Red List habitat classification > RLF - Heathland and scrub > RLF7.1 Western Mediterranean spiny heath

Western Mediterranean spiny heath

Quick facts

Red List habitat type	code RLF7.1
Threat status
Europe	Least Concern
EU	Least Concern
Relation to	Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive) Resolution 4 habitat type (Bern Convention) EUNIS habitat classification (2007)
Source	European Red List habitat factsheet
	European Red List of habitats reports
	European Red List of habitats (Excel table)

Summary

Rare, extremely local and isolated, cushion-forming scrubs, often with spiny species, located in the clifftops of rocky coastal stretches, dispersed along the coasts of south Portugal, Northeast Spain and southern France, the Balearic and Thyrrenian Islands (Corsica, Sardinia, Malta and Pantellaria) up to the southern Italian Peninsula (Gulf of Taranto). It is submitted to the constant wind actions and to the salinity transported by the spray reaching particularly during the strong wind episodes. The rocky shallow soils and the steep slopes prevent from further development of vegetation, being considered this habitat as a permanent community of coastal clifftops in the Mediterranean area. These clifftop scrubs are characterized by irregular cover at their optimal phases, depending on the slope and the soil depth. Most of the stands of this habitat are quite inaccessible and the threats seem so be low.

Indicators of quality:

• no signals of human activity: trampling, building, trash, etc.

• presence and abundance of narrow-endemic species

Characteristic species

For full habitat description, please download the habitat factsheet.

Threat status

Synthesis of Red List assessment

The assessment results on the basis of the main criteria (A1,B1,C/D1) lead to the Least Concern category, due to the topographic self-defensive position of this habitat. However, if degraded, the recovery is difficult because the habitat is a low resiliency type adapted to high stressing conditions.

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

Transportation and service corridors

Paths, tracks, cycling tracks

Urbanisation, residential and commercial development

Dispersed habitation

Human intrusions and disturbances

Mountaineering & rock climbing

Habitat restoration potential

The reconstruction of this habitat after severe damage seems to be very difficult at least in a relatively short period of time

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

Preventing from building in the coastal strip as well as ordering the leisure activities of walking and climbing

List of conservation and management needs

Measures related to spatial planning

Establish protected areas/sites

Measures related to urban areas, industry, energy and transport

Urban and industrial waste management

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)
Spain mainland	Present	6.4	Decreasing	Decreasing
Corsica	Present	19	Stable	Stable
Sardinia	Present	146	Stable	Stable
Balearic Islands	Present	6.4	Decreasing	Decreasing
Portugal mainland	Present	4.3	Decreasing	Decreasing
France mainland	Present	19	Stable	Stable
Sicily	Present	146	Stable	Stable
Malta	Present	71	Stable	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)

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	241
EU28+	>50		241

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 Anthyllis fulgurans

Flowering Plants Anthyllis hermanniae

Flowering Plants Armeria ruscinonensis

Flowering Plants Astragalus balearicus

Flowering Plants Astragalus massiliensis

Flowering Plants Centaurea balearica

Flowering Plants Centaurea horrida

Flowering Plants Euphorbia pithyusa

Flowering Plants Genista corsica

Flowering Plants Genista morisii

Flowering Plants Helichrysum italicum

Flowering Plants Launaea cervicornis

Flowering Plants Sarcopoterium spinosum

Flowering Plants Teucrium subspinosum

Flowering Plants Thymelaea hirsuta

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Anthyllis fulgurans		Flowering Plants
Anthyllis hermanniae		Flowering Plants
Armeria ruscinonensis		Flowering Plants
Astragalus balearicus		Flowering Plants
Astragalus massiliensis		Flowering Plants
Centaurea balearica		Flowering Plants
Centaurea horrida		Flowering Plants
Euphorbia pithyusa		Flowering Plants
Genista corsica		Flowering Plants
Genista morisii		Flowering Plants
Helichrysum italicum		Flowering Plants
Launaea cervicornis		Flowering Plants
Sarcopoterium spinosum		Flowering Plants
Teucrium subspinosum		Flowering Plants
Thymelaea hirsuta		Flowering Plants

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	Low formations of Euphorbia close to cliffs	5320	Wider	http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm
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	West Mediterranean clifftop phryganas (Astragalo-Plantaginetum subulatae)	5410	Wider
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	Endemic phryganas of the Euphorbio-Verbascion	5430	Overlap
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)	West Mediterranean spiny heaths	F7.1	Wider	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]
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)	Central Mediterranean spiny heaths	F7.2	Wider	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]

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Other classifications

This habitat may be equivalent to, or broather than, or narrower than the habitats or ecosystems in the following typologies.

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200711	F7.2	Central Mediterranean spiny heaths	wider
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200711	F7.1	West Mediterranean spiny heaths	wider

Write to us

Call us

Sections

Western Mediterranean spiny heath

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