Natura 2000 Seminars - European Commission...Natura 2000 Seminars – Atlantic 5 ECNC, CEEweb, Eurosite, Europarc, ELO, ILE SAS Natura 2000 sites Country Area /km2/ Coverage /%/ Number

Natura2000Seminars

Aninitiativeofthe

Natura2000BiogeographicalProcess

SecondAtlanticSeminarEnnistymon-Ireland,25–27October2016

ANNEX5HabitatfactsheetsWetandDryGrasslands

Natura2000Seminars–Atlantic 2

ECNC,CEEweb,Eurosite,Europarc,ELO,ILESAS

Preparedby: ECNC,Arcadis,CEEweb,Eurosite,Europarc,ELO,ILESASAuthors: Luboš Halada, in consultation with the ETC-BD, in particular Mora Aronsson and

DougEvans.Editing: KristijanCivic,AlbertienPerdok,JintheRoelofsCopyright: ©EuropeanUnion,2016 Reproductionisauthorisedprovidedthesourceisacknowledged.Funding: EuropeanCommissionaspartofcontractnumber07.0307/2012/60517/SER/B.3.Disclaimer: The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the

EuropeanCommission,noristheEuropeanCommissionresponsibleforanyusethatmightbemadeofinformationappearingherein.

Event: For more information on this seminar, see the Natura 2000 Communication

Platform:http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/events/events-upcoming/263_second_atlantic_natura_2000_seminar_en.htm



TableofContents

6210Semi-naturaldrygrasslandsandscrublandfaciesoncalcareoussubstrates(Festuco-Brometalia)*importantorchidsites ..................................................................................................4

6230Species-richNardusgrasslands,onsilicioussubstratesinmountainareas(andsub-mountainareasinContinentalEurope) ..............................................................................................................8

6410Moliniameadowsoncalcareous,peatyorclayey-silt-ladensoils(Molinioncaeruleae).........13

6440AlluvialmeadowsofrivervalleysoftheCnidiondubii.............................................................18

6510Lowlandhaymeadows(Alopecuruspratensis,Sanguisorbaofficinalis)..................................21

1330AtlanticSaltmeadows(Glauco-Puccinellietaliamaritimae) ....................................................25



6210Semi-naturaldrygrasslandsandscrublandfaciesoncalcareoussubstrates(Festuco-Brometalia)*importantorchidsites

x SelectedforfirstroundofBiogeographicalSeminar Selectedusing“Lowhangingfruit”approach

Habitatsummary

TheoverallconservationstatusintheAtlanticregionisunfavourable-badwithdeterioratingtrendduetoassessmentofFrance(59%ofthehabitatarea),Spain,andUnitedKingdom.Habitat6210isintheAtlanticbiogeographicregiondistributedespeciallyinitscentre.ItoccurswidelyinFrance,Spain,andUnitedKingdom.MorescarcedistributionistypicalforBelgium,DenmarkandNetherland.Theimproving the conservation status of the habitat requires toensure suitable level of agriculturalmanagement - grazing, cutting or a combination of both. In addition, the habitat restoration isneededinallcountriesexceptUnitedKingdom.Habitatdescription

Thesearedrytosemi-drycalcareousgrasslandsoftheFestuco-Brometea.Thishabitatisformedontheonehandbysteppicorsubcontinentalgrasslands(Festucetaliavalesiacae)and,ontheother,bythegrasslandsofmoreoceanicandsub-Mediterraneanregions(Brometaliaerecti);inthelattercase,a distinction is made between primary Xerobromion grasslands and secondary (semi-natural)MesobromiongrasslandswithBromuserectus;thelatterarecharacterisedbytheirrichorchidflora.Abandonment results in thermophile scrub with an intermediate stage of thermophile fringevegetation(Trifolio-Geranietea).DistributionintheAtlanticregionandcoveragebyNatura2000network

The habitat type is distributed especially in the centre of the Atlantic region. It occurs widely inFrance(59%ofthehabitatarea),Spain,andUnitedKingdom.MorescarcedistributionistypicalforBelgium,Denmark andNetherland. Thehabitat is protected inNatura 2000 siteswith thehighestcoverageintheNetherland(100%),andhighcoverageinBelgium(83.5%)andSpain(73.68%).



Natura2000sitesCountry Area

/km2/Coverage

/%/Numberofsites

Belgium 0.17 83.5 12Germany 1.87-1.94 24Denmark 1.00 24.39 19Spain 375.00 73.68 87France 249.40-332.00 16.62-22.13 176Ireland 9.58 67.03 40Netherlands 0.50 100 5Portugal UnitedKingdom 336.87 66.51 79ATLRegion 974.38-1057.05 38.44-41.70 442

ThetableaboveshowssizeofthehabitatareainNatura2000sitesanditsproportioncomparedtohabitatareainthewholebiogeographic region („coverage“) as reported by MS in the2013Article17report.Thenumberofsiteswasextractedfromthe2015Natura2000database.

Biogeographicalconservationstatusassessment

The overall conservation status of this habitat type in the Atlantic biogeographic region isunfavourable - bad with deteriorating trend due to assessment of France, Spain, and UnitedKingdom. All other countries have the same conclusions on the conservation status - except forGermanywithunfavourable-inadequate status. Favourable regional conclusionon range couldnothavebalancedunfavourable-badconclusionsintherestoftheparameters.

The overall conservation status for the region has not changed against the previous assessment(2001-2006)–thechangeoftheoverallqualifierfromstabletonegativeisnotgenuine.

Legend:MS–MemberState;Overallasses-Overallassessment;%MS–percentageofthesurfaceareaintherespectiveMemberStatecomparedtowholeBiogeographicalRegion;Ref.–referencevalue;Struct&func.-structure and functions; Future prosp. – future prospect; Curr. CS – current conservation status; Prev. CS –previousconservationstatus;Nat.ofch.–natureofchange;EU27:assessmentonthe levelofallEUMemberCountries;Concl.–conclusion;Target1:-target1oftheEU2020BiodiversityStrategy.Conservationstatus FV Favourable U1 Unfavourable-inadequate U2 Unfavourable-bad XX Unknown



Trend 0=stable;+=increase;-=decrease;x=unknownQualifier =stable;+positive;-negative;xunknownNatureofchange

a–genuinechange;b–changeduetobetterdataorimprovedknowledge;b2–duetotaxonomicreview;c1–duetodifferentmethodstomeasureorevaluate;c2-duetodifferentthresholdsuse;d-noinformationaboutnatureofchange;e-duetolessaccurateorabsentdata;nc-nochange

Target1contribution

A-favourableassessments;B-improvedassess.;C-deterioratedassessments;D-unfavourableandunknownassessmentsthatdidnotchange;E-assessmentsthatbecameunknown.

