Red List habitat classification > RLE - Grasslands > RLE5.2a Thermophilous woodland fringe of base-rich soils

Thermophilous woodland fringe of base-rich soils

Quick facts

Red List habitat type	code RLE5.2a
Threat status
Europe	Near Threatened
EU	Least concern
Relation to	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

In the transitional zone between the open landscape and forests, habitats can be found that are characterized by a distinct species composition. Generally, two formations can be distinguished: one determined by shrubs, called mantle, and one – closer to the open landscape – built up by (tall) herbs and grasses, called fringe. Thus, fringe communities appear as a narrow belt along forests, but they also occur along scrublands and other formations. Even in the open landscape, e.g. along cliffs. In comparison with the generally rather species poor mantle communities, fringe communities are often harboring a large set of – colorful – flowers. This especially applies to the baserich soils, to which the heliophilous and thermophilous communities of Habitat type E5.2a are confined. Another prerequisite is a limited amount of nutrients; otherwise, the vegetation transforms into nitrophilous tall forb communities. The diagnostic species are adapted to the half-shadow conditions under the branches of trees and scrubs, but the small contact zone between the forest and the open landscape gives also room to the occurrence of species of these neighbouring formations. And this partly explains the species richness of the habitat.

In the subatlantic parts of Europe, fringes generally border mesophilous forests of the class Carpino-Fagetea sylvaticae. In the zone of thermophilous deciduous forest (Quercetea pubescentis), with relatively open canopy, most of the fringe species can also be found inside the forest communities. Fringe communities have developed through millennia of human activities. From a landscape ecological point of view, they may protect forests against unwanted effects from the open landscape, like the input of nutrients from agricultural land. Fringes provide important habitats for various animal groups, including birds and insects. Thermophile woodland fringes of baserich soils can be found in large parts of Europe. In Southern and Southeastern Europe, they also can be found in mountainous areas, but in the Northwestern parts of Europe, they are restricted to lowlands. Transitional zones are generally in need of well-balanced human activities, as changes in the neighboring formations (forest on the one side, open landscape on the other side) directly affects the quality of the fringe communities.

Indicators of good quality:

Species richness
Periodical cutting or grazing, protecting encroachment of the habitat by shrubs and trees
Absence of woody species
Absence of invasive species
Low input of nutrients

Characteristic species

For full habitat description, please download the habitat factsheet.

Threat status

Synthesis of Red List assessment

This habitat type is neither threatened in EU28 nor in EU28+, but the decline in the EU28+ is close to the Vulnerable threshold and therefore qualifies as Near Threatened (NT). However, the trend calculation is based on data from relatively few countries. The calculated figures for trends in quality over the last 50 years as well as the relatively large extent of occurrence and area of occupancy result in the Least Concern (LC) category.

EU
Red List Category	Red List Criteria
Least concern	-

Europe
Red List Category	Red List Criteria
Near Threatened	A1

Confidence in the assessment

low

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

Agriculture

Agricultural intensification
Intensive grazing
Fertilisation
Removal of hedges and copses or scrub

Urbanisation, residential and commercial development

Continuous urbanisation

Habitat restoration potential

Extensive grazing and/or mowing are prerequisites for this habitat type. The maintenance of this habitat type is a matter of balance and depends on an appropriate management regime: when the sites are overgrown with shrubs and trees, these woody plants have to be removed. In intensively used landscapes, a reduction of fertilisation is needed. As the habitat type harbours a large number of rare species, the management of the sites needs full attention.

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

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

Conservation and management needs

Fringe communities per definition are vulnerable as they depend on gradients in the landscape, which can be temporal or spatial. Changes in land use therefore always have an effect on such communities. On the one hand, intensification of land use will lead to direct losses, on the other hand abandoning of grazing and mowing systems may lead to an increase of the habitat (although only for a certain period, as succession will go on, gradually transforming the fringe communities into shrubland and woodland).

List of conservation and management needs

Measures related to agriculture and open habitats

Maintaining grasslands and other open habitats

Measures related to forests and wooded habitats

Restoring/Improving forest habitats

Measures related to spatial planning

Manage landscape features

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)
Bulgaria	Present		Stable	Increasing
France mainland	Present		Unknown	Increasing
Germany	Present		Decreasing	Increasing
Hungary	Present	10	Stable	Unknown
Slovakia	Present	4	Decreasing	Increasing
Austria	Present	4	Decreasing	Decreasing
Belgium	Present		Unknown	Unknown
Croatia	Present	40	Stable	Stable
Czech Republic	Present	6	Stable	Decreasing
Italy mainland	Present	98	Decreasing	Increasing
Latvia	Present	3	Unknown	Unknown
Lithuania	Present	5	Unknown	Stable
Netherlands	Present	1	Decreasing	Stable
Poland	Present	11	Decreasing	Unknown
Portugal mainland	Present	6	Unknown	Increasing
Romania	Present	1	Decreasing	Decreasing
Spain mainland	Present		Unknown	Stable

EU28 +	Present or presence uncertain	Current area of habitat (Km²)	Recent trend in quantity (last 50 years)	Recent trend in quality (last 50 years)
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Present	30	Decreasing	Decreasing
Kosovo	Present		Stable	Increasing
Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)	Present		Unknown	Unknown
Switzerland	Present	33	Decreasing	Decreasing

Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area

	Extent of Occurrence (EOO) (Km²)	Area of Occupancy (AOO)	Current estimated Total Area	Comment
EU28	>50000	>50	190	Some important countries are lacking data: e.g. Bulgaria, France, Germany, Spain.
EU28+	>50		253	Some important countries are lacking data: e.g. Bulgaria, France, Germany, Spain, Macedonia, Kosovo.

