Temperate and boreal softwood riparian woodland
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code RLG1.1 |
---|---|
Threat status | |
Europe | Near Threatened |
EU | Near Threatened |
Relation to |
|
Source | European Red List habitat factsheet |
European Red List of habitats reports | |
European Red List of habitats (Excel table) |
Summary
This is riparian woodland occurring on periodically-inundated river terraces of active floodplains with deposition of nutrient-rich alluvium in the boreal, boreo-nemoral, nemoral, submediterranean and steppe zones. Typically, there is a tall canopy dominated by one or a few tree species, commonly Salix alba, sometimes S. fragilis (maybe favouring situations where there is lime-deficiency). Two other trees commonly found here are Populus alba which is really a submediterranean tree but widely planted and naturalised and P. nigra, native in a large part of Europe (from western to central south-eastern part), but also widely planted, though often outnumbered there by hybrids such as P. x euramericana and x canadensis. Typically, alder is absent from the canopy and riparian woodlands where Alnus glutinosa or A. incana form part or all of the tree cover are not included here but with land-upheaval woodlands in G1.2a Alnus woodland on alluvial and mineral soil. There is often a dense understorey of smaller Salix spp., Sambucus nigra and other shrubs beneath the trees, the composition of this layer depending on the local degree of wetness of the ground. Among these, tangles of lianes and sprawlers such as Galium aparine and Solanum dulcamara occur. The field layer is typically dominated by a luxuriant cover of shade-tolerant, nutrient-demanding tall herbs, notably Urtica dioica, in mountain areas also Petastites hybridus, with a carpet of smaller plants beneath. Characteristically, much of the taller herb cover dies back quickly in autumn to leave a patchy carpet of mat-forming bryophytes on exposed mud. After a flood, there can be much woody debris washed in from upstream. This type does not include scrubs dominated by narrow-leaved willows S. eleagnos, S. purpurea and S. viminalis which fall within F9.1 Temperate and boreal riparian scrub.
Indicators of quality:
â— Undisturbed hydrology with natural disturbance, at least periodically inundated with flood waters in uncontrolled stretches of mature rivers, though remnant stands can persist for some time around naturally isolated ox-bows.
- Survival of larger stands of forest continuously developed along the rivers without fragmentation and isolation
- Few if any signs of exploitation for timber, fallen trees remaining in situ and ample deposition of natural organic debris from flooding.
- No signs of eutrophication or pollution by anthropogenically enriched flood-waters, for example excessive spread of nutrient-demanding weeds.
- Absence of non-native tree species (Alien Poplar, Robinia pseudoacacia, Acer negundo...) and absence of invasive aliens such as Reynoutria japonica or Impatiens glandulifera.
- High diversity of epiphytic bryophytes (eg. Orthotrichum spp.)
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
EU | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Near Threatened | C/D1 |
Europe | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Near Threatened | C/D1 |
Confidence in the assessment
Pressures and threats
- Sylviculture, forestry
- Forest and Plantation management & use
- Forestry clearance
- Grazing in forests/ woodland
- Transportation and service corridors
- Roads, paths and railroads
- Urbanisation, residential and commercial development
- Urbanised areas, human habitation
- Pollution
- Pollution to surface waters (limnic, terrestrial, marine & brackish)
- Diffuse groundwater pollution due to agricultural and forestry activities
- Invasive, other problematic species and genes
- Invasive non-native species
- Natural System modifications
- Human induced changes in hydraulic conditions
- Canalisation & water deviation
- Lack of flooding
- Small hydropower projects, weirs
- Climate change
- Droughts and less precipitations
- Flooding and rising precipitations
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 forests and wooded habitats
- Restoring/Improving forest habitats
- Adapt forest management
- Measures related to wetland, freshwater and coastal habitats
- Restoring/Improving water quality
- Restoring/Improving the hydrological regime
- Measures related to spatial planning
- Legal protection of habitats and species
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 | Present | 40 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Belgium | Present | 2,6 | Decreasing | Increasing |
Bulgaria | Present | 200 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Croatia | Present | 409 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Czech Republic | Present | 27 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Denmark | Present | 50 | Decreasing | Unknown |
Estonia | Uncertain | 35 | Increasing | Increasing |
Finland mainland | Present | 50 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Aland Islands | Uncertain | 50 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
France mainland | Present | 600 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Corsica | Uncertain | 600 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Germany | Present | 40 | Decreasing | Increasing |
Greece (mainland and other islands) | Present | 352 | Decreasing | Unknown |
Hungary | Present | 420 | Unknown | Increasing |
Ireland | Present | 0,9 | Stable | Increasing |
Latvia | Present | unknown | Decreasing | - |
Lithuania | Present | 17 | Decreasing | Stable |
Luxembourg | Uncertain | unknown | - | - |
Netherlands | Present | 44 | - | Increasing |
Poland | Present | 60 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Portugal mainland | Uncertain | - | - | |
Romania | Present | 960 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Slovakia | Present | 8 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Slovenia | Present | 28 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Balearic Islands | Present | 89,1 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Sweden | Present | unknown | - | - |
United Kingdom | Present | 80 | Decreasing | Increasing |
Northern Island | Present | 80 | Decreasing | Increasing |
Cyprus | Present | 0,3 | Stable | Increasing |
Italy mainland | Present | 534 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Sardinia | Present | 534 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Sicily | Present | 534 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
EU28 + | Present or presence uncertain | Current area of habitat (Km2) | Recent trend in quantity (last 50 years) | Recent trend in quality (last 50 years) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Albania | Present | - | - | |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Uncertain | 100 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Iceland | Uncertain | - | - | |
Kaliningrad | Present | - | - | |
Kosovo | Present | 25 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Liechtestein | Uncertain | - | - | |
Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) | Present | 40 | Decreasing | Unknown |
Montenegro | Present | 20 | Unknown | Unknown |
Norway Mainland | Present | 274 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
San Marino | Uncertain | - | - | |
Serbia | Present | unknown | - | - |
Switzerland | Present | 3 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Vatican City | Uncertain | - | - |
Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area
Extent of Occurrence (EOO) (Km2) | Area of Occupancy (AOO) | Current estimated Total Area | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
EU28 | 7597700 | 4526 | 4600 | AOO and EOO incl. potential distribution |
EU28+ | 5268 | 5400 | AOO and EOO incl. potential distribution |
EOO = the area (km2) of the envelope around all occurrences of a habitat (calculated by a minimum convex polygon).
Characteristic species
Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
---|---|---|
Athyrium filix-femina | Ferns | |
Aegopodium podagraria | Flowering Plants | |
Alnus glutinosa | Flowering Plants | |
Carduus personata | Flowering Plants | |
Crataegus monogyna | Flowering Plants | |
Filipendula ulmaria | Flowering Plants | |
Galium aparine | Flowering Plants | |
Geum urbanum | Flowering Plants | |
Heracleum sphondylium | Flowering Plants | |
Impatiens glandulifera | Flowering Plants | |
Petasites hybridus | Flowering Plants | |
Poa trivialis | Flowering Plants | |
Populus alba | Flowering Plants | |
Reynoutria japonica | Flowering Plants | |
Rubus caesius | Flowering Plants | |
Salix alba | Flowering Plants | |
Salix fragilis | Flowering Plants | |
Salix purpurea | Flowering Plants | |
Salix triandra | Flowering Plants | |
Sambucus nigra | Flowering Plants | |
Solanum dulcamara | Flowering Plants | |
Urtica dioica | Flowering Plants | |
Brachythecium rutabulum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
Eurhynchium praelongum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
Plagiomnium undulatum | Mosses & Liverworts |