Pressures,threatsandproposedmeasures

Main pressures and threats are abandonment of grazing, grazing, modification of cultivationpractices, fertilisation and species composition changes (succession). The lack of connectivitybetweenthesitesadditionallyaffectsthefunctionofthesebiotopes.

Thegrasslandmaintenancerepresentsthemostimportantmeasureindicatedashighlyneededbyallcountries.Almostallcountriesproposealsoestablishmentofprotectedsitesandlegalprotection.

Code Pressurename BE DEDK ES FR IE NL PTUKA01 Cultivation H A02 modificationofcultivationpractices H H A02.01 agriculturalintensification M A03.02 nonintensivemowing H A03.03 abandonment/lackofmowing M A04 grazing H H HA04.01.01 intensivecattlegrazing M A04.01.03 intensivehorsegrazing M A04.02.01 nonintensivecattlegrazing M M A04.02.02 nonintensivesheepgrazing M A04.02.03 nonintensivehorsegrazing M A04.03 abandonmentofpastoralsystems,lackofgrazing H H M A08 Fertilisation H M M M A10 Restructuringagriculturallandholding M B01 forestplantingonopenground M M M B01.01 forestplantingonopenground(nativetrees) M B01.02 artificialplantingonopenground(non-nativetrees) M B02 ForestandPlantationmanagement&use H C01 Miningandquarrying M M C01.04.01 opencastmining M E01 Urbanisedareas,humanhabitation M F04.01 pillagingoffloristicstations M G01 Outdoorsportsandleisureactivities,recreationalactivities M M G02 Sportandleisurestructures M G05 Otherhumanintrusionsanddisturbances M G05.01 Trampling,overuse M G05.07 missingorwronglydirectedconservationmeasures H H01 Pollutiontosurfacewaters(limnic&terrestrial,marine&brackish) M

H01.05diffuse pollution to surface waters due to agricultural andforestryactivities

H

H04 Airpollution,air-bornepollutants M M HH04.02 Nitrogen-input M I01 invasivenon-nativespecies M M I02 problematicnativespecies H J01 fireandfiresuppression M J03.02 anthropogenicreductionofhabitatconnectivity H H K02 Biocenoticevolution,succession H



Code Pressurename BE DEDK ES FR IE NL PTUKK02.01 speciescompositionchange(succession) H H H M Note: Code Measurename BE DEDK ES FR IE NL PTUK1.1 Nomeasuresneededfortheconservationofthehabitat/species M 1.2 Measuresneeded,butnotimplemented M M 2.0 Otheragriculture-relatedmeasures M M H H2.1 Maintaininggrasslandsandotheropenhabitats H H H M H H H H2.2 Adaptingcropproduction M H 6.0 Otherspatialmeasures H M M 6.1 Establishprotectedareas/sites H H H H H H6.3 Legalprotectionofhabitatsandspecies M H H H H6.4 Managelandscapefeatures H M H 6.5 Adaptation/abolitionofmilitarylanduse M7.4 Specificsinglespeciesorspeciesgroupmanagementmeasures M 9.1 Regulating/Managementexploitationofnaturalresourcesonland H H Legend: L Lowintensity M Mediumintensity H Highintensity

ReasonofselectionforthefirstAtlanticseminar

ThehabitattypewasselectedforthefirstAtlanticseminarbecauseof itshighvalueofthePriorityindex. The habitat 6210 reached score 136 because of high values in both criteria A and B. Thehabitat occurs in eight countries (criterion A). Four countries reported unfavourable - bad overallconservation status, three countries reported unfavourable - inadequate status and one country(Spain)reportedunknownstatus.

ThePriorityIndexwascalculatedusinginformationfromthereportsofMemberStatesbasedonrequirementsoftheArticle17oftheHabitatsDirectiveforperiod2001-2006.Itisbasedonthreeparameters:A)NumberofMemberStateswherehabitattypeispresent;B)Unfavourableconservationstatusofthehabitattype(U2–2points;U1&XX–1pointeach),andC)Trendinformation:numberofnegativetrendsforparameters“Areaofthe habitat type” and qualifiers for “Structure & functions”. The index is then calculated using formula:A*(B+C).

Priorityconservationmeasuresneeded

For the improvement of the habitat conservation status in the Atlantic biogeographic region,ensuring the suitable intensityof agriculturalmanagement is essential.Activemanagementof thehabitatincludesgrazing,cuttingoracombinationofboth(CalaciuraetSpinelli2008).Inaddition,thehabitat restoration is needed in all countries exceptUnited Kingdom as the actual habitat area islowerthanthereferencevalue.

Links

http://bd.eionet.europa.eu/article17/reports2012/habitat/summary/?period=3&group=Grasslands&subject=6210&region=ATL

CalaciuraB.,SpinelliO.,2008:ManagementofNatura2000habitats.6210Semi-naturaldrygrasslandsandscrublandfaciesoncalcareoussubstrates(Festuco-Brometalia)(*importantorchidsites).EuropeanCommission,TechnicalReport200812/24,38pp.



6230Species-richNardusgrasslands,onsilicioussubstratesinmountainareas(andsub-mountainareasinContinentalEurope)


Summary

TheoverallconservationstatusintheAtlanticregionisunfavourable-badanddeterioratingduetoassessmentofthehabitatareainFrance.Othersixcountriesassessedtheconservationstatusinthesame category,while the status in Spain is unknown. In theAtlantic biogeographic region habitat6230iswidelydistributedinDenmark,northernpartofGermany,UnitedKingdom,FranceandSpain,withhighproportionofthehabitatarea(45.3%)beinginFrance,followedbySpain(40%).ItislesscommoninothercountriesoftheAtlanticregion. Improvingtheconservationstatusofthehabitatrequires in particular restoration of the abandoned grasslands in France. This includes removal ofshrubandtrees,removalofalienspecies ifpresent,andstartingwithextensivegrazing(preferred)or/andmowing.Similarmeasuresareneededinothercountriesaswell.Habitatdescription

Closed, dry or mesophile, perennialNardus grasslands occupying siliceous soils in the Atlantic orsub-Atlantic or Boreal lowland, hill and montane regions. Vegetation is highly varied, but thevariation is characterised by continuity. Species-rich sites should be interpreted as sites that areremarkableforahighnumberofspecies.Ingeneral,habitatsthathavebecomeirreversiblydegradedthroughovergrazingshouldbeexcluded.DistributionintheAtlanticregionandcoveragebyNatura2000network

The habitat type is widely distributed in Denmark, northern part of Germany, United Kingdom,FranceandSpain. It is less common inother countriesof theAtlantic region. Thehabitat ismostabundant inFrance(45,3%ofthehabitatarea)andSpain(40%).Therepresentationof thehabitattypeinNatura2000sitesisquitehigh,41-43%inaverage.InUnitedKingdom,90.71%ofthehabitatareaislocatedinsidetheNatura2000sites.




