Nicola Arndt und Matthias Pohl - Neobiota

In the systems of Palaearctic Habitats and EUNIS, most of the Nordic types and many types of the
Map of the Natural Vegetation of Europe are generalised and combined. This is especially striking
with the units of Natura 2000, especially in the boreal region. Only two (2) units represent western
boreal spruce/pine forests in the system of Natura 2000, compared with eleven (11) units each on the
Map of the Natural Vegetation of Europe and in the Nordic system. The same values of montane birch
forests are one (1) unit of Natura 2000 compared with three (3) and five (5) for the others,
respectively. Similar rates are found in mire types. In this case, it is possible to use the Map of the
Natural Vegetation of Europe as a framework for evaluating areas for Natura 2000. However, for
deciduous forests and coastal vegetation, the Natura 2000 approach provides a finer differentiation.
Finally, an example of where the Map of the Natural Vegetation of Europe has been used can be found
in an analysis of connections of the natural environment between Scania, southern Sweden, and
surrounding areas and countries. Scania is situated in a transitional area between the nemoral
vegetation zone of the European continent and the hemiboreal and boreal areas of Scandinavia. As part
of a cooperative project for tourism planning, it was shown that northwestern vegetation types had
links to western Denmark and the North Sea coast, southwestern areas had similarities to central
Denmark and northern Germany, and southeastern areas shared characteristics in common with
Bornholm and Poland. Northwards, vegetations adjoins to the hemiboreal types of southern Sweden
(Figure 4).
In conclusion, the Map of Natural Vegetation of Europe, perhaps with some revision, is a valuable
instrument in evaluating the natural environment for protection and conservation and for analysing
possibilities for sustainable land use. It is also useful as a common information platform on European
biotopes, for tourism planning and for other exchanges between European countries.
References
DAVIES, C.E. & MOSS, D. (1999): EUNIS Habitat Classification. Draft Final Report to the European
Topic Centre on Nature Conservation (ETC/NC), European Environment Agency (EEA).
Programme Task 4.3. – Monks Wood (Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, UK), 256 p.
DEVILLERS, P & DEVILLERS-TERSCHUREN, J. (1996): A classification of Palaearctic habitats. [=
Nature & Environnment No. 78]. – Strasbourg (Council of Europe) 194 p.
EUROPEAN COMMISSION (1999): Interpretation Manual of the European Union Habitats. Version
EUR 15/2. DG Environment: Nature protection, coastal zones and tourism.
PÅHLSSON, L. (1983): Representative Types of Nature in the Nordic Countries. – Arlöv (Nordic
Council of Ministers).
PÅHLSSON, L. (ed.) (1998): Vegetationstyper i Norden. – TemaNord 1998: 1-510; Nordisk Minsterråd.
PÅHLSSON, L. (2000): The database “European vegetation types; the Nordic Countries”. Version 2.4
January 2000. – Copenhagen (Nordic Council of Ministers).
Nordic Council of Ministers: http://www.norden.org/pub/miljo/miljo/sk/TN98_510.asp.
European Environment Agency: http://biodiversity-chm.eea.eu.int/information/database/nature/
(“Nordic Vegetation types – database”)
213