Nicola Arndt und Matthias Pohl - Neobiota

The inclusion of Nordic vegetation types into different European systems is also reflected in the
database. On a code-screen, the name and code of the Nordic unit is shown together with synonymous
codes and names of “Palaearctic Habitats” (DEVILLIERS & DEVILLIERS-TERSCHUREN 1996),
“Natura 2000” (EUROPEAN COMMISSION 1999) and “EUNIS” (DAVIES & MOSS 1999).
Possibilities are provided to add other systems, such as the units of the Map of the Natural Vegetation
of Europe (see Table 1). The presentation of the new EUNIS system in a similar database has also
been discussed.
In the early 1990s, the European Community introduced the “Habitats Directive”, providing for the
creation of a network of special areas for conservation with a programme known as ‘Natura 2000’. A
map of biogeographical regions was provided as a framework for the evaluation of potential areas for
conservation. The analysis method was similar to that described above, but differed in that the regions
were very large and the boundaries used, unlike the Nordic subdivisions, did not follow the accepted
boundaries of the vegetation zones. This has caused some problems when working with Natura 2000.
2 Map of the Natural Vegetation of Europe
Parallel to these activities, work has continued on the Map of the Natural Vegetation of Europe. The
original idea was to make a map showing the main pattern of European natural vegetation types.
Because of the scale it has been necessary to generalise. Often the map unit (area) represents the most
common woodland type, which can contain several other units, for example, open substitute
(successional) vegetation types. The map units can thus also be seen as biogeographical regions, and
in some respects can be used for environmental assessments. The possibilities depend on the scale of
planning. The units used in the planning process must be more detailed than the frame of reference,
the biogeographical or physiographical region. As an environmental assessment tool in the Nordic
countries, the units of the Map of the Natural Vegetation of Europe occupy a position between the
vegetation zones (and the vegetation types of the Nordic countries. Perhaps the generalised version at
the scale of 1:10 million is more useful in this context.
It is possible to some extent to increase the number of factors and parameters of the Map of the
Natural Vegetation of Europe. The data sheet of each unit includes the headings:
- natural accompanying vegetation
- adjoining climax and permanent vegetation
- characteristic land use and most important substitute communities.
Here, vegetation units included in the generalised main type are shown. Unfortunately, this part of the
descriptions is not very well treated on the latest versions of the data sheets and it appears that many
types are missing, especially substitute communities.
Abiotic factors, soil conditions and climate are also included. However, these factors are derived from
the knowledge of the vegetation type and should perhaps not be used as separate analysis tools.
The possibilities for using the Map of the Natural Vegetation of Europe for environmental assessments
in the Nordic countries are best demonstrated by putting together the codes of the units from systems
of different scales in Europe. Table 1 shows the units of following systems:
- The Map of the Natural Vegetation of Europe (MNVE)
- The Vegetation types of the Nordic Countries (VTN)
- Palaearctic Habitats (Pal. Hab.)
- EUNIS
- Natura 2000
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