Woodland Key Habitat WKH High risk in Latvia Presentation by: - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Woodland Key Habitat – WKH High risk in Latvia Presentation by: Peter Andreasson, M.Sc in Forestry and Nature Conservation Biology

WHAT IS A WKH? Definition : An area that contains habitat specialists that cannot sustainably survive in stands managed for timber production. A well-founded expectation that a habitat specialist exists is a sufficient criterion for designating an area as a WKH. Not likely: Likely:

IMPORTANT FEATURES: Substrate : Old trees; hollow trees; dead wood standing or laying in continuity; periodically flooded; micro climate etc., etc.

IMPORTANT FEATURES: Structures : uneven age structure; mix of different tree species; canopy coverage; exposition; topography; hydrology; soil conditions etc. etc.

IMPORTANT FEATURES: Disturbance regimes, large-small scale : fire; windfalls; competition; insect break outs; gap dynamic; landuse (human); etc. etc.

RED LISTED SPECIES Why are some species red listed? Different organisms –Different needs – Different threats Mammals-Birds Plants-Insects Mosses-Lichens-Mushroms (polypores, mykorrhiza)

DIFFERENT BIOTOPS FOR DIFFERENT SPECIES

DIFFERENT BIOTOPS FOR DIFFERENT SPECIES

DIFFERENT BIOTOPS FOR DIFFERENT SPECIES

DIFFERENT BIOTOPS FOR DIFFERENT SPECIES

DIFFERENT BIOTOPS FOR DIFFERENT SPECIES

DIFFERENT BIOTOPS FOR DIFFERENT SPECIES

DIFFERENT BIOTOPS FOR DIFFERENT SPECIES

PROPER WKH-TREATMENT Careful measures - Enhance nature values No treatment - Natural development

COMMONLY USED METHODOLOGY Data base search – Map search Field visits: signal-/indicatorspecies + substrate and structures = confirm/not confirm WKH

WKH-SITUATION IN NEIGHBOUR COUNTRIES: Country No. of sites Mean size of WKHs (ha) Total area of WKHs (ha) WKHs % Sweden 81 900 4.63 379 200 1.3 Finland 111 357 0.67 128 371 0.6 Norway 28 630 1.05 30 087 1.5 Latvia 31 000 2.10 51 000 1.7 Estonia 5 455 2.90 15 852 0.7 Lithuania 5 609 3.21 18 000 1.2 SOURCE: ”Woodland key habitats in northern Europe: concepts, inventory and protection” Jonna Timonen a* , Juha Siitonen b , Lena Gustafsson c , Janne S. Kotiaho de , Jogeir N. Stokland f , Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson g & Mikko Mönkkönen a

JURIDICAL ASPECTS ON WKH’S Market solutions FSC/PEFC