/km2/Coverage

/%/Numberofsites

Belgium 2.60 64.88 30Germany 2.79-3.72 77Denmark 12 42.85 41Spain 136 47.37 54France 83-91 25.5-28 66Ireland 3.93 61.21 13Netherlands 5.4 70.12 34Portugal 6-8 70.58-94.11 3UnitedKingdom 46.51 90.71 43ATLRegion 298.23-309.16 41.53-43.06 361

The table above shows the size of thehabitat area inNatura2000sitesand itsproportioncomparedtohabitatarea in thewholebiogeographicregion(„coverage“)asreportedbyMSinthe2013Article17report.Thenumberofsiteswasextractedfromthe2015Natura2000database.


The conservation status of this habitat type is unfavourable - bad and deteriorating due toassessmentofthehabitatareainFrance.Sixothercountriesconcludedinthesamecategoryaswell,withonlyPortugalreportingunfavourable-inadequateandSpainunknown.Sixcountriesindicatedanegativeoverallqualifier.Infivecountriesisthereferencevaluehigherthantheactualhabitatarea,whichindicatesaneedforhabitatrestoration.

The overall conservation status for the region has not changed against the previous assessment(2001-2006).However, genuine changeswere reported by three countries:Germany, Ireland, andUnited Kingdom – change from stable to decreasing overall qualifier within the categoryunfavourable–bad.

Legend:MS–MemberState;Overallasses-Overallassessment;%MS–percentageofthesurfaceareaintherespectiveMemberStatecomparedtowholeBiogeographicalRegion;Ref.–referencevalue;Struct&func.-structure and functions; Future prosp. – future prospect; Curr. CS – current conservation status; Prev. CS –



previousconservationstatus;Nat.ofch.–natureofchange;EU27:assessmentonthe levelofallEUMemberCountries;Concl.–conclusion;Target1:-target1oftheEU2020BiodiversityStrategy.Conservationstatus FV Favourable U1 Unfavourable-inadequate U2 Unfavourable-bad XX UnknownTrend 0=stable;+=increase;-=decrease;x=unknownQualifier =stable;+positive;-negative;xunknownNatureofchange


Target1contribution



Main pressures and threats are abandonment of pastoral system and lack of grazing, successionchanges,modificationofcultivationprocesses,andagricultural intensification.Thefunctionsofthishabitatarealsoaffectedbythelackofconnectivitybetweenthesites.

Maintenanceof thegrasslandsrepresentsthemost importantmeasure indicatedashighlyneededby all countries. Almost all countries also proposed establishment of protected sites and legalprotection.Managinglandscapefeaturesisanotherimportantmeasure.

Code Pressurename BE DEDK ES FR IE NL PTUKA01 Cultivation M A02 modificationofcultivationpractices H A02.01 agriculturalintensification H H A02.03 grasslandremovalforarableland H A03.03 abandonment/lackofmowing H M A04 grazing H M HA04.01.01 intensivecattlegrazing M A04.01.05 intensivemixedanimalgrazing M A04.03 abandonmentofpastoralsystems,lackofgrazing H H H H A07 useofbiocides,hormonesandchemicals H A08 Fertilisation M H H B01 forestplantingonopenground M D01 Roads,pathsandrailroads M D05 Improvedaccesstosite M E01 Urbanisedareas,humanhabitation M E02 Industrialorcommercialareas M E06 Otherurbanisation,industrialandsimilaractivities M F03 Huntingandcollectionofwildanimals(terrestrial) HG02 Sportandleisurestructures M G05.07 missingorwronglydirectedconservationmeasures H

H01Pollution to surface waters (limnic & terrestrial, marine &brackish) M M

H02 Pollutiontogroundwater(pointsourcesanddiffusesources) M H04 Airpollution,air-bornepollutants H HH04.01 Acidrain H H04.02 Nitrogen-input H M H H07 Otherformsofpollution H I01 invasivenon-nativespecies M M I02 problematicnativespecies H J01 fireandfiresuppression M J02 humaninducedchangesinhydraulicconditions M J02.07 Waterabstractionsfromgroundwater M



Code Pressurename BE DEDK ES FR IE NL PTUKJ03.02 anthropogenicreductionofhabitatconnectivity M H H K02 Biocenoticevolution,succession H H K02.01 speciescompositionchange(succession) H M M M K04.01 competition(flora) M01.02 droughtsandlessprecipitations

Code Measurename BE DEDK ES FR IE NL PTUK1.2 Measuresneeded,butnotimplemented M 2.0 Otheragriculture-relatedmeasures M H M 2.1 Maintaininggrasslandsandotheropenhabitats H H H H H H H M H2.2 Adaptingcropproduction M H M 3.2 Adaptforestmanagement M 4.2 Restoring/improvingthehydrologicalregime H H 6.1 Establishprotectedareas/sites M M H6.3 Legalprotectionofhabitatsandspecies H H H 6.4 Managelandscapefeatures H M H 6.5 Adaptation/abolitionofmilitarylanduse H 7.1 Regulation/Managementofhuntingandtaking H H7.4 Specificsinglespeciesorspeciesgroupmanagementmeasures H M 9.1 Regulating/Managementexploitationofnaturalresourcesonland H Legend: L Lowintensity M Mediumintensity H Highintensity


ThehabitattypewasselectedforthefirstAtlanticseminarbecauseof itshighvalueofthePriorityindex. The habitat 6230 reached score 189 because of high values in both criteria A and B. Thehabitattypeoccursinninecountries(criterionA).Unfavourable-badoverallconservationstatuswasreportedinsevencountries,unfavourable-inadequatestatusinonecountry(Portugal)andunknownstatusinonecountry(Spain).



