Lowland to montane temperate and submediterranean Juniperus scrub
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code RLF3.1a |
---|---|
Threat status | |
Europe | Least Concern |
EU | Least Concern |
Relation to |
|
Source | European Red List habitat factsheet |
European Red List of habitats reports | |
European Red List of habitats (Excel table) |
Summary
Temperate and submediterranean scrubs, up to 7-8 m, with Juniperus communis subsp. communis are widespread in the lowland and low mountain regions of Europe, where these communities occur on nutrient poor, calcareous soils as well as on deep sandy soils. The edaphic conditions range from dry to rather moist. The first group is related to grasslands of the class Festuco-Brometea, the second one to heathlands of the class Calluno-Ulicetea. Apart from the dominant Juniperus communis, these vegetation types have hardly any species in common. On calcareous sediments, the grasses Brachypodium pinnatum and/or Bromus erectus are codominant, accompanied by a wide variety of species, including Anthyllis vulneraria, Carlina vulgaris, Centaurea scabiosa, Dianthus carthusianorum, Euphorbia cyparissias, Sanguisorba minor and Scabiosa columbaria. On sandy soils, Calluna vulgaris, Genista pilosa and Genista anglica are prominent dwarf-shrubs in the surrounding vegetation, together with Deschampsia flexuosa, Carex pilulifera, Festuca filiformis and a wide variety of mosses and lichens. The usual woody associates, particularly on neutral and calcareous soils, are Rosa canina, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Cornus sanguinea and Rubus plicatus. The junipers show a striking variety in growth forms, ranging from upright to prostrate, quite often occurring in mixed populations.
This habitat type often occurs in patchy mosaics with grasslands and heathlands. As such, these are part of old, pastoral landscapes, which require a specific management regime of extensive grazing. When abandoned and neglected, the succession will finally lead to woodland, where Juniperus communis may persist for a long time in the understory. Shrubs and small trees of Juniperus communis can become rather old, up to 200 years, but on the long term regeneration is a prerequisite, which is not always the case. Lack of favorable conditions for germination as well as a high grazing pressure by rabbits on juvenile plants may hinder rejuvenation. Of particular importance is the occurence of a large number of rare and endangered fungi.
Not included in F3.1a are the Juniperus communis formations of the subalpine and alpine regions of high mountains nor the Pannonic juniper-poplar steppe woods. The first group is assigned to Red List type F2.2b, the second group is classified under Red List type G1.7a.
Indicators of good quality:
- Mosaic of juniper shrubs with grasslands or heathland
- Variety of growth forms of different age, including juvenile plants
- Presence of rare fungi
- Extensive grazing regime which guarantees the complex landscape settings and prohibits a complete succesion towards woodland
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
EU | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Least Concern | - |
Europe | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Least Concern | - |
Confidence in the assessment
Pressures and threats
- Agriculture
- Modification of cultivation practices
- Agricultural intensification
- Abandonment of pastoral systems, lack of grazing
- Urbanisation, residential and commercial development
- Urbanised areas, human habitation
- Natural System modifications
- Fire and fire suppression
Habitat restoration potential
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
List of conservation and management needs
- Measures related to agriculture and open habitats
- Other agriculture-related measures
- Maintaining grasslands and other open habitats
- Measures related to spatial planning
- Establish protected areas/sites
- Measures related to hunting, taking and fishing and species management
- Specific single species or species group management measures
Distribution
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Austria | Uncertain | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Belgium | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Bulgaria | Present | 10 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Croatia | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Czech Republic | Present | 2 | Decreasing | Stable |
Denmark | Present | 14 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
France mainland | Present | 200 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Germany | Present | 52 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Hungary | Present | 15 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Ireland | Present | 47 | Unknown | Unknown |
Italy mainland | Present | 598 | Decreasing | Increasing |
Latvia | Present | 0.7 | Decreasing | Unknown |
Lithuania | Present | 1 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Netherlands | Present | 0.5 | Decreasing | Stable |
Slovakia | Present | 142 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Slovenia | Present | 110 | Stable | Increasing |
Spain mainland | Present | 9.3 | Unknown | Unknown |
United Kingdom | Present | 29 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Estonia | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Finland mainland | Uncertain | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Greece (mainland and other islands) | Uncertain | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Luxembourg | Present | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Poland | Present | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Romania | Uncertain | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Sweden | Present | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
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 | 50 | Decreasing | Increasing |
Switzerland | Present | 0.1 | Unknown | Unknown |
Albania | Uncertain | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Iceland | Uncertain | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Isle of Man | Uncertain | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Kosovo | Uncertain | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Liechtestein | Uncertain | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) | Uncertain | unkown | Unknown | Unknown |
Montenegro | Uncertain | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Norway Mainland | Uncertain | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Serbia | Uncertain | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Kaliningrad | Uncertain | unknown | Unknown | 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 | 5989900 | 2234 | 1300 | Not all countries provided data yet |
EU28+ | 2297 | 1350 | Not all countries provided data yet |
EOO = the area (km2) of the envelope around all occurrences of a habitat (calculated by a minimum convex polygon).
Characteristic species
Legal status
Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableOther classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200711 | F3.1 | Temperate thickets and scrub | overlap |