Red List habitat classification > RLE - Grasslands > RLE4.3a Boreal and arctic acidophilous alpine grassland

Boreal and arctic acidophilous alpine grassland

Quick facts

Red List habitat type	code RLE4.3a
Threat status
Europe	Least Concern
EU	Least Concern
Relation to	Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive) Resolution 4 habitat type (Bern Convention)
Source	European Red List habitat factsheet
	European Red List of habitats reports
	European Red List of habitats (Excel table)

Summary

Boreal and arctic acidophilous alpine grasslands represent grass-, sedge-, rush- or herb-dominated vegetation types in boreal and arcto-alpine mountains of Fennoscandia, Iceland and Scotland. The habitat includes a quite wide range of different vegetation communities from low-graminoid mountain heaths to mountain meadows. Common to these varieties is a low field layer, usually < 30 cm. These grasslands occur predominantly on siliceous bedrock and they are in most sites characterized by thick and late-lying snow cover.

There is no single characteristic species describing all of these grassland habitats, and the species composition varies according to the vegetation community. In high mountains grasses (Nardus stricta, Festuca ovina), sedges (Carex bigelowii) and/or rushes (Juncus trifidus) dominate the so-called graminoid mountain heaths (order Juncetalia trifidi). Other species present are a mixture of typical species for mountain heaths, snowbeds and mountain meadows. Mountain meadows (secondary grasslands) belonging to this habitat type are low-herb communities consisting mainly of Bistorta vivipara, Cerastium alpinum, Thalictrum alpinum, Saussurea alpina, Ranunculus acris, Silene acaulis, Astragalus alpinus, A. frigidus, Ericeron uniflorus and Potentilla crantzii (alliance Potentillo-Polygonion vivipari), forming a boreal equivalent to E2.3 Mountain hay meadows. The distinction between this habitat type and E4.4a Calcareous arctic-alpine grasslands does not relate only to the chemistry of bedrock, but is also reflected in the average height of vegetation, which in this habitat is usually relatively low.

Climate change can increase the growth of bushes and shrubs, which may reduce the area of grasslands.

Indicators of good quality:

The following characteristics are indicators of good quality:

· Openness (no trees or shrubs)

· Dominance of low sedges, rushes, grasses or hebs

· Thick snow cover

Characteristic species

For full habitat description, please download the habitat factsheet.

Threat status

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Despite missing data from Sweden and Iceland and incomplete data from Norway the available data seem to give a reliable overview on the real situation. Both habitat quantity and quality remained stable over the last 50 years. Hence, the overall analysis of territorial data leads according to stable trends in quantity and quality to the category Least Concern (LC) both for EU28 and EU28+.

EU
Red List Category	Red List Criteria
Least Concern	-

Europe
Red List Category	Red List Criteria
Least Concern	-

Confidence in the assessment

medium

Red List of habitat categories and criteria descriptions

European Red List of Habitats categories

Based on Scientific Foundations for an IUCN Red List of Ecosystems

European Red List of Habitats criteria

Reduction in quantity (area of distribution)	A	A1 Present decline (over last 50 years) A2a Future decline (over the next 50 years) A2b Future/present decline (over a 50-year period inclunding present and future) A3 Historic decline
Restricted geographic distribution	B	B1 Restricted Extent of Occurrence (EOO) B2 Restricted Area of Occupancy (AOO) B3 Present at few locations
Reduction in abiotic quality	C	C/D1 Reduction in quality over the last 50 years C/D2 Reduction in quality in the future or in a period including present and future C/D3 Historic reduction in quality
Reduction in biotic quality	D
Quantitative analysis of probability of collapse	E

From Scientific Foundations for an IUCN Red List of Ecosystems

Pressures and threats

Pollution

Air pollution, air-borne pollutants

Climate change

Changes in abiotic conditions
Changes in biotic conditions

No threats or pressures

No threats or pressures

Habitat restoration potential

Boreal and arctic acidophilous alpine grasslands represent mainly climax communities. Once destroyed or severely damaged (e. g. due to construction of skiing complexes), the recovery of the habitat type by natural succession processes will take a very long time in the cold climate where they occur.

Trends in extent
Average current trend in quantity
Stable	Stable
EU28	EU28+

Trends in quality
Average current trend in quality
Stable	Stable
EU28	EU28+

Conservation and management needs

This habitat type contains mainly natural grasslands. Therefore, no special measures are required except avoiding disturbances and destruction of sites. This is achieved best by establishing protected areas and/or wilderness areas. For meadows of this habitat type extensive mowing or grazing is required.

List of conservation and management needs

Measures related to agriculture and open habitats

Maintaining grasslands and other open habitats

Measures related to spatial planning

Establish protected areas/sites
Establishing wilderness areas/allowing succession

Distribution

For each habitat a distribution map was produced from a wide variety of sources indicating known and potential occurrences of the habitat in 10x10 km grids within Europe. Occurrences in grid cells were given in two classes: actual distribution from relatively reliable sources (surveys, expert knowledge), and potential distribution based on models or less reliable indicators. Please download the fact sheet to see the map.

Geographic occurrence and trends

EU28	Present or presence uncertain	Current area of habitat (Km²)	Recent trend in quantity (last 50 years)	Recent trend in quality (last 50 years)
Finland mainland	Present	195	Stable	Stable
Sweden	Uncertain		-	-

EU28 +	Present or presence uncertain	Current area of habitat (Km²)	Recent trend in quantity (last 50 years)	Recent trend in quality (last 50 years)
Norway Mainland	Present	1299	Stable	Stable
Iceland	Present	unknown	-	-

Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area

	Extent of Occurrence (EOO) (Km²)	Area of Occupancy (AOO)	Current estimated Total Area	Comment
EU28	915800	733	195	no data from Sweden
EU28+	1325		1494	no data from Sweden, Iceland

AOO = the area occupied by a habitat measured in number of 10x10 km grid cells.
EOO = the area (km2) of the envelope around all occurrences of a habitat (calculated by a minimum convex polygon).

Characteristic species

Not available

Legal status

Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments

Legal text	Annex	Name in legal text	Code in legal text	Habitat type relationship	More information
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Siliceous alpine and boreal grasslands	6150	Overlap	http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2010)	Acid alpine and subalpine grassland	E4.3	Narrower	https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc....ckColorLogged=FDC864 Resolution No. 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention lists endangered natural habitats requiring specific conservation measures [and the designation of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCIs) forming the Emerald network]

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Sections

Boreal and arctic acidophilous alpine grassland

Quick facts

Summary

Threat status

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Confidence in the assessment

European Red List of Habitats categories

European Red List of Habitats criteria

Pressures and threats

Habitat restoration potential

Trends in extent

Average current trend in quantity

Trends in quality

Average current trend in quality

Conservation and management needs

List of conservation and management needs

Distribution

Geographic occurrence and trends

Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area

Characteristic species

Legal status

Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Other classifications