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COST Action E27 (PROFOR)
Working Group 1
Questionnaire: selection criteria
of protected forest areas (PFA) in Europe
This questionnaire aims at gathering detailed information about selection criteria of PFA in Europe in
order to fulfil a priority task of the WG1 of the Profor COST action. Please fill in this questionnaire and
send it to Etienne Branquart ([email protected]).
Conservation and natural value of forest ecosystems
The creation of protected forest areas may fulfil two main motivations related to biodiversity: to
maximise either conservation value or natural value (i.e. naturalness). The first one aims to protect key
sites for the conservation of rare or threatened species and habitats. The second one aims to restore
natural structures and processes typical of pristine woodlands. Naturalness quest meet therefore also
scientific objectives (learning by watching nature, close to nature forestry, etc.).
A lot of rare and threatened species are to be found in woodlands characterised by a high naturalness
such as old growth forests. For instance, saproxylic species are typically linked to over-mature trees or
to large woody debris, two key structural elements often eliminated from managed forests. It means
that naturalness objectives usually fulfil conservation ones. However, the opposite is not always true.
Conservation management does not always lead to the restoration of natural landscapes: dry
grasslands, heathlands and coppice woodlands are typically distinguished by a high conservation
value (they shelter numerous red-listed species) but a low naturalness.
Questionnaire
0. General information
Country:
Person responsible:
Institute:
LITHUANIA
Olgirda Belova
Lithuanian Forest Research Institute
1. Number of PFA types
1A. Total number of PFA types in the country
1B. Number of PFA types primarily dedicated to forest biodiversity
(conservation and scientific purposes)*
N = 13
N=8
* corresponding to 1.1 to 1.3 categories of the MCPFE classification
** By the Law of Protected Areas, National and Regional Parks are multifunctional territories corresponded to 2
category (MCPFE classification) including areas under conservation regime (categories 1.1 to 1.3, that is strict
reserves and nature reserves, SPA, WKH) whereas the present Regulations and rules of the each given park
include biodiversity conservation already.
2. Motivations
The main motivations to designate PFA matching 1B criteria could be: (1) mainly a conservation target
(should be based on species or habitat action plans and can involve active management for
conservation purposes), (2) mainly a naturalness target (restoration of dynamic natural processes), (3)
both of them, depending on individual areas within a single PFA type.
Please fill in the following table for the PFA types primarily dedicated to the conservation of forest
biodiversity (cf 1B). In the last column (prime motivation), indicate (1)-(3), according to the description
here above.
Table 1 – Main local types of PFAs primarily dedicated to the conservation of forest biodiversity
PFA
code
PFA local name
MCPFE
category
Prime
motivation
(1, 2 or 3)
A
A'
A''
B
C
D
E
F
Strict Nature Reserve
Small Strict Reserve
Strict nature reserves within state parks and biosphere reserves
Nature Reserves
Protected objects of nature heritage
Biosphere Reserve
Special Protected Area (Natura 2000)
Woodland Key Habitat (WKH)
A1.1, A1.2
A1.1, A1.2
A1.2
A1.3
A1.2 & 2
A.1.3
2
2
2
2
2
2
A1.2 & 2
A1.2, A1.3
1
2
Comments:
The main types of PFA’s are oriented to the biodiversity conservation. Thee A types (codes A-A'') as
well as B and C attributed to areas of the conservation priority. D code attributed to areas of complex
protected areas (Biosphere Reserve). Areas of E & F codes are SPA (Natura 200) and Woodland Key
Habitats (WKH). The process of their designation and implementation is continued away. Lithuanian
National & Regional parks are complex multifunctional areas, which include conservation of diversity,
natural complexes, habitats and species in the Regulations of each given territory. However, it is not
task of the paramount importance. Strict Nature Reserves and Kuršių Nerija National Park are
exclusively public ownership.
3. Use of scientific selection criteria
3A. Are scientific standardised criteria currently used for the selection of PFA in your country ? ..... Yes
3B. Do they prevail on pragmatic criteria (e.g. site history, owner and availability) ? ........................... No
3C. Since when are scientific criteria used for site designation ? .................................................... 1993
Comments:
Up to above-mentioned 1993, designation of the protected areas mostly grounded on the criteria of
landscape values, naturalness and episodic findings of habitats of the rare species. Since 1993, the
system of protected areas is correcting by the more objective criteria taking into consideration
naturalness, representativity, dynamic status if naturalness is lost, rareness and threateness,
biodiversity, investigative level and scientific value as well as functional reliability, spatial distribution,
aesthetic and economic values, connectivity with the whole natural protection network, etc. These are
included into the Law of Protected Areas and other post-legal acts
4. Types of selections criteria
For each of the PFA types considered in Table 1, fill in the following table. Please use the following
grading: (1) primary importance, (2) incidental importance and (3) not taken into consideration.
Criteria definition
1A/ Habitat representativity: does PFA selection process aims to contain a representative selection of all forest types
present in the country?
1B/ Threatened habitats: does PFA selection process focus on rare and threatened habitats (e.g. prioritary Natura 2000
habitats)?
1C/ Phytocoenotic integrity: does PFA selection process focus on forest sites with a representative and undisturbed
vegetation (potential natural vegetation)?
1D/ Presence of signal species: are indicator species of natural conditions (forest continuity and integrity) used for PFA
selection in your country?
1E/ Presence of red listed species: does PFA selection process focus on specific rare and threatened species (e.g.
Natura 2000 species)?
2A/ Vertical and age structure: is a complex vertical and age structure a prerequisite for PFA selection? Do all the forest
developmental phases have to be represented into individual reserves?
2B/ Natural regeneration: is the presence of large amounts of young trees and saplings another prerequisite?
