1. Updating EU forest types process Marco Marchetti University of Molise-Italian Academy of Forest Science

2. European Forest Types = 14 classes of European forests growing under relatively homogeneous ecological conditions (climatic, edaphic) and levels of anthropogenic modification MAIN GOAL To serve as a framework to improve assessment of forest condition at pan- European level http://reports.eea.europa.eu/technical_report_2006_9/en

3. 1234567891011121314 123456789101112 1314 14 Top level classes (CATEGORIES) 76 low level classes (TYPES) Types are intended to stratify national forest data, the 14 categories for data evaluation and international reporting Classification scheme

4. Category and types: nomenclature

5. Implementation of the scheme MCPFE the use of the14 classes is currently discussed as a potential basis for improved future reporting of state of the European forests TESTING the feasibility of the scheme has been RECCOMENDED Tests, 2006-2008 BioSoil project COST Action E43 Study on impacts of climate change on European forests and options for adaptation LUCAS EEA Report European forests, ecosystem conditions and sustainable use

6. BioSoil project http://biosoil.jrc.it/ Demonstration project under Forest Focus Regulation Intensive monitoring Level I plots assigned to categories and types Goal of forest types: provide a regional perspective for understanding, evaluating and reporting differences in forest condition concerning biodiversity and soil status

7. Number of species Biogeographic region dominant species derived from plot tree species frequency Climate soil elevation river proximity, based on European rivers map (buffer 1 km) Bohn potential forest type (Bohn et al., 2000) Atlas Florae Europaeae: natural range of distribution of the tree species Method: 1. Preliminary desk classification based on integration of several data sources 2. Field survey validation within BioSoil

8. Key message from BioSoil: significant differences in plant species composition, soil properties and critical load exceedances across European Forest types Source: The condition of forest in Europe, 2007 ICP Report Number of species on plots in different forest types (in brackets: number of plots)

9. COST Action E43 Harmonisation of National Forest Inventories in Europe: tecniques for common reporting http://www.metla.fi/eu/cost/e43/ The scheme has been used to stratify 8434 NFIs plots across 12 European Countries at category and type level Test perfomed on a voluntary basis by NFIs national correspondents on a subset of plots of NFIs Main goal: to test the feasibility of the scheme, i.e. stratify national data according to harmonized Categories and Types

10. Results COUNTRY Category ATBECHCZDEDKESFIIEITNOPTSE 1196708169 2424443152143 34082011105 4100150 547100898343582 664100 411511627 711410013012333 823216850 91245550 101076450 1113810767 12351202611 13141322238 14121002424297918918461210011 TOTAL PLOTS 110440040130279014587753361095350974250188 NUMBER OF CAT. 7438945478343 Key message from COSTE43 test: The scheme proves feasible to stratify NFIs plots from different regions of Europe; no gaps in classification coverage found

11. Study on impacts of climate change on European forests and options for adaptation ( in progress ) Service Contract with DG Agriculture and Rural Development, Contractor EFI No 30-CE-0163547/00-01 (Tender No. AGRI-2007-G4-06) An adapted version of the European forest type scheme is currently being used in this study to analyse climate change impacts and adaptation options for different bioclimatic regions/forest types of Europe

12. Study on impacts of climate change on European forests and options for adaptation ( in progress ) Service Contract with DG Agriculture and Rural Development, Contractor EFI No 30-CE-0163547/00-01 (Tender No. AGRI-2007-G4-06) Links with bioclimatic zones of Europe established

13. LUCAS (Land Use/Cover Area frame statistical Survey) used as basis to classify areas covered by forests Feedback: it works well in tested European countries (balkan region), need of further elaboration in Turkey EEA Report European forests - ecosystem conditions and sustainable use (http://reports.eea.europa.eu/eea_report_2008_3/en) used as reference framework to report on European forest condition and threats to biodiversity

14. Future actions October 2008: EEA is planning to host a workshop inviting people that have tested European Forest Types, collect feedbacks and define need of further improvements: e.g. expanding the type level to include cover classification gaps, if any Contacts established with Turkey expert to improve classification for this region ??? third edition of the European Forest Type report

15. Thank you for your attention! marchettimarco@unimol.it