important plant areas in central and eastern europe - Plantlife

Section 6
Water, wetlands and coasts
Wetlands are a vital habitat for many species of plants and animals as well as providing
life support systems for many other habitats.Wetlands habitats such as rivers, lakes, bogs
or peatlands, fen and mires cover about 9.9% of Europe.They have an extremely
important role in water regulation including flood prevention.They are also important
for carbon storage, the maintenance of human food sources and they provide a link
between ecosystems allowing the migration and survival of many species. All wetland
habitats are vulnerable to pressure from human land uses.
Wetland habitats have long been underrated economically and their extent has been
reduced dramatically in Europe by drainage to create ‘more productive’ land, suitable for
forestry and agriculture.The largest threats to wetlands come from damaging
agricultural practices, pollution, and water management systems.
Threatened wetland habitats
Peatlands are key habitats for plant conservation and are highly threatened in Europe. In
Western Europe many countries have destroyed up to 90% of their peatlands. Protecting
the diverse areas of peatlands in central and eastern Europe is essential in maintaining
Europe’s plant diversity. Peatlands are threatened not only by drainage and pollution but
also by peat extraction for the horticultural industry.
The Danube river and its tributaries flows through 16 countries and encompasses a
variety of habitats from the remnants of flood plain forest near Bratislava to the many
channels and lakes of the Danube Delta. Protection from damaging transport
developments, water management systems and pollution requires a high level of
international cooperation.
Europe’s coastlines are also valuable habitats for plants and algae, from coastal dunes, to
shore and drift plants, to the diverse seaweeds of the coastal zone.These habitats are
vulnerable to developments such as tourist resorts and pollution.The site of Kassari Bay
in Estonia is the only existing site for a rare drifting red algae community (Furcellaria
lumbricalis – Coccotylus truncatus). It is not currently protected.
IPAs, wetlands and coasts
Mire, bog and fen
249 IPAs (31%) contain mire, bog and fen habitats.
224 IPAs (28%) contain threatened mire, bog and fen habitats from the EU Habitats
Directive, and 105 IPAs (13%) contain priority mire, bog and fen habitats.
Inland surface water: rivers and lakes
240 IPAs (30%) contain inland surface water habitats.
197 IPAs (25%) contain threatened inland water habitats from the EU Habitats
Directive, and 4 IPAs (