For the improvement of the habitat conservation status in the Atlantic biogeographic region,restorationof theabandonedgrasslands inFrance inparticular isnecessary. France indicated thatthe favourable reference value is much higher than the actual habitat area (325 km2), thereforeprobablytherestorationoflargerareaofabandonedgrasslandsisnecessary.Thisincludesremovalofshrubandtrees,removalofalienspecieswhenpresent(includinginvasiveones)andstartingwithasuitableagriculturalmanagement(preferablyextensivegrazing,butmowing isalsosuitable).Themanagementwillbeprobablymoreintensiveintransitionalperiod,whilelateritshouldcorrespondtotheintensitysufficientforlong-termmaintenanceofthehabitat.Thegrazingintensityshouldbedeterminedbasedonsiteconditions–itshouldbeintensiveenoughtopreventinvasionbytreesandscrub,butnotsointensiveastocausetheeutrophicationofthehabitat(GalváneketJanák2008).The habitat restoration is needed also in other countries that indicated lower actual habitat areathan the reference value, namely Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands, possibly also



Germany(noindicationofactualhabitatarea).Inallcountriesthelong-term,continuousgrazingofexistingsitesshouldbeensured.Fortheregularmanagement,theagriculturalsubsidiescanbeused.MoreknowledgeaboutthehabitatsituationinSpainisneeded.

Links


Galvánek D., Janák M., 2008: Management of Natura 2000 habitats. 6230 *Species-rich Nardusgrasslands.EuropeanCommission,TechnicalReport200814/24,20pp.



6410Moliniameadowsoncalcareous,peatyorclayey-silt-ladensoils(Molinioncaeruleae)


Habitatsummary

TheoverallconservationstatusintheAtlanticregionisunfavourable-badanddeterioratingduetoassessmentofseveralparameters(habitatarea,structureandfunctions,futureprospect)byFrance.Thehabitat status isunfavourable–badalso in fiveothercountries. In theAtlantic regionhabitat6410 is widespread in France (94.2 % of the habitat area), in Ireland and southwest of UnitedKingdom;itislesscommoninothercountriesoftheregion.Improvingtheconservationstatusofthehabitatrequiresimprovementofthehabitatstructureandfunctions(regularmowingorgrazing)aswellashabitatrestorationinFrance;thesamemeasuresareneededinothercountriesaswell.

Habitatdescription

Moliniameadows of plain to montane levels, on more or less wet nutrient poor soils (nitrogen,phosphorus).Thesemeadowsstemfromextensivemanagement,sometimeswithamowingregimelate in the year or, they correspond to a deteriorated stage of draining peat bogs. Two types aredistinguished,firstoneonneutro-alkalinetocalcareoussoilswithafluctuatingwatertable,relativelyrich inspecies(Eu-Molinion).Thesoil issometimespeatyandbecomesdry insummer.Thesecondtype occurs on more acid soils of the Junco-Molinion (Juncion acutiflori) except species-poormeadowsorondegradedpeatysoils.

DistributionintheAtlanticregionandcoveragebyNatura2000network

ThishabitattypeisdistributedinthewholeAtlanticbiogeographicregion.ItiswidespreadinFrance,inIrelandandinthesouthwestofUnitedKingdom.Itislesscommoninothercountriesoftheregion.Francereportedthelargesthabitatarea(94.2%).Fromtheca973.1km2ofthishabitatintheAtlanticregiononlyabout17%are included inNatura2000sites.TheNatura2000sitescover the largestproportionofthenationalhabitatareaintheNetherlands(82.75%)andBelgium(70%).




/km2/Coverage

/%/Numberofsites

Belgium 0.42 70 21Germany 1.41-1.66 59Denmark 4.1 37.27 41Spain 5.92 18France 125-130 13.63-14.17 164Ireland 1.97 34.92 21Netherlands 2.4 82.75 42Portugal UnitedKingdom 20.39 56.70 42ATLRegion 161.61-166.86 16.60-17.14 408



The conservation status of this habitat type is unfavourable – bad and deteriorating due toassessmentofseveralparameters(habitatarea,structureandfunctions,futureprospect)byFrance.Thehabitatstatusisunfavourable–badalsoinfiveothercountrieswithlowerhabitatdistribution.Spain (changed from unknown), Denmark and Portugal concluded on unfavourable - inadequatestatus. Denmark and Portugal assessed the habitat area as favourable, while other countriesassessed it as unfavourable – bad, except for Spain (unknown). This indicates broad need for thehabitatrestoration.Theoverallconservationstatusfortheregionhasnotchangedagainstpreviousassessment(2001-2006) – the change of overall qualifier from stable to negative is not genuine. However, genuinechangesreportedGermanyandIreland–changeofoverallqualifier fromstabletonegativewithincategoryunfavourable–bad.

Legend:MS–MemberState;Overallasses-Overallassessment;%MS–percentageofthesurfaceareaintherespectiveMemberStatecomparedtowholeBiogeographicalRegion;Ref.–referencevalue;Struct&func.-structure and functions; Future prosp. – future prospect; Curr. CS – current conservation status; Prev. CS –



previousconservationstatus;Nat.ofch.–natureofchange;EU27:assessmentonthe levelofallEUMemberCountries;Concl.–conclusion;Target1:-target1oftheEU2020BiodiversityStrategy.Conservationstatus FV Favourable U1 Unfavourable-inadequate U2 Unfavourable-bad XX UnknownTrend 0=stable;+=increase;-=decrease;x=unknownQualifier =stable;+positive;-negative;xunknownNatureofchange


Target1contribution



TheMemberStatesreportedbroadspectrumofpressurestothishabitattype.Mainpressuresandthreatsareabandonmentofgrazingandmowing, cultivation,modificationof cultivationpractices,fertilisation, human-induced changes in hydraulic regime, groundwater extraction, and habitatfragmentation.Thegrasslandmaintenancerepresentsthemostimportantmeasureindicatedashighlyneededbyallcountries. The establishment of protected sites and legal protection of habitat and species areproposedbyseveralcountriesaswell.

Code Pressurename BE DEDK ES FR IE NL PTUKA01 Cultivation M M A02 modificationofcultivationpractices H H A02.03 grasslandremovalforarableland H A03.03 abandonment/lackofmowing H H M H A04 grazing M M M HA04.01 intensivegrazing H A04.01.01 intensivecattlegrazing M A04.01.03 intensivehorsegrazing M A04.03 abandonmentofpastoralsystems,lackofgrazing M H M H H A07 useofbiocides,hormonesandchemicals M A08 Fertilisation M H M H MB01 forestplantingonopenground M B02.01.02 forestreplanting(nonnativetrees) M E01 Urbanisedareas,humanhabitation M E02 Industrialorcommercialareas M G05.07 missingorwronglydirectedconservationmeasures H H01 Pollutiontosurfacewaters(limnic,marine&brackish) M H H01.01 pollutiontosurfacewatersbyindustrialplants M H02 Pollutiontogroundwater(pointsourcesanddiffusesources) M H H04 Airpollution,air-bornepollutants H HH04.01 Acidrain M H04.02 Nitrogen-input H M I01 invasivenon-nativespecies M M I02 problematicnativespecies M M J02 humaninducedchangesinhydraulicconditions M H H J02.03 Canalisation&waterdeviation H J02.04 Floodingmodifications M J02.05 Modificationofhydrographicfunctioning,general H J02.06 Waterabstractionsfromsurfacewaters M J02.07 Waterabstractionsfromgroundwater M M H H J02.07.02 groundwaterabstractionsforpublicwatersupply M



