European European Forest Forest Types Types Testing Testing the the operationality operationality of the of the classification classification Anna Barbati Anna Barbati Italian Italian Academy Academy of Forest of Forest Sciences Sciences & University of & University of Tuscia Tuscia “ “ Workshop on Pan Workshop on Pan European European understanding understanding of forest of forest classification classification ” ” 13 13 - - 15 15 November November , , Bled Bled , Slovenia , Slovenia
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European Forest Types - Forest Europe · 9.2 Olive-carob forest 17. Olive-carob 17. Kermes oak 16. Cork-oak 9.1 Mediterranean evergreen oak forest 9. Broadleaved evergreen forest
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EuropeanEuropean Forest Forest TypesTypesTestingTesting the the operationalityoperationality of the of the classificationclassification
Anna BarbatiAnna BarbatiItalianItalian AcademyAcademy of Forest of Forest SciencesSciences & University of & University of TusciaTuscia
““Workshop on Pan Workshop on Pan EuropeanEuropean understandingunderstanding of forest of forest classificationclassification””1313--15 15 NovemberNovember, , BledBled, Slovenia, Slovenia
possiblepossible concernsconcerns on the on the new system of forest new system of forest
typestypes
• The system shows a considerable potential toimprove the quality of information (benefit)
but …• it requires an increased
effort of data elaboration(cost)
1 < 1 < categoriescategories <14<14vsvs
3 3 classesclasses
future MCPFE Reports on the State of Europe’s Forest
• the shift to the new system of forest typesimplies the elaboration of a cross-reference matrixto stratify and processnational data (NFIs, etc.), available in differentclasses than requested, into the proposedcategories
CrossCross--referencereference matrixmatrix
future MCPFE Reports on the State of Europe’s Forest
TestingTesting the the operationalityoperationality of the of the classificationclassification
• In the framework of the COST Action E-43 Harmonisation of National Inventories in Europe: Techniques for Common Reporting correspondents of National Forest Inventories (NFIs) of European countries were asked through a questionnarie to evaluate possibilities of reclassification of national data to the proposed European Forest Types
• In the context of the Forest Focus projects Forest Biotaand Forest BioSoil, both concerned with the operational assessment of forest biodiversity indicators on ICP-Level I and ICP-Level II plots, respectively the classification was applied to stratify ICP plots in order to optimize the reporting of biodiversity indicators
COST Action ECOST Action E--43 Harmonisation of 43 Harmonisation of National Inventories in Europe: National Inventories in Europe:
Techniques for Common ReportingTechniques for Common Reporting
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20 countries answered the questionnaire20 countries answered the questionnaire
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS, BIOGEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS AND ALTITUDE
PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES
SOIL CONDITIONS AND FERTILITY
MANAGEMENT
ECONOMY
ADMINISTRATIVE (PROPERTY)
AGE
Number of countries
ParametersParameters are are usedused toto classifyclassify forest forest typestypes
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
REAL
REAL AND POTENTIAL
POTENTIAL
The forest The forest typetype classificationclassification isis basedbased ononrealreal or or potentialpotential vegetationvegetation??
0 5 10 15 20
NO
YES
Can Can youyou linklink youryour nationalnational data data toto EuropeanEuropean Forest Forest TypeType
the shift to the proposed European Forest Typesis regarded as feasible for most
countries included in the COST E-43 survey
ExampleExample of of crosscross--referencereference matrixmatrixItalyItaly
• In the ongoing Italian National Forest Inventory about 30.000 ground plots are classified and stratified according to a national forest types classification basedon 20 classes grounded on forest physiognomy; 3 classes correspond toforest plantations
Plantation identificationExpert local knowledgeAfforestation/reforestation
Even-aged structureRegular horizontal pattern
Intensive forest management
Plantations or forests ofexotic species?
(1)
14.Plantations and self-sown exotic forest
Dominant tree types(3)
Coniferous(go to key 1)
Broadleaveddeciduos
(go to key 2)
Broadleavedevergreen
(go to key 3)
Mixed(go to key 4)
Yes
No
Plantations of site-nativespecies?
(2)
Yes
14.1Plantations of site-
native species
No
14.2Plantations of not-site-
native species andself-sown exotic forest
Key 0. Criteria for Category 14. Plantations and self-sownexotic forest and related forest types(number) refers to explanatory notes (see following page).
