Monitoring of non-forest and forest habitat types of European importance: experiences from Saxony

1. Dr. Bernard Hachmöller Regierungspräsidium Dresden Umweltfachbereich Radebeul Wasastraße 50, D-01445 Radebeul Tel. 0049-351-8353446 Bernard.Hachmoeller@rpdd.sachsen.de www.umwelt.sachsen.de Monitoring of non-forest and forest habitat types of European importance: experiences from Saxony • Introduction • Different approaches to monitoring of habitats of European importance • Example of monitoring mountain meadows and Nardus grassland in Saxony • Recommendations for monitoring habitats of European importance in the 7 SCI selected for management planning

2. Introduction: comparison of representativity for selected Annex I habitats in Slovakia and Germany (=10%) (= 1%) (= 0,1%) relative size: (% of total area)*1000

3. Approaches to monitoring of habitats in Natura 2000 sites in Saxony a. „rough monitoring“ • comparison of conservation status for a special habitat type in all pSCI • based on habitat evaluation in management plans • repeated evaluation in intervals of about 5 years Example for a single habitat area in a SCI: • Documentation: • - management measures for conservation and development of habitats • - necessary investigations or further measures to avoid deterioriation • Results: • - general trends of conservation status for habitats of European importance • over a broad range of sites

4. b. detailed monitoring: in selected sites representative for a special type of habitat following standard procedures to allow precise replication and statistical analysis for repeated evaluations Vegetation monitoring: series of plots arranged randomly (possible for large habitats) series of sample plots arranged in transects (e.g. for habitats requiring management) single plots (for small-scale habitats, e.g. springs, rocks or special sites) complete species list for a single habitat area Monitoring of faunistic indicators: transects (e.g. for grasshoppers, butterflies, dragonflies, bats) series of traps (e.g. for beetles, small rodents) mapping of habitats in greater areas (e.g. for birds, mammals) Results: evaluation of the effects of habitat management measures and the conservation status of special habitats in a single representative site Approaches to monitoring of habitats in Natura 2000 sites in Saxony

5. Examples of monitoring mountain meadows (6520) and Nardus grassland (6230) in the SCI “Geisingberg” in Saxony

6. Examples of monitoring mountain meadows (6520) and Nardus grassland (6230) in the SCI “Geisingberg” in Saxony 2004 Development of mean species numbers in sample plots (25 m²)

7. Examples of monitoring mountain meadows (6520) and Nardus grassland (6230) in the SCI “Geisingberg” in Saxony Analysis of sample plots using Ellenberg indicator values

8. Examples of monitoring mountain meadows (6520) and Nardus grassland (6230) in the SCI “Geisingberg” in Saxony Comparison of transects (A) and single control plots in an ordination (DCA)

9. General recommendations: selection of homogenous areas for monitoring in large habitats, especially when they are actively managed representation of gradients according to altitude, climate, geological and soil characteristics or land use in larger areas (e.g. Muranska planina NP) exact marking of plots with metal plates and GPS, in addition measuring the exact distance from two remarkable structures (e.g. trees, rocks) and drawing of a small draft map, to enable location of the plots replication of vegetation plots (e.g. 8 - 10) to validate the results and to avoid undesired accidental effects selection of representative single plots in small habitats or in addition to transects investigate faunistic indicators in fixed plots according to (European or nation-wide) exactly defined schemes according to the habitat type Time required: about one hour per plot (25 m²) for the vegetation survey, and an additional hour per plot for its documentation about half an hour for marking the plot in the first year, and an additional half an hour for its documentation Recommendations for monitoring habitat types of European importance in the 7 SCI selected for management planning

10. ÚEV Muránska planina a. large-scale habitats suitable for series of vegetation transects and survey of selected faunistic indicators: limestone beech forest (9150) – xx Tilio-Acerion forests (*9180) – xx Asperulo-Fagetum forest (9130) – x Acidophilic Picea forest (9410) – x Alluvial forest with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (*91E0) – x Pannonian woods with Quercus pubescens (91H0) – x Western Carpathian calcicolus Pinus sylvestris forests (*91Q0) - x Nardus grassland (*6230) – x and/or lowland hay meadows (6510) xx - > 5% of Slovak habitat area according to standard data sheet x - > 1% of Slovak habitat area according to standard data sheet Recommendations for monitoring habitat types of European importance in the 7 SCI selected for management planning