Code Pressurename BE DEDK ES FR IE NL PTUKJ03.02 anthropogenicreductionofhabitatconnectivity H H H K01 abiotic(slow)naturalprocesses M K02 Biocenoticevolution,succession H K02.01 speciescompositionchange(succession) M H H K02.02 accumulationoforganicmaterial M K04 Interspecificfloralrelations H K04.01 competition(flora) M M01 Changesinabioticconditions M Note: Code Measurename BE DEDK ES FR IE NL PTUK1.1 Nomeasuresneededfortheconservationofthehabitat/species M 1.2 Measuresneeded,butnotimplemented H 2.0 Otheragriculture-relatedmeasures H M M2.1 Maintaininggrasslandsandotheropenhabitats H H H M H H H M H2.2 Adaptingcropproduction H M 3.1 Restoring/improvingforesthabitats M 4.0 Otherwetland-relatedmeasures H M M 4.1 Restoring/improvingwaterquality H M4.2 Restoring/improvingthehydrologicalregime H H H M H M6.0 Otherspatialmeasures M M 6.1 Establishprotectedareas/sites M H H6.3 Legalprotectionofhabitatsandspecies H H M6.4 Managelandscapefeatures H M 7.1 Regulation/Managementofhuntingandtaking H 7.4 Specificsinglespeciesorspeciesgroupmanagementmeasures H M Legend: L Lowintensity M Mediumintensity H Highintensity


ThehabitattypewasselectedforthefirstAtlanticseminarbecauseof itshighvalueofthePriorityindex. The habitat 6410 reached score 180 because of high values in both criteria A and B. Thehabitat occurs in nine countries (criterion A). Unfavourable-bad overall conservation status wasreportedinsevenandunknownstatusinonecountry(Spain).



For the improvement of the habitat conservation status in the Atlantic biogeographic region,especiallyimprovementofthehabitatstructureandfunctionsaswellashabitatrestorationinFranceis needed. The habitat maintenance requires regular mowing or extensive grazing. Drainage andfertilisers application should be avoided. The restoration measures include removal of scrub andtrees fromabandonedsites, removalof invasivespeciesand– ifneeded–restorationofhydraulicregime.Themanagementofsurfaceandgroundwaterisclearlycrucialforthishabitattype.Regularmanagement of the habitat could be funded from agricultural subsidies; restoration measuresrequireadditionalfunds.



Theabove-mentionedmeasuresforthehabitatmaintenanceshouldbeappliedinallcountriesoftheregion. Restoration is needed in most of the countries except Denmark, while the need forrestorationinSpainandPortugalcannotbedeterminedfromprovideddata.

Links




6440AlluvialmeadowsofrivervalleysoftheCnidiondubii SelectedforfirstroundofBiogeographicalSeminarx Selectedusing“Lowhangingfruit”approach

Summary

The overall conservation status in the Atlantic region is unfavourable - bad due to assessment ofstructureandfunctioninGermany,whichistheonlycountrythatreportedthehabitatoccurrenceintheAtlanticbiogeographicalregion.Habitat6440is intheAtlanticbiogeographicregiondistributedonly insmallareas innorth-westernGermany.The improvementof theconservationstatusof thehabitatrequiresregularmanagementofsites-thelow-intensitymowing.Grazingislesssuitableandifapplied,itiscrucialtocontrolaccess,durationandintensityofgrazing. Habitatdescription

AlluvialmeadowsoftherivervalleysbelongingtothevegetationallianceCnidiondubiiareformedbynatural flooding regime under continental to sub-continental climatic conditions. It is a transitionhabitat betweenwet and drymeadows. Their species composition is influenced especially by thefrequency, duration and time of flooding, which is themain source of nutrients. Thesemeadowshavelongtraditionofhigh-qualityhayproduction(Šefferetal.,2008).DistributionintheAtlanticregionandcoveragebyNatura2000network

TheoccurrenceofthishabitattypeinAtlanticbiogeographicregionisverymarginal–thecentreofitsdistributionliesincentralEurope.It isreportedintheAtlanticbiogeographicalregiononlyfromGermany. The representation of the habitat in Natura 2000 sites is high- more than 75% of thehabitatareaisprotectedinthreeNatura2000sites.


/km2/Coverage

/%/Numberofsites

Belgium Germany 0.25-0.3 78.12-93.75 3Denmark Spain France Ireland Netherlands Portugal UnitedKingdom ATLRegion 0.25-0.3 78.12-93.75 3





TheoverallconservationstatusofthishabitattypeinAtlanticbiogeographicalregionisunfavourable-badduetoassessmentofstructureandfunction.Theoverallqualifierisunknown.Thereferencevalueofthehabitatareaislargerthantheactualhabitatarea.

Theoverallconservationstatusfortheregionhasnotchangedagainstpreviousassessment(2001-2006).

Legend:MS–MemberState;Overallasses-Overallassessment;%MS–percentageofthesurfaceareaintherespectiveMemberStatecomparedtowholeBiogeographicalRegion;Ref.–referencevalue;Struct&func.-structure and functions; Future prosp. – future prospect; Curr. CS – current conservation status; Prev. CS –previousconservationstatus;Nat.ofch.–natureofchange;EU27:assessmentonthe levelofallEUMemberCountries;Concl.–conclusion;Target1:-target1oftheEU2020BiodiversityStrategy.Conservationstatus FV Favourable U1 Unfavourable-inadequate U2 Unfavourable-bad XX UnknownTrend 0=stable;+=increase;-=decrease;x=unknownQualifier =stable;+positive;-negative;xunknownNatureofchange


Target1contribution


Pressures,threatsandproposedmeasuresMainpressures reportedaremodificationof cultivationpracticesandabandonment (including thelackofmowing),fertilisationandhumaninducedchangesinhydraulicconditions.Germanyconsiders restoringhydrological regimeandmanagementof landscape featuresashighlyimportantmeasuresformaintenanceofgrasslands.