Ideally, the area of forest plantations should bederived from statistically designed forest inventories/surveys which can provide a reliableestimate of afforestated/reforested areas as well asspecies composition, volume and age class distribution
Unfortunately such information is not always availableEuropean countries, and in most cases the forest plantation area is based on official statistics (e.g. planted areas reported by planting agencies) and conjecture (over/under-estimation)
14. Plantations and self-sown exotic forestClass definition The class covers forest plantations (sensu MCPFE indicator 4.3) and self-sown stands of exotic species. Forest plantations are stands established by planting or/and seeding in the process of afforestation or reforestation; they are intensively managed stands (e.g. short rotation forestry) that meet all the following criteria: one or two species at plantation, even aged, regular spacing, systematic thinning regimes.
Tips for the assesmentNationalNational checklist of florachecklist of floraIn which part of the country a given tree species is regarded as spontaneousand where is introduced ?
14.2 Plantation of not-site-nativespeciesand self-sown exotic forest
Reliable identification of reforested/afforested areas
(regional forest maps, national or regional forest services data on planted areas, satellite imagery-
based periodical forest cover assessments)+
Evidence of plantation-like structureand high intensity of forest management
(from NFIs field survey)
14.1 Plantation of site-nativespecies
Stratification of ICP Level I and Level II Stratification of ICP Level I and Level II plotsplots
byby CategoriesCategories
LevelLevel I I plotsplots
Extensive network of observation points ~ 6,000 (16 x 16km)
StratificationStratification of ICP of ICP plotsplots bybyEuropeanEuropean Forest Forest TypesTypes
• Data sources- ICP Level I & II databases: tree species
composition (dbh data only for Level II) + ecological information of forest site (e.g. climate, elevation, soil type)
- General Map of Natural Vegetation of Europe (Bohn et al., 2000)
- Atlas Florae Europaeae- European rivers map
• Number of species
•Biogeographic region
•dominant species• ICP level I derived from species frequency• ICP level II derived from basal area
•Climate•soil•elevation•river proximity(buffer 1 km)
•Bohn potential forest type
Natural range of distributionof the tree species
12. Floodplain forest
General Map of Natural Vegetation of Europe
to assess the coherence of forest physignomy with natural vegetatione.g. ICP plots dominated by native conifers falling in areas
characterized by a natural dominance of broadleaved or mixed forest,are, for sure, replacement vegetation
though not necessarily forest plantations
DIGITAL NON GEOREFERENCED DB showing the natural range of distribution of European vascularplants
Broad delineation of areas of native occurence of the trees native to EuropePlots dominated by the species falling outsidetheir natural range are assigned to plantations(not-site-native plantation)
ClassificationClassification of ICP of ICP LevelLevel I I plotsplots
ICP ICP levellevel I I plotsplotsbyby categoriescategories
• The test does not provide exact statistics of the relative frequency of the categories country level (reliably derived only from country NFIs data)
• but, it gives a reasonable idea of the possible increase in the MCPFE reporting burden; the number of categories at country level is on average 6 and ranges from 1 to 12
Italy:ICP categories = 9vsNFIs categories = 11
ICP ICP LevelLevel II database: DB INCREMENT PERIODIC II database: DB INCREMENT PERIODIC (619/900 (619/900 plotsplots))
• COUNTRY
• PLOT NUMBER
• YEAR OF ASSESMENT
• TREE NUMBER
• SPECIES CODE
• DBH
DominantDominant treetree speciesspecies identifiedidentified on on basalbasal areaarea
ICP ICP LevelLevel II II plotsplotsbyby categoriescategories
There is a considerable potential to improve the quality of information collected in ICP monitoring network by applying the proposed categories to stratify ICP plots
improved data evaluation, understanding and improved data evaluation, understanding and reportingreporting
… to answer concernsregarding implementation
• the elaboration of a cross-reference matrix to stratify and process national data (NFIs, etc.) according to Categoriesis regarded as feasible formany countries
• the effort required to cross-link national classes greatly dependson the design of the national forest type schemes (e.g. use of potential vs real vegetation; discriminationof forest plantations)
makingcalculations
Data on MCPFE indicators reported by
categories
• if, with time, the Categories and Typesidentification will beintegrated in NFIs fieldsurvey activities…