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

The full list of characteristic species and genus are available above from the Summary. The species available in the EUNIS database are shown here.

Flowering Plants Achillea millefolium

Flowering Plants Anemone sylvestris

Flowering Plants Campanula persicifolia

Flowering Plants Campanula trachelium

Flowering Plants Centaurea jacea

Flowering Plants Chamaecytisus hirsutus

Flowering Plants Chamaecytisus supinus

Flowering Plants Clematis recta

Flowering Plants Clinopodium vulgare

Flowering Plants Coronilla coronata

Flowering Plants Cruciata glabra

Flowering Plants Cytisus nigricans

Flowering Plants Dactylis glomerata

Flowering Plants Dictamnus albus

Flowering Plants Ferulago galbanifera

Flowering Plants Festuca rubra

Flowering Plants Fragaria vesca

Flowering Plants Fragaria viridis

Flowering Plants Galium album

Flowering Plants Galium lucidum

Flowering Plants Galium verum

Flowering Plants Geranium sanguineum

Flowering Plants Hieracium racemosum

Flowering Plants Hieracium umbellatum

Flowering Plants Hypericum perforatum

Flowering Plants Inula hirta

Flowering Plants Inula salicina

Flowering Plants Knautia drymeia

Flowering Plants Knautia illyrica

Flowering Plants Laserpitium latifolium

Flowering Plants Lathyrus pannonicus

Flowering Plants Libanotis sibirica

Flowering Plants Medicago falcata

Flowering Plants Melampyrum cristatum

Flowering Plants Melampyrum nemorosum

Flowering Plants Origanum vulgare

Flowering Plants Peucedanum cervaria

Flowering Plants Peucedanum oreoselinum

Flowering Plants Pimpinella saxifraga

Flowering Plants Poa angustifolia

Flowering Plants Polygonatum odoratum

Flowering Plants Primula veris

Flowering Plants Rosa pimpinellifolia

Flowering Plants Serratula tinctoria

Flowering Plants Silene italica

Flowering Plants Silene nutans

Flowering Plants Solidago virgaurea

Flowering Plants Tanacetum corymbosum

Flowering Plants Thalictrum minus

Flowering Plants Trifolium alpestre

Flowering Plants Trifolium rubens

Flowering Plants Verbascum austriacum

Flowering Plants Veronica chamaedrys

Flowering Plants Veronica teucrium

Flowering Plants Viola hirta

Mosses & Liverworts Hylocomium splendens

Mosses & Liverworts Rhytidium rugosum

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Achillea millefolium		Flowering Plants
Anemone sylvestris		Flowering Plants
Campanula persicifolia		Flowering Plants
Campanula trachelium		Flowering Plants
Centaurea jacea		Flowering Plants
Chamaecytisus hirsutus		Flowering Plants
Chamaecytisus supinus		Flowering Plants
Clematis recta		Flowering Plants
Clinopodium vulgare		Flowering Plants
Coronilla coronata		Flowering Plants
Cruciata glabra		Flowering Plants
Cytisus nigricans		Flowering Plants
Dactylis glomerata		Flowering Plants
Dictamnus albus		Flowering Plants
Ferulago galbanifera		Flowering Plants
Festuca rubra		Flowering Plants
Fragaria vesca		Flowering Plants
Fragaria viridis		Flowering Plants
Galium album		Flowering Plants
Galium lucidum		Flowering Plants
Galium verum		Flowering Plants
Geranium sanguineum		Flowering Plants
Hieracium racemosum		Flowering Plants
Hieracium umbellatum		Flowering Plants
Hypericum perforatum		Flowering Plants
Inula hirta		Flowering Plants
Inula salicina		Flowering Plants
Knautia drymeia		Flowering Plants
Knautia illyrica		Flowering Plants
Laserpitium latifolium		Flowering Plants
Lathyrus pannonicus		Flowering Plants
Libanotis sibirica		Flowering Plants
Medicago falcata		Flowering Plants
Melampyrum cristatum		Flowering Plants
Melampyrum nemorosum		Flowering Plants
Origanum vulgare		Flowering Plants
Peucedanum cervaria		Flowering Plants
Peucedanum oreoselinum		Flowering Plants
Pimpinella saxifraga		Flowering Plants
Poa angustifolia		Flowering Plants
Polygonatum odoratum		Flowering Plants
Primula veris		Flowering Plants
Rosa pimpinellifolia		Flowering Plants
Serratula tinctoria		Flowering Plants
Silene italica		Flowering Plants
Silene nutans		Flowering Plants
Solidago virgaurea		Flowering Plants
Tanacetum corymbosum		Flowering Plants
Thalictrum minus		Flowering Plants
Trifolium alpestre		Flowering Plants
Trifolium rubens		Flowering Plants
Verbascum austriacum		Flowering Plants
Veronica chamaedrys		Flowering Plants
Veronica teucrium		Flowering Plants
Viola hirta		Flowering Plants
Hylocomium splendens		Mosses & Liverworts
Rhytidium rugosum		Mosses & Liverworts

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
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)	Thermophile woodland fringes	E5.2	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

Thermophilous woodland fringe of base-rich soils

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