11. ÚEV Muránska planina b. small-scale habitats suitable for single vegetation plots: Sub-continental peri-pannonic scrub (*40A0) - x Alpine and subalpine calcareous grassland (6170) Rupiculous pannonic grasslands (6190) – x Calcareous rocky slopes (8210) – x Medio-European calcareous scree of hill and montane levels (*8160) – x Of special interest seem to be the large natural forest areas, especially the different types of beech forest, covering a gradient of altitude and a differentiation according to soil characteristic and exposition. Because of the large size of the national park, a complex monitoring system including different gradients and stadiums of forest habitats could be developed. Within the managed habitats, the areas where horses are kept could be interesting if they coincide with occurrence of lowland hay meadows. The sites of the endemic Daphne arbuscula should be included to monitor the favourable conservation status of its habitat. Recommendations for monitoring habitat types of European importance in the 7 SCI selected for management planning

12. ÚEV Zoborské vrchy a. large-scale habitats suitable for series of vegetation transects and survey of selected faunistic indicators: Semi-natural dry grassland (Festuco-Brometalia, *6210) - xx pannonian woods with Quercus pubescens (91H0) – xx b. small-scale habitats suitable for single vegetation plots: European dry heaths (4030) – xx Sub-continental peri-pannonic scrub (*40A0) – x Sub-pannonic steppic grassland (*6240) – x Of special interest seems to be the semi-natural dry grassland (Festuco-Brometalia) because of its significance for nature-conservation, and because it requires special management measures. According to the standard data sheet, shrub clearing and mowing has already been performed in the last few years. The effects of these management measures or further management, i.e. grazing, on the conservation status of the grassland could be documented through monitoring. Recommendations for monitoring habitat types of European importance in the 7 SCI selected for management planning

13. ÚEV Sitno a. large-scale habitats suitable for series of vegetation transects and survey of selected faunistic indicators: pannonic woods with Quercus petraea and Carpinus betulus (*91G0) – xx pannonc-balcanic turkey oak – sessile oak forests (91M0) - x b. small-scale habitats suitable for single vegetation plots: Sub-continental peri-pannonic scrub (*40A0) – xx Sub-pannonic steppic grassland (*6240) in combination with lowland hay meadows (6510) Siliceous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation (8220) - x Of special interest seem to be the pannonic forest habitats, especially the oak-hornbeam-forests, which are representative for southern Slovakia. In addition, the effects of management measures (shrub clearing, mowing) on the conservation status of hay meadows in transition to steppic grassland harboring many rare species could be documented by small transects. Recommendations for monitoring habitat types of European importance in the 7 SCI selected for management planning

14. ÚEV Turiec a Blatničianka a. large-scale habitats suitable for series of vegetation transects and survey of selected faunistic indicators: Water courses of plain to montane levels with Ranunculion fluitantis and Callitricho-Batrachion vegetation (3260) – xx Alkaline fens (7230) – xx Lowland hay meadows (6510) b. small-scale habitats suitable for single vegetation plots: Hygrophilious tall-herb fringe communities (6430) - x Of special interest is the river vegetation in one of the largest occurrence of this habitat type in Slovakia. However, transects have to be defined in a different way than in terrestric habitats. The alkaline fens, and possibly also the lowland hay meadows if they show a species-rich vegetation according to the calcareous substrate, should be monitored to demonstrate the effects of management measures like mowing. Recommendations for monitoring habitat types of European importance in the 7 SCI selected for management planning

15. ÚEV Travertíny pri Spišskom Podhradí a. large-scale habitats suitable for series of vegetation transects and survey of selected faunistic indicators: rupicolous pannonic grassland (6190) – x, possibly in combination with semi-natural dry grassland (Festuco-Brometalia, *6210) b. small-scale habitats suitable for single vegetation plots: inland salt meadows (*1340) – x rupicolous calcareous or basophilic grassland (Alysso-Sedion albi, *6110) – xx Calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation (8210) Of special interest are the inland salt meadows on travertine springs which are subject to impacts from tourism, and the dry grassland and rupicolous grassland on travertine rocks which contain many rare species. In the grassland habitats, management measures like shrub clearing and sheep grazing could be documented through monitoring, as well as impacts from tourism. Recommendations for monitoring habitat types of European importance in the 7 SCI selected for management planning

16. ÚEV Dolina Gánovskeho potoka small-scale habitats suitable for single vegetation plots or small transects, possibly also survey of selected faunistic indicators: inland salt meadows (*1340) – x, possibly in combination with Alkaline fens (7230) Of special interest are the inland salt meadows. Sites which may be subject to eutrophication from nearby intensively used fields could be included in the monitoring. Recommendations for monitoring habitat types of European importance in the 7 SCI selected for management planning ÚEV Medzianske skalky small-scale habitats suitable for single vegetation plots or small transects, possibly also survey of selected faunistic indicators: semi-natural dry grassland (Festuco-Brometalia, *6210) The dry grassland should be included in the monitoring because it contains many rare species and is subject to deterioration through succession.