Baltic coniferous coastal dune woodland

Dune woods develop naturally where coastal sands become sufficiently stabilised and remote from the influence of saline ground water or spray to sustain a permanent cover of trees and they bear a strong resemblance to the zonal woodland types of the regional climate. On the Baltic coast of Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, where the climate is Boreal to the north and east, Continental to the south-west, dune woods persist locally, though often reduced in quality now by replanting with introduced conifers. Pinus sylvestris is the natural coloniser and dominant and the overall character is similar to G3.4/5a Temperate Continental Pinus sylvestris woodland.

Associated trees and shrubs include Quercus robur to the south, with Betula pendula, Juniperus communis. Often there is a heathy field layer with Vaccinium myrtillus, V. vitis-idaea, Calluna vulgaris, Empetrum nigrum, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Deschampsia flexuosa and such distinctive boreal plants as Moneses uniflora, Linnaea borealis, Chimaphia umbellata and Pyrola rotundifolia. More locally, on calcareous sands, the flora can be basiphilous and, in more open stands, have a distinctively grassy look with Festuca ovina, Hieracium pilosella, Peucedanum oreoselinum, Phleum phleoides, Thymus serpylllum. On more recently colonised sands, dune species such as Ammophila arenaria, Leymus arenarius and Carex arenaria can persist among the trees. In Poland a variety of the habitat is found in wet depressions, with Ledum palustre dominating the field layer.

Indicators of quality:

• Presence of mature canopy of Pinus sylvestris with associated woody and herb species.
• Absence of planted Pinus sylvestris or other commercial conifers with loss of associated native flora.
• Infrequent burial of trees by storm-blown sands and forest fires.
• Absence of logging.
• Absence of human disturbance due to tourism or military activity.

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Confidence in the assessment

Pressures and threats