The Monitoring and Assessment of four EU Habitats Directive Annex I Woodland Habitats

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2023-10Access:
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Orla Daly, Fionnuala O'Neill, Simon Barron, 'The Monitoring and Assessment of four EU Habitats Directive Annex I Woodland Habitats', [report], National Parks and Wildlife Service. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, 2023-10, Irish wildlife manuals, No.146, 2023Download Item:
Abstract:
The NPWS Project Officer for this report was: Deirdre Lynn; Deirdre.Lynn@npws.gov.ie
This IWM was edited by Jenni Roche, Sue Wilson and Domhnall Finch. This document reports on the Woodland Monitoring Survey 2017-2018, which assessed the Area, Structure and Functions and Future Prospects of four woodland types listed in Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive: 91A0 Old sessile oak woods, 91E0 Alluvial forests, 91D0 Bog woodland and 91J0 Yew woods. A total of 123 polygons - 63 of 91A0, 40 of 91E0, 14 of 91D0 and 6 of 91J0 - were monitored between 2017 and 2018. In each site, the polygon was examined for any area loss; four monitoring plots were then used to gather data on Structure
and Functions, including indicator species, cover of individual woodland layers, canopy height, presence of non-native species, stand structure and dead wood estimates. Future Prospects were assessed by noting the pressures, threats and impacts, both positive and negative, occurring throughout the Annex I woodland area. Sites were scored green (Favourable), amber
(Unfavourable - Inadequate) or red (Unfavourable - Bad) depending on the outcome of the assessments. For the 63 91A0 Old sessile oak woods: All sites were assessed as green for Area as no habitat loss was recorded. For the Structure and Functions assessment, 23 sites (36.5%) were green, 14 (22.2%) were amber and 26 (41.3%) were red. The most frequent criteria to fail the
Structure and Functions assessment at the individual-plot level were negative species regeneration, negative species cover (i.e. above the 10% threshold), grazing pressure and native shrub layer cover. At the four-plot level, the most frequent criteria to fail were lack of Quercus saplings and lack of small Quercus trees. For Future Prospects, 18 sites (28.6%) were assessed as green, 19 (30.2%) were amber and 26 (41.3%) were red. The main pressures/threats were invasive non-native species and overgrazing. An overall condition assessment for each site was derived by combining the assessment results of Area, Structure and Functions and Future Prospects. Based on this, 18 sites (28.6%) were assessed as green, 19 (30.2%) were amber and 26 (41.3%) were red. For the 40 91E0 Alluvial forests: Thirty-eight sites (95%) were assessed as green for Area and two (5%) were red due to woodland clearance. For the Structure and Functions assessment, 18 sites (45%) were green, 14 (35%) were amber and 8 (20%) were red. The most frequent criteria to fail the Structure and Functions assessment were negative species regeneration and
negative species cover. For Future Prospects, 14 (35%) sites were assessed as green, 16 (40%) were amber and 10 (25%) were red. The main pressures/threats were invasive non-native species, Ash Dieback disease, forestry clearance and problematic native species. The overall condition assessment, derived by combining the assessment results of Area, Structure and Functions and Future Prospects, resulted in 14 (35%) green assessments, 16 (40%) amber and 10 (25%) red. For the 14 91D0 Bog woodlands: All sites were assessed as green for Area as no habitat loss was recorded. For the Structure and Functions assessment, ten sites (71.4%) were green and four (28.6%) were amber. Pass rates were high for the individual-plot level assessments. The most frequent criteria to fail at the four-plot level were lack of trees in the largest size class and dead wood. For Future Prospects, eight sites (57.1%) were assessed as green and six (42.9%) were amber. The main pressures/threats were drainage, peat extraction, invasive non-native species, burning and overgrazing. The overall condition assessment, derived by combining the assessment results of Area, Structure and Functions and Future Prospects, resulted in eight sites (57.1%) with green assessments and six (42.9%) with amber. For the six 91J0 Yew woods: All sites were assessed as green for Area as no habitat loss was recorded. For the Structure and Functions assessment, one site (16.7%) was green and five (83.3%) were red. The most frequent criteria to fail the Structure and Functions assessment at the individual-plot level were negative species regeneration, negative species cover, native shrub layer cover and native field layer cover and height. The most frequent criteria to fail at the four-plot level were Taxus baccata regeneration and Taxus baccata size class i.e. lack of diversity in tree girth. For Future Prospects, one site (16.7%) was assessed as green and five (83.3%) were amber. The main pressures/threats were invasive non-native species and overgrazing. The overall condition assessment, derived by combining the assessment results
of Area, Structure and Functions and Future Prospects, resulted in one site (16.7%) with a green assessment and five (83.3%) with red. Detailed examination and analysis of the criteria are presented, suggestions for improving the condition assessment of woodlands are given and recommendations are made for the future monitoring of woodlands in Ireland. The results of the National Conservation Status Assessments for the Annex I habitats are presented and discussed.
Corporate name:
Ireland. National Parks and Wildlife ServicePublisher:
National Parks and Wildlife Service. Department of Housing, Local Government and HeritageCorporate name:
Ireland. National Parks and Wildlife ServicePublisher:
National Parks and Wildlife Service. Department of Housing, Local Government and HeritageType of material:
reportCollections
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Wildlife conservation, Woodland habitats, Woodland types, Old sessile oak woods, Alluvial forests, Bog woodland, Yew woodsISSN:
13936670Metadata
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