Forest type in NFIs

Forest types (FT) are a flexible approach to collect and organize information on forests of a given territory, according to a typology useful for understanding differences in the character of forest ecosystems which are relevant to a specific application: e.g. evaluation of forest productivity, determination of structure and composition of potential natural vegetation, presentation of more precise forest information in a proper ecological context. Because forest types enable comparison of ecologically similar forests, they are meaningful units for stratification and reporting of NFIs data, especially concerning the assessment of forest biodiversity variables (Barbati et al., 2007).

Four of the five Partners (CH, CZ, DE, IT) have already well defined forest type systems of nomenclature in place within NFIs. Swedish NFI do not have a predefined FT schemes but the plots may be classified depending on different reporting needs.

The adoption of FT for the classification of NFI sampling units is justified by three main reasons (Table 15):

1) stratification within the NFI sampling design (different sampling intensity for different FT);

2) reporting when presenting the results of NFI (forest area or forest volume reported by FT);

3) evaluation of forest naturalness by comparison between actual and potential vegetation.

COUNTRY CZ IT DE SE CH

STRATIFICATION, REPORTING 1

STRATIFICATION, COMPARISON ACTUAL VS. POTENTIAL VEGETATION 1 1

NOT PRE DEFINED 1 1

Table 15: Main use of FT system of nomenclature in five Country's NFI.

The information used for defining a FT is actual tree species composition for all the investigated Countries, excepted for Switzerland where FT are referred exclusively to the potential natural vegetation (PNV, Figure 14). This classification results from a classification system base on:

- 5 production regions (Jura, Central Plateau, Pre-Alps, Alps, Southern Alps);

- 14 economics regions;

- 6 biogeographical regions;

- 26 Cantons;

- 5 altitudinal vegetation zones (collin/submontane; lower montane; upper montane;

lower subalpine; upper subalpine), grouped in 1-2 “lowlands” and 3-5 “mountain regions”;

- 71 potential natural forest communities (grouped in 6 classes, see Figure 14).

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Figure 14: Potential Natural Vegetation of Switzerland.

Also in Czech and German NFI FT are based both considering real and potential vegetation on the basis of ecological conditions (altitude, climatic biogeographical zones) and soil information.

In Italy FT are based just on real vegetation with no direct relationship with potential vegetation. (Table 16).

COUNTRY REAL POTENTIAL REAL AND POTENTIAL

CZ 1 IT 1 DE 1 CH 1

SE

Table 16: Relationship between NFI FT and real or potential vegetation.

5.1.1.1. Data and methods

For all the investigated Countries FT are defined esclusively on the basis of field work, excepted for Switzerland that use also information resulting from GIS layers (Table 17), here FT are based on prefixed GIS based models that enable, given the environmental conditions as gereferenced thematic layers, to derive automatically the PNV.

Although Swedish NFI does not have a pre-defined forest type scheme, the actual tree species composition and field layer vegetation are assessed during fieldwork. Afterwards classification into FT can be performed in post processing.

COUNTRY FIELD WORK FIELD WORK AND GIS LAYERS

CZ 1 IT 1 DE 1

CH 1

SE 1

Table 17: Source of methods used for assessing FT in the five NFI.

The main output of FT classification are are NFI sampling units classification and mapping. In particular, plots classification are used by Italy, Germany and Switzerland while Czech use FT just for mapping purposes. For Sweden does not exist a standard output: they can produce both maps, plots and tables on demands.

Regarding the FT classification of sampling units in the field the minimum forest area for FT characterisation in Italy and Germany is 0.2 ha, in Switzerland it is 0.25 ha, for Czech Republic and Sweden it is not defined.

Minimum mapping unit (MMU) for FT mapping is of 0.25 ha for Czech NFI while for the other NFIs the MMU is not defined.

The length of the time series of FT assessment is different for each Country. In Sweden the NFI data are available since 1923 (8 surveys, intermittent in the period 1923-1952, continuosly since 1952). Long time series are available also for other countries like Switzerland (three NFIs in about 25 years: 1983-85; 1993-95; 2004-06) and Germany (15 years). The other countries (Czech Republic and Italy) do not have time series (just one NFI).

