1. Development of the EUNIS Habitat Classification: why and how? DORIAN MOSS British Trust for Ornithology formerly at Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Dorian Ecological Information Ltd, UK

2. 1982198519881991199519982001200420072011 CORINE Biotopes classification 2 levels Habitats Directive Annex I CORINE Biotopes Manual vol. 2 EC CORINE Biotopes development DG-XI CORINE Programme CORINE team meetings

3. EUNIS predecessors CORINE Biotopes habitats 1982: 2 levels, just a list of names Developed so as to record habitats in conservation sites 1988: 4+ levels, descriptions, references to literature and phytosociology 1991: over 3000 habitat types 1993-6: extended to rest of Europe with CoE funding

4. Problems with CORINE CORINE was only intended as a pilot Habitat list not planned to have life outside the project Extracts from unpublished version Annex I EC lost ownership on expansion to PHARE area Delays from 1991-94 in starting up EEA However EEA picked up commitment for development of habitat classificationin 1996 Source: Ulla Pinborg, Monks Wood, 1996

5. Criticisms of CORINE No clear consistent statement of methodology No responsible authoritative scientific body Wide differences in importance of habitat types classified at same level in hierarchy No clear consistent criteria for each division Habitat types apparently separated only on geographical and not ecological grounds Not comprehensive, omits especially many marine, freshwater and man-made habitat types Sources: Rodwell et al, c.1995, Moss & Roy 1995, etc

6. Aims of EUNIS EUROPEAN NATURE INFORMATION SYSTEM Content: to be a reservoir of information on environmentally important matters in Europe Tools: to facilitate use of data by promoting harmonisation of terminology and definitions

7. Species: focus on legislative lists nomenclature distribution conservation status Habitats: a European standard for habitat nomenclature cross-references to other systems including EU Habitats Directive Annex I Sites: Common Database on Designated Areas internationally designated sites CORINE Biotopes database EUNIS : EUROPEAN NATURE INFORMATION SYSTEM

8. 1982198519881991199519982001200420072011 CORINE Biotopes classification 2 levels EEA and ETC/NC EUNIS initial plans EUNIS habitat workshops Habitats Directive Annex I CORINE Biotopes Manual vol. 2 EC Black Sea workshop CORINE Biotopes development EUNIS habitat classification published CEH 1 st EUNIS habitat website EUNIS website EEA workshop on governance OSPAR/ICES workshops Baltic Sea workshop DG-XI CORINE Programme Crosswalks to other classifications CORINE team meetings

9. Aims of the EUNIS habitat classification: provide a common language enable mapping of units at a regional level comprehensive and applicable at different levels of complexity allow aggregation, evaluation and monitoring of habitat units provide a common framework: new information and links to other classifications

10. Development of EUNIS International consultative workshops, Paris & Monks Wood, 1995 & 1996 Several meetings of experts groups 1996-98 Criteria for first 3 levels proposed Palaearctic habitats re-arranged to fit criteria Concentrated on levels 3-4, lower levels attached from other classifications Inputs from marine and vegetation scientists to fill in gaps Sources: Davies & Moss 1998-2001

11. Principles of the classification (1) Classification is hierarchical Units at a given hierarchical level to be of similar importance Clear criteria for each division to level 3 Units at level 4 and below follow criteria of higher levels Logical sequence of units Use clearly defined non-technical language

12. Principles of the classification (2) Ecologically distinct habitat types supporting different plant and animal communities should be separated Habitats from different locations differing on the basis of geographical range only should not be separated Habitat units and habitat complexes are separated

13. Development of EUNIS: widening consultation, gathering expertise Searchable parameter frame developed Workshops: –OSPAR/ICES marine habitat mapping workshops –ICES scientific conference paper –Workshop on Baltic Sea habitats (HELCOM) –1st Black Sea science conference poster –Workshop on Black Sea habitats (Black Sea Commission) Sources: Davies & Moss 2001-2004, Moss 2006-2008

14. Dissemination of EUNIS First website hosted by Wallonie region, 2001 Lists of cross-references to Annex I, Palaearctic and CORINE Land cover, 2002 Cross-references to European Vegetation Survey, 2002 EUNIS website, 2003-07 Snapshot of classification published by CEH, 2004

15. Relationships between classifications EUNIS HABITATS pan-European marine & terrestrial comprehensive to level 3/4 non-legislative links to other classifications 1996-2007 CORINE/PALAEARCTIC EU -> Palaearctic realm mainly terrestrial comprehensive and detailed non-legislative 1986-2001... HELCOM Baltic Sea marine and coastal mainly abiotic Helsinki Convention 1998 BARCELONA CONVENTION Mediterranean Sea marine selective 1998 BioMar/JNCC British and Irish seas marine comprehensive non-legislative 1997, updated 2004 Habitats Directive Annex I EU marine & terrestrial varying levels EU Habitats Directive (incl. NATURA2000) 1992 (from CORINE, 1989) augmented 1995 and 2004 EMERALD Annex I pan-European marine & terrestrial varying levels Bern Convention from Palaearctic, 1995 CORINE Land Cover pan-European marine & terrestrial 3 levels, 44 classes land cover mapping 1986-1994 OSPAR/ICES NE Atlantic marine started 1999 EUROPEAN VEGETATION SURVEY Crosswalk to Syntaxa BLACK SEA CONVENTION Black Sea marine comprehensive or selective? 2006+?

16. Governance of EUNIS Ownership of the classification should be vested in the collective team responsible for its validation and evolution. In view of the long-term nature of the task and the value of a coherent and widely applicable habitat classification at the European level, the work of this team should be underwritten by the European Environment Agency through its European Topic Centre on Nature Conservation. Source: Moss & Roy 1995

17. Governance of EUNIS 2 A small standing working group should oversee the development of the classification and ensure quality checking. This group should involve other individual or corporate experts selected regionally or thematically as appropriate. A larger central management and coordination committee should be constituted involving a range of developers from the scientific community and of users from scientific and conservation organisations Source: Moss & Hopkins 1997

18. EUNIS Habitat Classification level 1 A MARINE HABITATS E GRASSLANDS AND LANDS DOMINATED BY FORBS, MOSSES OR LICHENS D MIRES, BOGS AND FENS C INLAND SURFACE WATERS B COASTAL HABITATS J CONSTRUCTED, INDUSTRIAL AND OTHER ARTIFICIAL HABITATS I REGULARLY OR RECENTLY CULTIVATED AGRICULTURAL, HORTICULTURAL AND DOMESTIC HABITATS H INLAND UNVEGETATED OR SPARSELY VEGETATED HABITATS G WOODLAND, FOREST AND OTHER WOODED LAND F HEATHLAND, SCRUB AND TUNDRA XHABITAT COMPLEXES