1. Using existing landscape monitoring programmes for monitoring and reporting on the Habitats directive PEER Nature2000 workshop, 25-27 April 2007 Hans Gardfjell, Department of Forest resource management, SLU, Umeå, Sweden Erik Hellberg and Johan Abenius, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

2. Two monitoring approaches 1.Site based monitoring of Natura-sites and other protected areas. Management decisionsManagement decisions Habitat monitoring for rare habitats with more than 80% of its total area within protected areas.Habitat monitoring for rare habitats with more than 80% of its total area within protected areas. 2.Integrating Natura 2000 biogeographical monitoring with ongoing nation wide environmental monitoring programs. Article 17 reportingArticle 17 reporting

3. Necessary information 3 biogeographical regions3 biogeographical regions 90 Natura 2000 habitats90 Natura 2000 habitats 185 estimates of range, area, and of each structural and functional variable185 estimates of range, area, and of each structural and functional variable Necessary for assessment to estimate both state as well as changeNecessary for assessment to estimate both state as well as change

4. Subset of terrestrial habitat information sources used in Article 17 reporting Swedish national forest inventory (RIS)Swedish national forest inventory (RIS) National inventory of landscapes in Sweden (NILS)National inventory of landscapes in Sweden (NILS) Reported presence and area of Natura 2000 habitats within protected areasReported presence and area of Natura 2000 habitats within protected areas Forest key habitat inventory (NBI)Forest key habitat inventory (NBI) Wetland survey (VMI)Wetland survey (VMI) National pasture and grassland database (TUVA)National pasture and grassland database (TUVA) Random sampling design Known sites or sampling with unknown sampling effort

5. Random sampling designs Known sites or non- random sampling designs Area Unbiased estimate Relative precision increases with total area of a habitat Not suitable. Only minimum or a biased estimate Range Good estimate for common habitats Insufficient for rare Good Structures and functions Unbiased estimates Risk of bias due to disproportional inclusion of high quality sites Change Permanent plots increases precision Will estimate both disappearance and recruitment Biased (see above) Difficult to detect and estimate recruitment Other aspects RIS and NILS have a predefined sampling schedule NBI, VMI, TUVA a one-time sampling effort.

6. Stratified cluster designStratified cluster design Combination of permanent and temporary clustersCombination of permanent and temporary clusters Comprises all land and lake area in SwedenComprises all land and lake area in Sweden However, no field measurements in alpine habitats and or in many of our cultivated and anthropogenic influenced habitats.However, no field measurements in alpine habitats and or in many of our cultivated and anthropogenic influenced habitats. Approximately 28500 permanent and 13000 temporary plotsApproximately 28500 permanent and 13000 temporary plots Permanent plots are censused every 5th yearPermanent plots are censused every 5th year One year sample of clusters

7. 20 m 7-10 m 1 m 3,5 m (radii) 500 m Cluster and Plot size

8. What is measured? Some examples: Land useLand use –Forest, grazed areas, mires, rocky substrates, arable land, roads Forest age and structureForest age and structure –Stand age, tree layers, height, density, maturity class, tree species composition Condition of forest sites and vegetationCondition of forest sites and vegetation –Vegetation type, presence of selected plant species, site index class, soil moisture, mineral soil or peat land Harvesting and other forestry measuresHarvesting and other forestry measures –Final felling, thinning, precommercial thinning, soil scarification, planting, presence of seed trees Browsing damages and other damagesBrowsing damages and other damages

9. National inventory of landscapes in Sweden Stratified cluster designStratified cluster design Started in 2003Started in 2003 Includes all terrestrial habitatsIncludes all terrestrial habitats Combines remote sensing of IR images with field measurements in plots and line transectsCombines remote sensing of IR images with field measurements in plots and line transects 631 permanent clusters631 permanent clusters 12 permanent circle plots in each cluster12 permanent circle plots in each cluster Approximately 6882 plots are visited in the field each 5-year periodApproximately 6882 plots are visited in the field each 5-year period

10. 5x5 km landscape plot 1x1 km plot Permanent circle plot Line intercept Additional Grassland inventory

11. Planned changes in the sampling protocol of RIS and NILS All visited plots will be classified into a Natura 2000 habitat or a non-habitatAll visited plots will be classified into a Natura 2000 habitat or a non-habitat Harmonization of methods for some variables, eg. Bush canopy coverHarmonization of methods for some variables, eg. Bush canopy cover Addition of a number of typical and characteristic speciesAddition of a number of typical and characteristic species

12. Usefulness The value of using a certain sampling design depends on how many sites of a given Natura habitat that the survey will find in each region.The value of using a certain sampling design depends on how many sites of a given Natura habitat that the survey will find in each region. Power analysis showed that for some variables it could be sufficient with as few as 30 “hits” for assessment of a habitat, but for other variables and habitats it might be necessary with 100 or more “hits”.Power analysis showed that for some variables it could be sufficient with as few as 30 “hits” for assessment of a habitat, but for other variables and habitats it might be necessary with 100 or more “hits”.

13. How many habitats can be monitored? Alternative 1: RIS + NILS + NILS grassland ContinentalBorealAlpine Terrestrial habitats 405230 >30 hits 4 (10%) 14 (27%) 10 (33%)

14. Proposal of an extended survey The goal is to find a general design that is efficient to collect data from less common habitats. An increase in effort for the ongoing surveys is not cost-effectiveThe goal is to find a general design that is efficient to collect data from less common habitats. An increase in effort for the ongoing surveys is not cost-effective An extended survey should satisfy the following demands:An extended survey should satisfy the following demands: –Use of random sampling design –Compatibility with the ongoing projects. Use plots of same size and use the same methods. –Simplicity. If possible, one method for all habitats –Scalable. It should be possible to increase or decrease the sampling effort –Pre-stratification.

15. Two-phase sampling design 1.Point-grid interpretation of aerial IR images (or line intersect analysis for habitats following linear structures). 2.Classify all points or intersects in the images into Natura 2000 habitats or groups of habitats, eg. old-growth hardwood forests. 3.Some structural and functional variables can be measured directly in the images. Tree and bush canopy cover and tree height. 4.Visit a subset of all interpreted points and use a reduced field protocol compatible with the ongoing surveys. Put more effort into visting groups with habitats of interest.

16. Size of extended survey 5x5 km landscape plots (NILS)5x5 km landscape plots (NILS) 225 points per plot225 points per plot 5-year period:5-year period: –Alpine region 142 (1x NILS) –Northern Boreal 235 (1x NILS) + 36 plots in coastal area –Boreonemoral 428 (2x NILS) –Continental 120 (3x NILS)

17. Alternative 1: RIS + NILS + NILS grassland ContinentalBorealAlpine Terrestrial habitats 405230 >30 hits 4 (10%) 14 (27%) 10 (33%) Alternative 2: Alt 1 + Extended survey ContinentalBorealAlpine Terrestrial habitats 405230 >30 hits 28 (70%) 36 (69%) 20 (67%) >100 hits 15 (38%) 20 (38%) 11 (37%)

18. Conclusion Using ongoing surveys is cost-effective, but does not satisfy our needs.Using ongoing surveys is cost-effective, but does not satisfy our needs. Ongoing surveys combined with an extended survey give estimations of area, and functions and structures for most habitatsOngoing surveys combined with an extended survey give estimations of area, and functions and structures for most habitats Habitats that fails:Habitats that fails: –7160 and 7220 –13 grasslands fails in at least one region. However, all execpt four has a low number of known localities. –9180, 9130 (boreal), 9020 (continental)