2C/ Old growth stages: does the selection process focus on old-growth areas characterised by the presence of overmature trees and minimal amount of dead wood?
2D/ Soil and hyrdology integrity: does PFA selection process focus on sites with undisturbed soils and hydrology,
including water quality and drainage?
3A/ Forest cover continuity over time: does PFA selection process focus on ancient forests with a long cover continuity
over time?
3B/ Old-growth continuity over time: ditto, with a continuity in over-mature trees and dead wood within the forest.
3C/ Minimal area for PFA designation: is a minimal structural area a prerequisite for PFA selection?
3D/ PFA environment and buffer area: is PFA environment taken into account before site selection ? Has it to be
included in a larger forest areas to fulfil connectivity requirements ? Has it to be remote from roads and pollution
sources ? Etc.
3E/ Habitat diversity within PFA: does PFA selection process focus on habitat complexes made of various habitat types?
3F/ Landform and topography: are PFA concentrated in particular landforms (mountains, flood plains, etc.)?
Table 2 – Main selection criteria for PFA dedicated to biodiversity conservation
A
A'
A''
B
C
D
E
F
3
1
1
2
2
3
2
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
2
1
3
3
3
2
2
1
3
2
2
2
2
1
2
1
1
3
1
2
1
1
3
3
1
3
2
3
1
3
2
3
1
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
2
2
3
2
3
1
3
1
2
2
3
2
2
1
2
3
2
3
3
1
2
2
3
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
1
3
2
2
3
1/ Composition
1A. Habitat representativity
1B. Threatened habitats
1C. Phytocoenotic integrity
1D. Presence of signal species
1E. Presence of red listed species
2/ Structure/functioning
2A. Vertical and age structure
2B. Natural regeneration
2C. Old-growth stages
2D. Soil and hydrology integrity
3/ Landscape ecological context
3A. Forest cover continuity over time
3B. Old-growth continuity over time
3C. Minimal area for PFA designation
3D. PFA environment and buffer area
3E. Habitat diversity within individual PFA
3F. Landform and topography
Are there other primary scientific criteria used for site designation that have been omitted in the Table
2 ? Preceding proposal:
- Dynamic status
- Scientific, aesthetic value
- Rareness
- Landscape attractiveness
- Connectivity with the whole natural protection network
- threatening level - has been included as 1B and 1E
- Naturalness – it is perceived as mentioned potential natural vegetation (1C) but it is not the same as the forest
cover continuity because intensively managed and continually overgrown forest is unnatural yet
5. Quantitative assessment
For those criteria of primary importance for PFA selection ((1) in Table 2), explain hereafter how they
are assessed and which benchmarks, references and international or national standards are used. For
example, if minimal structural area is considered as a priority for the designation of some PFA type,
give some indicative value of the minimum size.
Criteria 1 =1B. Threatened habitats. The primary importance has for the strict nature reserves (code
A, SPA (code E, designation and implementation is continued, proposed for approval 300
designated territories by Habitat Directive ( State Protected Area Service, 2003), Woodland key habitats
(code F) (State Forest Management Service, 2003) (see PFA table) as well as for some Nature reserves
while it is on an average only incidental importance (2). 1A criterion “Habitat representativity” wasn’t
taken into consideration previously within designation of existing protected areas, however, it is
mentioned in the present legal acts.
Criteria 2 =1C. Phytocoenotic integrity. Criterion is important for the designation of Strict Reserves (A)
while the rareness of communities is important for Nature Reserves (code B). Determined by the
Law of Protected Areas, and Regulations of the each given protected area. Quantitative
characteristics are presented in the Country report and PFA table (WG1)
Criteria 3 =1D & 1E. Presence of signal species. Presence of red listed species. Presence of the
signal species was not used previously per se excluding current SPA and WKH (codes E & F); red
listed species and typical communities is the main criterion for the selection of Nature Reserves
(code B) as well as for the Special Protected Areas (code E, Natura 2000, n= 90) (State Protected
Area Service 2003), Woodland Key Habitats (F)(State Forest Management Service 2003). Determined by
the Law of Protected Area and post-legal acts (additionally, see PFA table)
Criteria 4 =2C. Presence of old-growth stages. The main criteria for designation of Strict Reserves
(codes A – A''). It is usable for the designation of Woodland Key Habitats (code F). The old trees are
important objects of nature heritage. Determined by the Law of Protected Area, regulations of
certain object, other legal acts. Minimal dead wood amount is the most important for the designation
of Woodland Key Habitats (F) as well as for the certain Special Protected Areas (SPA) (E) taking
into consideration the Bird Directive (79/409/EC) and Habitat Directive (92/43/EEC) transferred to
the Law of Protected Areas, the List of the Selection Criteria of SPAs and SACs (Species Areas Of
Conservation) confirmed by the executive orders of the Minister of Environment, other post-legal
acts related to Natura 2000 network in Lithuania. Presently, 390 designated SPA are proposed for
approval (State Protected Area Service, 2003)
Criteria 5 = Forest cover continuity over time. It is most important for the designation of the Strict
Reserves (codes A – A''). Presented in the scientific publications, indirectly, it is mentioned in The
Program of Protection of Strict Nature Reserves, resolutions of the Ministry of Environment,
regulations of the Strict Reserves. Quantitative characteristics are presented in the Country report
and PFA table (WG1)
Criteria 6 = Old-growth continuity over time. Relatively less impact of forest management to forest as
well as above-mentioned criterion are the important for the designation of Woodland Key Habitats
(G). Confirmed by the orders of the Minister of Environment, WKH inventory executive specifications
(Lithuanian-Swedish project “Pilot Wood Key Habitat Inventory in Lithuania” started in 2001, will be
fulfilled in 2005; presently WKH occupy 12716 ha with mean area 3.3 ha).