1. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..1 Future Reference Values for Structure and Function in the Habitat Directive Nature Types Dr. Jesper Fredshavn NERI, Aarhus University, Denmark April 26, 2007

2. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..2 Reference values Setting reference values has scientific as well as political aspects ”how high will you fly” ”how low can you go”

3. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..3 The process of future reference values Select relevant indicators Monitor indicators Select a reference set of areas with favourable condition Compare variation range of reference set with entire monitoring set Set criterias of individual indicators Set importance of different indicators Produce reference value of structure and function from the weighted average of indicators of the reference set

4. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..4 Scientific Criteria for Favourable Conservation Status in Denmark Technical Report from NERI - 462 pp in a Danish version Criteria for 51 habitats Criteria for 36 species Criteria for 75 birds A draft version with 7 habitats, 4 species and 4 birds in English

5. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..5 Table 3.29. Criteria for favourable conservation status on local/site level for the habitat type 4030. Indicators marked with (P) are pressure indicators. Type 4030PropertyUnit of measurementCriteriaComments AreaArea (hectares)Number of hectaresStable or increasing Structure and functionNaturally low nutrient levelNitrogen deposition (kg/N/hectare/year) Not exceeding the critical loadCritical load 10-20 kg/N/year, UNECE 2003 Naturally low nutrient levelC/N relation in upper layer of peatWithin the expected variation of the natural habitat type in Denmark. Stable or improving Should be >30 Naturally low nutrient levelNutrition content in year-shoot of dwarf bushes Within the expected variation of the natural habitat type in Denmark. Stable or improving Should be <14 mg/g Naturally low nutrient levelFrequency and intensity of the heather’s leaf-beetle Not exceeding one large attack each 15 years Natural part of the dynamic of the heath, but increased frequency may indicate increased N- content in parts of the plant AciditypHThe pH must be stable and not considerably lower than the natural acidity of the locality. If no historical information is available, the natural pH can be predicted by model Open vegetationCoverage of Mountain pine, Spruce, Aspen, Oak, Birch, and Juniper Stable or decreasingShould be <10%. Sparse occurrence of trees may be acceptable out of consideration for animals and birds Vegetation dynamicsCoverage /frequency of heather (dwarf bushes) in the pioneer stage Within the expected variation of the natural habitat type in Denmark. Stable or improving Should be about 10% of the heather/ dwarf bush area. Dynamic is favourable where the heath’s other plant communities and fauna shift with the stages of the heather’s life cycle Regeneration (heather/ dwarf bushes) Coverage of bare soilWithin the expected variation of the natural habitat type in Denmark. Stable or improving Preferably >20% at intervals of some years. Important for establishing of lichen/ mosses, herbs, the sedge family, and for heat-demanding insects Invasive speciesCoverage/ frequency of Campylopus introflexus and the other cryptogames Stable or decreasingShould be <5%, but not more than 10% of the cryptogame community’s total frequency. The moss is invasive and an aggressive competitor to the heather’s lichen-species Species composition of plants Deviation from the species composition of the habitat type in reference condition The deviation is within the expected variation of the natural habitat type in Denmark The species composition is a diversity indicator of changes in the environment factors Characteristic speciesPopulation of characteristic species Index of populations of characteristic species present Long-term maintenance on a stable or increasing level Variations are natural. In special cases declines may be acceptable /targeted.

6. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..6 Monitoring: Intensive sampling stations 201 Sampling stations, monitored yearly Detailed data on year-to-year fluctuations in Natura 2000 areas 6-19 stations pr habitat type (tot. 201 stations covering 18 hab. types) 40 random sampling sites pr station (5-10 ha) Area: changes in sampling sites with hab. type Structure/function: registration of vegetation and geo/chemical indicators Species: sampling site and 5 m circle

7. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..7 Monitoring: Extensive sampling stations 761 Sampling stations, monitored 6-years cycle Specific data on conservation status and trends 50% in N2000 – 50% outside N2000 9-92 stations pr habitat type (tot. 761 stations covering 16 hab. types) 40 random sampling sites pr station (5-10 ha) Area: changes in sampling sites with hab. type Structure/function: registration of vegetation and geo/chemical indicators Species: sampling site and 5 m circle

8. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..8 Indicators - function and structure 5 m Observations in the 5 m circle: Vegetation height Pct. cover of woody species Pct. cover of herbivori Bog structure Observations in the sample plots: pH in soil/water Conductivity C/N - ratio Phosphorous Nitrate in soil/water N in shoots, mosses and lichens Observations on the station: Pct. cover of invasive species Pct. cover of rare typical spec.

9. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..9 The 201 intensive sampling stations Monitoring stations Main nature types Meadow Heath land Calc. Fens Dunes Acid fens Grassland Salt meadow

10. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..10 Sampling Stations Sampling stations are each designated for one habitat type The stations cover the habitat type broadly and often include several habitat types in a mosaic Random sampling sites are used to : detect changes in area covered by each habitat type sampling of structure and function indicators

11. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..11 Mapping of Danish habitat types Complete mapping of all 254 Natura 2000 areas and sampled data outside Natura 2000 areas Stratified Network of Monitoring Stations based on size and quality of the areas Natura 2000 Management Plans Biological status assessment - Area: GIS data, field verification Structure/function: Visual, measurable field indicators Species: 5 m documentation circle

12. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..12 Mapping the area of habitat types Natura 2000 Designated Area Basic mapping of Habitat types (ortho photo interpretation & field mapping)

13. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..13 Structural indicators in the mapping Vegetation structure Hydrology and coastal protection Grassing and nature management Eutrofication and pesticide spraying Habitat type specific structures The structural indicators reflects the pressures on the habitat types All habitat types are evaluated from the same indicators, but the scoring and weighting of the indicators vary from habitat type to habitat type

14. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..14 Vegetation structure

15. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..15 Hydrology and coastal protection

16. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..16 Agriculture and Nature management

17. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..17 Species indicators 5 m Documentation from a circle of 5 m radius Species composition of vascular plants The circle is placed in a homogenous area characteristic of the habitat type

18. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..18 Biological Status Classes 5 quality classes for Biological Status cf. the 5 class frame used by the Water Framework Directive I High nature status II Good nature status III Moderate nature status IV Poor nature status V Bad nature status I & II represents the Habitat Directive’s demands for FCS

19. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..19 Indicators The Biological Status assessment is based on the evaluation of a set of indicators. The Biological Status is assessed on a reference scale between 0 and 1, where 1 is the optimal condition without any negative pressures and 0 is the worst possible condition Each indicator is evaluated separately and given a score between 0 and 1, and the biological status is then calculated from the weighted scores of the indicators

20. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..20 Calculation of Structural Index

21. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..21 Calculation of Structural Index

22. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..22 Species scores The species are assigned scores from 1 to 7 based on how they react on increased antropogenic pressures: -1 = Problem species 1 = Very tolerant 3 = Indifferent 7 = Very susceptible The species are related to Main Habitat types: 21, coastal dunes; 40, heath land; 62, grass land; 64, meadow; 91, forests etc. Main Nature typeScoreDanish nameScientific name 62kløver, hvid-Trifolium repens 62kvik, almindeligElytrigia repens ssp. repens 621hundegræs, almindeligDactylis glomerata 621kløver, rød-Trifolium pratense 622gåsemad, almindeligArabidopsis thaliana 622gåsepotentilArgentina anserina 623hønsetarm, storblomstretCerastium arvense 623kamgræs, almindeligCynosurus cristatus 624enghavre, dunetHelictotrichon pubescens 624flipkraveTeesdalia nudicaulis 625djævelsbidSuccisa pratensis 625evighedsblomst, gulHelichrysum arenarium 626kobjælde, opretAnemone pulsatilla 626kohvede, blåtoppetMelampyrum nemorosum 627guldblommeArnica montana 627gøgeurt, bakke-Orchis ustulata

23. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..23 Ecological inertia Newly established natural areas are characterised by high structural indices, but for many years they maintain a low species diversity Disturbed and destroyed habitats can for many years still maintain relicts of the original and rare species, but eventually the species will disappear

24. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..24 Mapping results The mapped areas with habitat types in the Danish NATURA 2000 areas are generally small and of good or low quality. Areas of low biological quality are expected not to meet the demands of favourable conservation status

25. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..25 Mean values of the indicators of calcareous grassland

26. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..26 Mean values of the indicators of alkaline fens

27. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..27 Mean values of the indicators of salt meadows

28. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..28 No of species

29. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..29 Reference set of alkaline fens, 7230 Eutrophication hydrology

30. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..30 Reference value The Biological Status is calculated from the weighted scores of the mapping indicators A reference set of high and good nature status would reproduce 0,6 as the reference value An index calculated from the weighted scores of the monitoring indicators, and the selection of a reference set, would produce a national reference value of structure and function

31. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..31 The process of future reference values Select relevant indicators Select a reference set of areas with favourable condition Produce reference values of structure and function

32. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..32 Mapping: 1.000.000 Euro’s = 16 man years over a 2 years period 254 N2000 areas with a total of 5.700 sites or appr. 16x1400 hours/ 5.700 sites = 4,0 hours/site Monitoring: 201 intensive sampling stations: 1.000.000 Euro/year = 5.000 Euro/Sampling station 761 extensive sampling stations: 800.000 Euro/year = 1.000 Euro/Sampling station How expensive is it? Cost calculations

33. Jesper Fredshavn, NERI, DenmarkReference values /..33 Thank you for your attention