000 database. Biogeographical conservation status assessment Sweden and Finland host more than 90 % of the area for the habitat. Their assessments led to the overall conservation status of this habitat type in the Alpine biogeographical region being favourable. Germany also reported favourable conservations status, while eight countries indicated unfavourable- inadequate status. Changes in overall conservation status from unfavourable-inadequate to favourable are caused by the use of a different methodological approach and better data rather than a real change in conservation status. Only Slovenia indicated a genuine change when changing conservation status from favourable to unfavourable-inadequate and declining. More knowledge is needed from France, which indicated unknown habitat area. 3 Legend: MS – Member State; Overall asses – Overall assessment; % MS – percentage of the surface area in the respective Member State compared to whole biogeographical region; Ref. – reference value; Struct & func. – structure and functions; Future prosp. – future prospects; Curr. CS – current conservation status; Prev. CS – previous conservation status; Nat. of ch. – nature of change; EU27: assessment on the level of all EU Member Countries; Concl. – conclusion; Target 1 – target 1 of the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy. Conservation status FV Favourable U1 Unfavourable - inadequate U2 Unfavourable - bad XX Unknown Trend 0 = stable; + = increase; - = decrease; x = unknown Qualifier = stable; + positive; - negative; x unknown Nature of a – genuine change; b – change due to better data or improved knowledge; b2 – due to taxonomical change review; c1 – due to different methods to measure or evaluate; c2 – due to use of different thresholds; d – no information about nature of change; e – due to less accurate or absent data; nc – no change Target 1 A – favourable assessments; B – improved assess.; C – deteriorated assessments; D – unfavourable contribution and unknown assessments that did not change; E – assessments that became unknown. Pressures, threats and proposed measures This habitat is threatened in most parts of Europe, the main threats being hydrological changes caused by human activities (mostly connected with forest management, drainage). The countries reported a broad range of other pressures, including (intensive?) forest management and use, removal of dead and dying trees, peat extraction, pollution of surface waters and groundwater, vegetation succession, and drought. Finland reported that the majority of the surface area of bog woodlands in the Alpine region is in established wilderness or protected areas where forestry (including drainage related to forestry measures) is not allowed and construction is restricted. There are no significant threats or pressures threatening the viability of this habitat type. Pressures with low importance are intensive grazing by semi-domesticated reindeer and damage by moth invasions (Epirrita autumnata, Operophtera brumata). 4 Code Pressure name AT BG DE FI FR IT PL RO SE SI SK A04.01 Intensive grazing L A04.02 Non intensive grazing L B01.02 Artificial planting on open ground (non-native trees) L B02 Forest and Plantation management & use M M L L M B02.01.02 Forest replanting (non native trees) M B02.02 Forestry clearance L L B02.04 Removal of dead and dying trees M L L B02.05 Non- intensive timber production (leaving dead wood/ old trees untouched) M B03 Forest exploitation without replanting or natural regrowth M B05 Use of fertilizers (forestry) L B06 Grazing in forests/ woodland L M B07 Forestry activities not referred to above M M C01.03 Peat extraction L M M L C01.03.01 Hand cutting of peat H D01 Roads, paths and railroads M L L D01.01 Paths, tracks, cycling tracks M D01.02 Roads, motorways H D05 Improved access to site L L E01 Urbanised areas, human habitation L E01.03 Dispersed habitation L L E02 Industrial or commercial areas L E03 Discharges M F03.01.01 Damage caused by game (excess population density) M G01 Outdoor sports and leisure activities, recreational activities L G01.02 Walking, horseriding and non-motorised vehicles L G01.03 Motorised vehicles L G02.02 Skiing complex