Code Pressurename BE DEDK ES FR IE NL PT UK

A02 modificationofcultivationpractices H

A03.01 intensivemowingorintensification M

A03.03 abandonment/lackofmowing H

A04.01 intensivegrazing M

A08 Fertilisation H

J02 humaninducedchangesinhydraulicconditions M

Note:Code Measurename BE DEDK ES FR IE NL PT UK

2.1 Maintaininggrasslandsandotheropenhabitats H

4.2 Restoring/improvingthehydrologicalregime H

6.4 Managelandscapefeatures H Legend: L Lowintensity M Mediumintensity H Highintensity



Reasonforselectionas“LowHangingFruit“(LHF)habitatintheAtlanticregion

ByapplyingthemethodologytoidentifyLHFhabitatsintheAtlanticregion,habitat6440reachedtheLHFscore3.56.ThishabitattypewasclassifiedasLHFespeciallybecausetoreachimprovement,thechange from unknown to positive trend within the category U2 (unfavourable - bad) would besufficient. It is normallymuch easier to improve a trend than to reach a change in category. ThehabitattypewasincludedasLHFalsobecauseofhighrepresentationofthehabitatinNatura2000sites(78%ofthehabitat iswithintheNatura2000)andthefactthatthe improvementoftrendofonlyoneparameter(structureandfunction)inonecountry(Germany)isneededtoreachtheoverallimprovement.


For the improvement of the overall conservation status in the Atlantic biogeographical region,improvementofstructureandfunctioninGermanyisneeded.Thelow-intensitymowingisthemostrecommendedmeasure for conservationof thesemeadows, togetherwith thepreventionof landdegradation and scrub encroachments. If feasible, the restoration or simulation of naturalhydrological regimeof sites is recommended.Grazing is less suitableand if applied, it is crucial tocontrolaccess,durationandintensityofgrazing(Šefferetal.,2008).

Besidestheimprovementofstructureofexistingmeadows,alsotherestorationofdamagedonesisnecessaryinordertoreachthereferencevalueforthehabitatarea.

Links


Šeffer J., JanakM., Šefferova Stanova V., 2008:Managementmodels for habitats in Natura 2000Sites. 6440 Alluvial meadows of river valleys of the Cnidion dubii. European Commission,TechnicalReport200817/24,20pp.



6510Lowlandhaymeadows(Alopecuruspratensis,Sanguisorbaofficinalis)


Habitatsummary

The overall conservation status in the Atlantic biogeographic region is unfavourable - bad anddeterioratingduetoassessmentofseveralparameters(habitatarea,structureandfunctions,futureprospect)byFrance.Othercountriesassessedtheconservationstatusasunfavourable–badaswell,except forPortugal (unfavourable– inadequate).Habitat 6510 is in theAtlantic regiondistributedmostlyinFrance(65.5%ofhabitatarea)andSpain(33.3%);itislesscommoninothercountriesandnot recorded in Denmark. Improving the conservation status of the habitat requires regularmanagementofsites(mowing,after-cutgrazing),maintenance/restorationofhydraulicregimeandreduction of surface water pollution (especially nitrogen and phosphorus load). The habitatrestorationisneededinallcountriesexceptPortugal.Habitatdescription

These are species-rich hay meadows on lightly to moderately fertilised soils of the plain tosubmontane levels, belonging to the Arrhenatherion and the Brachypodio-Centaureion nemoralisalliances.Theseextensivegrasslandsarerichinflowersandarenotcutbeforethegrassesflowerandeventhenonlyoneortwotimesperyear.DistributionintheAtlanticregionandcoveragebyNatura2000network

ThehabitattypeiswidespreadmostlyinFrance(65.5%ofhabitatarea)andSpain(33.3%).ItislesscommoninothercountriesoftheAtlanticbiogeographicregionandit isnotrecordedinDenmark.Fromtheca5039.8km2ofthishabitatintheAtlanticregiononlyabout15%areincludedinNatura2000 sites. TheNatura 2000 sites cover the largest proportion of the national habitat area in theNetherlands(80%)andinIreland(55.86%).


/km2/Coverage

/%/Numberofsites

Belgium 6.95 20.29 54Germany 43.71-49.76 128Denmark Spain 165.00 9.82 77France 497.60 15.08 173Ireland 0.81 55.86 10Netherlands 7.20 80.00 13Portugal 35-40 UnitedKingdom 6.72 44.47 5ATLRegion 762.99-774.04 15.14-15.36 460





The conservation status of this habitat type is unfavourable - bad and deteriorating due toassessmentofseveralparameters(habitatarea,structureandfunctions,futureprospect)byFrance.Othercountriesassessedtheconservationstatusasunfavourable–badaswell,exceptforPortugalthatconcludedonunfavourable-inadequatestatus.Thehabitatarea is favourableonly inPortugal,whichindicatesaneedforthehabitatrestorationinallothercountries.

The overall conservation status for the region has not changed against the previous assessment(2001-2006)andthechangeofoverallqualifierisconsiderednotgenuine.However,genuinechangeswerereportedbyBelgiumandGermany–changeofoverallqualifierfromstabletonegativewithinthecategoryunfavourable–bad.

Legend:MS–MemberState;Overallasses-Overallassessment;%MS–percentageofthesurfaceareaintherespectiveMemberStatecomparedtowholeBiogeographicalRegion;Ref.–referencevalue;Struct&func.-structure and functions; Future prosp. – future prospect; Curr. CS – current conservation status; Prev. CS –previousconservationstatus;Nat.ofch.–natureofchange;EU27:assessmentonthe levelofallEUMemberCountries;Concl.–conclusion;Target1:-target1oftheEU2020BiodiversityStrategy.Conservationstatus FV Favourable U1 Unfavourable-inadequate U2 Unfavourable-bad XX UnknownTrend 0=stable;+=increase;-=decrease;x=unknownQualifier =stable;+positive;-negative;xunknownNatureofchange


Target1contribution



Aratherlonglistofthreatsandpressureswasreportedforthishabitat.Asthemostimportantthefollowing were highlighted: modification of cultivation practices, agricultural intensification,grassland removal for arable land, fertilisation, continuous urbanisation and intensive mowing orintensification. Next to these, intensive grazing, afforestation, diverse human intrusions anddisturbancesbelongtopressuresofmediumintensity.Fromthenumberofmeasuresproposed,highlyneededaremaintaininggrasslandsandotheropenhabitats,agriculture-relatedmeasures, restoringofhydrological regime,managementof landscapefeatures,establishmentofprotectedareasandlegalprotectionofhabitatsandspecies.



