Alnus woodland on riparian and upland soils
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code RLG1.2a |
---|---|
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
These are riparian and land-upheaval woodlands dominated by Alnus glutinosa and/or A. incana, and sometimes Fraxinus excelsior, typically without many softwood willows in the canopy, such woodland being assessed separately as G1.1 Temp and boreal softwood riparian woodland). This habitat also differs from riparian woodlands of the middle and lower reaches of major European rivers, which is assessed separately as G1.2b Temperate and boreal hardwood riparian forest. The non-riverine subtype of this present habitat (corresponding to the original G1.B Non-riverine alder woodland) is typical of the Baltic coast, a sea with a low level of salinity.
The stands show varying degrees of soil moisture according to the frequency of flooding in mature river valleys, depth of water table, or proximity to the coast. Moister forms can also have some Salix fragilis, Betula pubescens and Prunus padus in the canopy with S. phylicifolia beneath; in more mesic situations, Sorbus aucuparia can appear among the trees with Juniperus communis beneath. Other shrubs include Crataegus monogyna, Ribes alpinum, R. spicatum, Rubus caesius, R. idaeus, S. triandra and Sambucus nigra. The field layer can be quite species-rich, especially in moister situations, when more nutrient-demanding herbs such as Urtica dioica and Filipendula ulmaria may be abundant. Other herbs then include Valeriana sambucifolia, Angelica sylvestris, Deschampsia cespitosa, Calamagrostis canescens and C. purpurea. More mesic stands have Milium effusum, Silene dioica, Rubus saxatilis and Poa nemoralis. In the driest situations, Agrostis capillaris and Moehringia trinervia occur and even some forest dwarf shrubs but at low frequency and cover. In the northernmost Bothnian Bay, on slightly more calcareous substrate, Geranium sylvaticum, Oxalis acetosella, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale and Anthriscus sylvestris are distinctive.
Indicators of quality:
- Undisturbed natural hydrology
- Dominance of mature trees with shrubs forming a subordinate layer
- Few if any signs of exploitation for timber, fallen trees remaining in situ with ample deposition of natural organic debris from flooding in riparian sites.
- No signs of eutrophication or pollution by anthropogenically enriched flood or ground waters, for example excessive spread of nutrient-demanding weeds
- Absence of non-native tree species and absence of invasive aliens such as Reynoutria japonica or Impatiens glandulifera
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
- Sylviculture, forestry
- Forest and Plantation management & use
- Forest replanting (non native trees)
- Forestry clearance
- Removal of dead and dying trees
- Forest exploitation without replanting or natural regrowth
- Pollution
- Pollution to surface waters (limnic, terrestrial, marine & brackish)
- 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
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
- Measures related to forests and wooded habitats
- Restoring/Improving forest habitats
- Adapt forest management
- Measures related to wetland, freshwater and coastal habitats
- Restoring/Improving the hydrological regime
- Measures related to spatial planning
- Legal protection of habitats and species
- Manage landscape features
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 | 375 | Stable | Stable |
Belgium | Present | 109 | Stable | Stable |
Bulgaria | Present | 80 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Croatia | Present | 98 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Czech Republic | Present | 790 | Decreasing | Stable |
Denmark | Present | 59 | Stable | Unknown |
Finland mainland | Present | 20 | Stable | Stable |
France mainland | Present | 2460 | Decreasing | Stable |
Germany | Present | 700 | Stable | Increasing |
Greece (mainland and other islands) | Present | 85 | Decreasing | Stable |
Crete | Uncertain | 85 | Decreasing | Stable |
East Aegean | Uncertain | 85 | Decreasing | Stable |
Hungary | Present | 60 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Ireland | Present | 1.3 | Stable | Stable |
Italy mainland | Present | Decreasing | Decreasing | |
Sardinia | Present | Decreasing | Decreasing | |
Sicily | Present | Decreasing | Decreasing | |
Latvia | Present | 55 | Decreasing | Unknown |
Lithuania | Present | 441 | Decreasing | Stable |
Netherlands | Present | 18 | Unknown | Stable |
Portugal mainland | Present | 176 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Romania | Present | 125 | Unknown | Decreasing |
Slovakia | Present | 50 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Slovenia | Present | 37 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Spain mainland | Present | 398 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Sweden | Present | unknown | - | Unknown |
United Kingdom | Present | 80 | Decreasing | Stable |
Northern Island | Present | 80 | Decreasing | Stable |
Gibraltar | Uncertain | 80 | Decreasing | Stable |
Luxembourg | Present | unknown | - | Unknown |
Poland | Present | 2 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Estonia | Present | 35 | Increasing | 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 | 20 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Switzerland | Present | 60 | Decreasing | Stable |
Norway Mainland | Present | unknown | Decreasing | Unknown |
Albania | Uncertain | - | - | |
Kosovo | Uncertain | - | - | |
Liechtestein | Uncertain | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) | Present | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Montenegro | Present | unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Serbia | Present | 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 | 7882900 | 16830 | 6500 | 6076 is reported but data is missing for several countries. 6500 seems to be a good estimate of the total area for EU 28 according to art 17 and estimates |
EU28+ | 16896 | 7000 | 6155 is reported but data is missing for several countries. 7000 seems to be a good estimate of the total area of EU 28+ according to art 17 and estimates |
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 |
---|---|---|
Juniperus communis | Conifers | |
Athyrium filix-femina | Ferns | |
Aegopodium podagraria | Flowering Plants | |
Agrostis capillaris | Flowering Plants | |
Alnus glutinosa | Flowering Plants | |
Angelica sylvestris | Flowering Plants | |
Anthriscus sylvestris | Flowering Plants | |
Betula pubescens | Flowering Plants | |
Calamagrostis canescens | Flowering Plants | |
Crataegus monogyna | Flowering Plants | |
Deschampsia cespitosa | Flowering Plants | |
Filipendula ulmaria | Flowering Plants | |
Fraxinus excelsior | Flowering Plants | |
Galium aparine | Flowering Plants | |
Geranium sylvaticum | Flowering Plants | |
Geum rivale | Flowering Plants | |
Geum urbanum | Flowering Plants | |
Impatiens glandulifera | Flowering Plants | |
Milium effusum | Flowering Plants | |
Moehringia trinervia | Flowering Plants | |
Oxalis acetosella | Flowering Plants | |
Petasites hybridus | Flowering Plants | |
Poa nemoralis | Flowering Plants | |
Prunus padus | Flowering Plants | |
Reynoutria japonica | Flowering Plants | |
Ribes alpinum | Flowering Plants | |
Rubus caesius | Flowering Plants | |
Rubus saxatilis | Flowering Plants | |
Salix fragilis | Flowering Plants | |
Salix phylicifolia | Flowering Plants | |
Sambucus nigra | Flowering Plants | |
Silene dioica | Flowering Plants | |
Solanum dulcamara | Flowering Plants | |
Sorbus aucuparia | Flowering Plants | |
Urtica dioica | Flowering Plants | |
Valeriana sambucifolia | Flowering Plants | |
Brachythecium rutabulum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
Eurhynchium praelongum | Mosses & Liverworts | |
Plagiomnium undulatum | Mosses & Liverworts |
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 | G1.2 | Mixed riparian floodplain and gallery woodland | narrower |