For the possible harmonisation of FT system of nomenclature of the five Countries participating in the project the main problematic difference is related to the different approach followed in considering the relationship between the FT definition and real vs. potential vegetation.

This is particularly truth for Switzerland where the FT concept is related exclusively with PNV, but it is problematic also for Czech Republic and Germany were the FT express itself a relationship between real and natural/potential vegetation.

5.1.1.2. Reference proposal: the European Forest Types

The reference proposed for the harmonisation of the five NFI is the system of nomenclature

“European Forest Types” (EUFT) recently released by the European Environmental Agency (EEA, 2006). The EUFT is based on actual real forest vegetation and it is structured into two hierarchical levels (14 Categories and 76 Types).

Forest biodiversity monitoring would be greatly benefit from a forest type based assessment, as forest biodiversity indicators increase their specificity when referenced to a proper ecological background. Accordingly, biodiversity data quality increases allowing an improved data evaluation, understanding and reporting.

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The EUFT is proposed not as an indicator itself but mainly for stratification purposes of other indicators. EUFT can be used directly as an indicator when related with potential vegetation, for example for the assessment naturalness.

We identify as forest type a category of forest defined by its composition, and/or site factors (locality), as categorized by each country in a system suitable to its situation.

Forest refers to the adopted definition of forest sensu FAO Forest Resource assessment (at least 0.5 ha, 10% crown coverage, 5 m height at maturity)

Composition refers to species composition of trees, shrubs and other vegetation components Site factors are environmental parameters such as altitude, aspect, slope, soil parameters, etc.

Here follow the structure of the EEA (2006) system of nomenclature, it is possible that during the project some changes will be done in some specific classes, also following the discussion on going in MCPFE, COST action E43, etc.

1. BOREAL FOREST

1.1 SPRUCE DOMINATED BOREAL FOREST 1.2 PINE DOMINATED BOREAL FOREST

2. HEMIBOREAL FOREST AND NEMORAL CONIFEROUS AND MIXED BROADLEAVED-CONIFEROUS FOREST

2.1 HEMIBOREAL FOREST 2.2 NEMORAL SCOTS PINE FOREST 2.3 NEMORAL SPRUCE FOREST 2.4 NEMORAL BLACK PINE FOREST 2.5 MIXED SCOTS PINE-BIRCH FOREST

2.6 MIXED SCOTS PINE-PEDUNCULATE OAK FOREST 3. ALPINE CONIFEROUS FOREST

3.1 SUBALPINE LARCH (LARIX DECIDUA)-STONE PINE (PINUS CEMBRA) AND DWARF PINE (PINUS UNCINATA) FORESTS

3.2 SUBALPINE AND MONTANE SPRUCE (PICEA ABIES) AND MONTANE MIXED SPRUCE-SILVER FIR (ABIES ALBA)-FORESTS

3.3 SCOTS PINE (PINUS SILVESTRIS) AND BLACK PINE (PINUS NIGRA) FORESTS 4. ACIDOPHILOUS OAK AND OAK-BIRCH FORESTS

4.1 ACIDOPHYLOUS OAKWOODS 4.2 OAK-BIRCH FORESTS

5. MESOPHYTIC DECIDUOUS FOREST

5.1 PEDUNCULATE OAK (QUERCUS ROBUR)–HORNBEAM (CARPINUS BETULUS) FORESTS 5.2 SESSIL OAK (QUERCUS PETRAEA) – HORNBEAM (CARPINUS BETULUS) FORESTS