Code Pressurename BE DEDK ES FR IE NL PTUK

A01 Cultivation H H A02 modificationofcultivationpractices M H H A02.01 agriculturalintensification H H H H A02.03 grasslandremovalforarableland H H H A03 mowing/cuttingofgrassland M MA03.01 intensivemowingorintensification H A03.03 abandonment/lackofmowing M H M H A04 grazing H M MA04.01 intensivegrazing M M A04.03 abandonmentofpastoralsystems,lackofgrazing H A06.03 biofuel-production H A06.04 abandonmentofcropproduction M A07 useofbiocides,hormonesandchemicals M M H MA08 Fertilisation H M H H HB01 forestplantingonopenground M M E01 Urbanisedareas,humanhabitation M M E01.01 continuousurbanisation H E02 Industrialorcommercialareas M E02.03 otherindustrial/commercialarea H E04 Structures,buildingsinthelandscape M G05 Otherhumanintrusionsanddisturbances M G05.07 missingorwronglydirectedconservationmeasures M H04 Airpollution,air-bornepollutants HI02 problematicnativespecies M I03.02 geneticpollution(plants) M J02 humaninducedchangesinhydraulicconditions M J02.04 Floodingmodifications H J03.02 anthropogenicreductionofhabitatconnectivity M M K02.01 speciescompositionchange(succession) M M M L08 inundation(naturalprocesses) MM01 Changesinabioticconditions MNote: Code Measurename BE DEDK ES FR IE NL PTUK2.0 Otheragriculture-relatedmeasures H H M H2.1 Maintaininggrasslandsandotheropenhabitats H H H M H H M H2.2 Adaptingcropproduction M M M 4.0 Otherwetland-relatedmeasures H M 4.1 Restoring/improvingwaterquality M4.2 Restoring/improvingthehydrologicalregime H H H4.3 Managingwaterabstraction H 6.0 Otherspatialmeasures M 6.1 Establishprotectedareas/sites H M M H6.3 Legalprotectionofhabitatsandspecies M H H6.4 Managelandscapefeatures H M 7.1 Regulation/Managementofhuntingandtaking H 9.1 Regulating/Managementexploitationofnaturalresourcesonland M Legend: L Lowintensity M Mediumintensity H Highintensity




ThehabitattypewasselectedforthefirstAtlanticseminarbecauseof itshighvalueofthePriorityindex. The habitat 6510 reached score 160 because of high values in both criteria A and B. Thehabitat occurs in nine countries (criterion A). Unfavourable-bad overall conservation status wasreportedinsixcountries,unfavourable-inadequatestatusinonecountry(Portugal)andunknowninonecountry(Spain).



For the improvement of the habitat conservation status in the Atlantic biogeographic region,especially improvement of the habitat structure and functions, as well as habitat restoration inFrance is needed. The habitat depends on a balance betweenwater regime, nutrient regime andvegetation management. The water regime is very important for this habitat type – it needs anaeratedrootzoneduringthegrowingseasonandadequatewatersupplyinearlysummer.Becausethefloodssupplythehabitatalsowithnutrients,thequalityofsurfacewateriscrucial–especiallyinterms of the content of nitrogen and phosphorus. Therefore the reduction of diffuse pollution ofsurface waters in the broader surrounding is important. The grassland cutting is the basicmanagementmeasure;itcouldbefollowedbyextensivegrazing.Thehabitatrestorationshouldbefocused to reducing nutrient load (e.g. by second cut) and restoration of the water regime. Theconversiontoothertypesoflanduse(ploughing,urbanisation)shouldbeavoided.

Links




1330AtlanticSaltmeadows(Glauco-Puccinellietaliamaritimae)

X SelectedforfirstroundofBiogeographicalSeminar Selectedusing“Lowhangingfruit”approach

Habitatsummary

TheoverallconservationstatusofthishabitattypeintheAtlanticregionisunfavourable–badanddeteriorating due to assessment of structure and functions byUnited Kingdom. Belgium reportedunfavourable -badstatusaswell.Habitat1330 is in theAtlanticbiogeographic regionwidespreadalongthecoaststhroughouttheregion.UnitedKingdomhoststhemostofthehabitatarea(28.9%).Improving the conservation status of the habitat requires especially improvement of the habitatstructureandfunctionsinUnitedKingdom.Themainmeasuresneededarerestorationofthewaterquality and restorationof coastal areas. Thehabitat restoration is needed inBelgium, France, theNetherlandsandUnitedKingdom.Propermanagementofthehabitatsitesisneededinallcountriesof the region. The correct decision about grazing and its intensity is crucial for the conservationmanagement.Habitatdescription

SaltmeadowsofBaltic,NorthSea,EnglishChannelandAtlantic shores.Atlantic saltmeadowsarecommunities of herbaceous halophytic (salt-tolerant) plants growing on the margins of tidallyinundated shores. They lie at the upper end of a succession between the early colonising speciessuch as Salicornia europaea and transitions to vegetation where tidal influence is limited. Astertripoliumcanbepresentorabundantinmostsubdivisions.DistributionintheAtlanticregionandcoveragebyNatura2000network

TheAtlanticbiogeographicregionrepresentscentreofthehabitatdistributionas80%oftheEUareais in the Atlantic region. Atlantic salt meadows are widespread along the coasts throughout theAtlantic biogeographic region. United Kingdom hosts most of the habitat area (28.9 %). TherepresentationofhabitattypeinNatura2000sitesisquitehigh(89.57-90.91%oftheareaiswithintheNatura 2000 sites) indicating thehigh responsibility ofAtlantic countries for this habitat type.WholenationalhabitatareaofFranceandtheNetherlandslieswithinNatura2000sites.




/km2/Coverage

/%/Numberofsites

Belgium 2.27-2.28 75.66-76 3Germany 184.1-187.10 95.14-96.69 14Denmark 127.00 82.46 12Spain 19.00 116.42 52France 250.00 100 67Ireland 14.79-25.90 57.10-100 41Netherlands 106.00 100 15Portugal UnitedKingdom 240.36 78.90 44ATLRegion 943.52-957.64 89.57-90.91 248



The conservation status of this habitat type is unfavourable – bad and deteriorating due toassessment of structure and functions by United Kingdom. Belgium reported unfavourable - badstatus as well, and in Spain the status is unknown. All other countries indicated unfavourable -inadequatestatus.TheactualhabitatareaissmallerthanthereferencevalueinBelgium,France,theNetherlandsandUnitedKingdom,whiledataonareaismissingfromPortugal.

Theoverallconservationstatusfortheregionhasnotchangedagainstpreviousassessment(2001-2006)–thechangeofstatusfromunfavourable-inadequatetounfavourable-badisnotconsideredgenuine.However,UnitedKingdomreportedgenuinechangeoftheoverallqualifierfromnegativetostablewithincategoryunfavourable-bad.

Legend:MS–MemberState;Overallasses-Overallassessment;%MS–percentageofthesurfaceareainthe



respectiveMemberStatecomparedtowholeBiogeographicalRegion;Ref.–referencevalue;Struct&func.-structure and functions; Future prosp. – future prospect; Curr. CS – current conservation status; Prev. CS –previousconservationstatus;Nat.ofch.–natureofchange;EU27:assessmentonthe levelofallEUMemberCountries;Concl.–conclusion;Target1:-target1oftheEU2020BiodiversityStrategy.Conservationstatus FV Favourable U1 Unfavourable-inadequate U2 Unfavourable-bad XX UnknownTrend 0=stable;+=increase;-=decrease;x=unknownQualifier =stable;+positive;-negative;xunknownNatureofchange


Target1contribution



Thecountries reportedawide rangeofpressuresand threats.Mainpressuresand threats includehumaninducedchangesinhydraulicconditions,alteredcoastaldynamics,abandonmentofpastoralsystems, other unsiutable agriculture, pollution, invasive non-native species and other humanimpacts.

Maintaining grasslands and other open habitats, agriculture-related measures, restoring coastalareas,legalprotectionofhabitatsandspeciesandestablishprotectedareasorsitesarelistedamongthe most important measures. Ireland reports no known measure or impossibility to carry outspecificmeasures.

Code Pressurename BE DEDK ES FR IE NL PT UKA01 Cultivation M A04 Grazing M M MA04.01 intensivegrazing M A04.01.01 intensivecattlegrazing H A04.01.02 intensivesheepgrazing M A04.03 abandonmentofpastoralsystems,lackofgrazing M M H A08 Fertilisation H M C03 Renewableabioticenergyuse MD01.01 paths,tracks,cyclingtracks H D03 shippinglanes,ports,marineconstructions M M MD03.01.04 industrialports M E01 Urbanisedareas,humanhabitation M F06 Hunting,fishingorcollectingactivitiesnotreferredtoabove M G01 Outdoorsportsandleisureactivities,recreationalactivities M M H01 Pollutiontosurfacewaters H M H H01.01 pollutiontosurfacewatersbyindustrialplants M H02 Pollutiontogroundwater(pointsourcesanddiffusesources) M I01 invasivenon-nativespecies M M M H I02 problematicnativespecies M J02 humaninducedchangesinhydraulicconditions H H HJ02.01.01 polderisation M J02.01.03 infillingofditches,dykes,ponds,pools,marshesorpits H J02.02.02 estuarineandcoastaldredging M J02.03.02 canalisation M J02.05 Modificationofhydrographicfunctioning,general H J02.05.01 modificationofwaterflow(tidal&marinecurrents) M J02.06 Waterabstractionsfromsurfacewaters M J02.07 Waterabstractionsfromgroundwater H



Code Pressurename BE DEDK ES FR IE NL PT UKJ02.12 Dykes,embankments,artificialbeaches,general H J02.12.02 dykesandfloodingdefenseininlandwatersystems H K01.01 Erosion M K02 Biocenoticevolution,succession H K02.01 speciescompositionchange(succession) M M M01 Changesinabioticconditions H

Code Measurename BE DEDK ES FR IE NL PT UK1.1 Nomeasuresneededfortheconservationofthehabitat/species M 1.2 Measuresneeded,butnotimplemented M M 1.3 Nomeasureknown/impossibletocarryoutspecificmeasures H 2.0 Otheragriculture-relatedmeasures M H 2.1 Maintaininggrasslandsandotheropenhabitats H H M H 2.2 Adaptingcropproduction H 4.0 Otherwetland-relatedmeasures M 4.1 Restoring/improvingwaterquality M M4.2 Restoring/improvingthehydrologicalregime H 4.4 Restoringcoastalareas M M H H6.0 Otherspatialmeasures H M 6.1 Establishprotectedareas/sites H M M6.2 Establishingwildernessareas/allowingsuccession H 6.3 Legalprotectionofhabitatsandspecies H M H M6.4 Managelandscapefeatures H 7.4 Specificsinglespeciesorspeciesgroupmanagementmeasures M Legend: L Lowintensity M Mediumintensity H Highintensity


ThehabitattypewasselectedforthefirstAtlanticseminarbecauseof itshighvalueofthePriorityindex. The habitat 1330 reached score 135 because of high values in both criteria A and B. Thehabitat occurs in nine countries (criterion A). Belgium, Denmark and United Kingdom reportedunfavourable-badoverallconservationstatus,fivecountriesreportedunfavourable-inadequateandSpainunknownstatus(criterionB).



For the improvement of the habitat conservation status in the Atlantic biogeographic region,especially improvement of the habitat structure and functions in United Kingdom is needed. Themainmeasures needed are restoration of thewater quality and restoration of coastal areas. Theproposed designation of protected areas and legal protection of habitats and species could bebeneficial for implementation of other measures. The habitat restoration is needed in Belgium,France,theNetherlandsandUnitedKingdom.A proper management of the habitat sites is needed in all countries of the region. The correctdecisionaboutgrazinganditsintensityiscrucialfortheconservationmanagement.IntroductionofgrazingbylivestockonformerlyungrazedorlightlygrazedsaltmarshescanhaveaharmfuleffectonAtlanticsaltmeadows.Converselyreductionorcessationofgrazingonhistoricallyheavilygrazedsalt



marshesandcoastalmeadowsresultsinadenseovergrown,species-poorswardunsuitableforthegrazingandbreedingofbird faunaof thesehabitats.Therefore, thekey toassessing theneed forintervention lies in understanding the historical pattern of management (Doody 2008). ThemanagementofSpartinaspeciesshouldbeconsideredasanintegralpartofthemanagementplans.Atlanticsaltmarshesthatarehighlyinfluencedbytidalpressurecouldbedamagedbyerosionandinsuchcase,theerosioncontrolisneeded.

Links

http://bd.eionet.europa.eu/article17/reports2012/habitat/summary/?period=3&group=Coastal+habitats&subject=1330&region=ATL

DoodyJ.P.2008.ManagementofNatura2000habitats.1330Atlanticsaltmeadows(Glauco-Puccinellietaliamaritimae).EuropeanCommission,TechnicalReport200802/24,31pp.

Documents

Natura 2000 Seminars - European Commission...Natura 2000 Seminars – Atlantic 5 ECNC, CEEweb, Eurosite, Europarc, ELO, ILE SAS Natura 2000 sites Country Area /km2/ Coverage /%/ Number