5.3 ASHWOODS AND OAK-ASH FORESTS 5.4 MAPLE-OAK FOREST

5.5 LIME-OAK FOREST 5.6 MAPLE-LIME FOREST 5.7 LIME FOREST

5.8 RAVINE AND SLOPE FORESTS

5.9 OTHER MESOPHYTIC DECIDUOUS FORESTS 6. BEECH FOREST

6.1 LOWLAND BEECH FORESTS OF S-SCANDINAVIA AND NORTH CENTRAL EUROPE 6.2 ATLANTIC AND SUBATLANTIC LOWLAND BEECH FORESTS

6.3 SUBATLANTIC SUBMOUNTAINOUS BEECH FORESTS

6.4 CENTRAL EUROPEAN SUBMOUNTAINOUS BEECH FORESTS 6.5 CARPATHIAN SUBMOUNTAINOUS BEECH FORESTS

6.6 ILLYRIAN SUBMOUNTAINOUS BEECH FORESTS 6.7 MOESIAN SUBMOUNTAINOUS BEECH FORESTS 7. MOUNTAINOUS BEECH FOREST

7.1 SW-EUROPEAN MOUNTAINOUS BEECH FORESTS (CANTABRIANS – PYRENEES – CENTRAL MASSIF – SW-ALPS)

7.2 CENTRAL EUROPEAN MOUNTAINOUS BEECH FORESTS 7.3 APENNINE-CORSICAN MOUNTAINOUS BEECH FORESTS 7.4 ILLYRIAN MOUNTAINOUS BEECH FORESTS

7.5 CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINOUS BEECH FORESTS 7.6 MOESIAN MOUNTAINOUS BEECH FORESTS 7.7 CRIMEAN MOUNTAINOUS BEECH FORESTS

7.8 ORIENTAL BEECH AND HORNBEAM-ORIENTAL BEECH FORESTS 8. THERMOPHILOUS DECIDUOUS FOREST

8.1 DOWNY OAK (QUERCUS PUBESCENS) FORESTS 8.2 SUPRA-MEDITERRANEAN OAKWOODS

8.3 PYRENEAN OAK (QUERCUS PYRENAICA) FORESTS

8.4 QUERCUS FAGINEA AND QUERCUS CANARIENSIS IBERIAN FORESTS 8.5 TROJAN OAK (QUERCUS TROJANA) FORESTS

8.6 VALONIA OAK (QUERCUS ITHABURENSIS SPP. MACROLEPIS) FORESTS 8.7 CHESTNUT FORESTS (CASTANEA SATIVA)

8.8 OTHER DECIDUOUS WOODS 9. BROADLEAVED EVERGREEN FOREST

9.1 MEDITERRANEAN EVERGREEN OAK FOREST 9.2 OLIVE-CAROB FOREST

9.3 PALM GROVES

9.4 MACARONESIAN LAURISILVA FOREST 9.5 OTHER SCLEROPHLYLLOUS FORESTS

10. CONIFEROUS FOREST OF THE MEDITERRANEAN, ANATOLIAN AND MACARONESIAN REGIONS

10.1 THERMOPHILOUS PINE FOREST

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10.2 MEDITERRANEAN AND ANATOLIAN BLACK PINE FOREST 10.3 CANARIAN PINE FOREST

10.4 MEDITERRANEAN AND ANATOLIAN SCOTS PINE FOREST 10.5 ALTI-MEDITERRANEAN PINE FOREST

10.6 MEDITERRANEAN AND ANATOLIAN FIR FOREST 10.7 JUNIPERUS FOREST

10.8 CUPRESSUS SEMPERVIRENS FOREST 10.9 CEDAR FOREST

10.10 TETRACLINIS ARTICULATA STANDS 10.11 MEDITERRANEAN YEW STANDS 11. MIRE AND SWAMP FORESTS

11.1 CONIFER DOMINATED OR MIXED MIRE FORESTS 11.2 ALDER SWAMP FOREST

11.3 BIRCH SWAMP FOREST

11.4 PEDUNCULATE OAK SWAMP FOREST 11.5 ASPEN SWAMP FOREST

12. FLOODPLAIN FOREST 12.1 RIPARIAN FOREST 12.2 FLUVIAL FOREST

12.3 MEDITERRANEAN AND MACARONESIAN RIPARIAN FOREST 13. NON-RIVERINE ALDER, BIRCH OR ASPEN FOREST

13.1 ALDER FOREST

13.2 ITALIAN ALDER FOREST 13.3 MOUNTAIN BIRCH FOREST 13.4 OTHER BIRCH FOREST 13.5 ASPEN FOREST

14. PLANTATIONS AND SELF-SOWN EXOTIC FOREST 14.1 PLANTATIONS OF SITE-NATIVE SPECIES

14.2 PLANTATIONS OF NOT-SITE-NATIVE SPECIES AND SELF-SOWN EXOTIC FOREST