Broadleaved swamp woodland on non-acid peat

These are true swamp woodlands on non-acid peat or hydromorphic soils with a high content of organic matter occurring mainly in lowland fens where the water-table is constantly at ground level or seasonally above it, for example where sites are inundated by spring snow-melt or rain-fed flooding. However, in contrast to the woodlands of mature floodplains included in G1.2 and G1.3, there is no regular deposition of allochthonous sediments, so enrichment and terrestrialisation typically do not occur here though intermediate habitats can be found in wetter river valleys. There is characteristically a well-developed tree canopy in which, throughout most of the nemoral zone, Alnus glutinosa is the usual dominant, often with a naturally multi-stemmed growth form, Quercus robur replacing it locally in the more Continental east and Populus tremula in the Boreal zone. On thin peats in Boreal swamps of the Finnish coast and archipelago and in regions in central Europe where Alnus glutinosa is missing, Alnus incana can replace A. glutinosa in this swamp woodland. Also the dense Alnus barbata forests on swamps on coastal alluvial plains around the Black Sea belong here. Betula pubescens is a common associate but never dominates. Shrubby willows such as Salix aurita, Salix cinerea and Salix pentandra can occur in an understorey, along with other smaller woody species listed below, but they do not dominate here. Shrubby vegetation (with or without occasional trees) developed in similar situations are placed in F9.2 and F9.3 Riparian scrubs. In the field layer, large Carex spp. are a consistent and sometimes prominent feature, with C. elongata typical through much of central Europe, C. laevigata and C. paniculata replacing it towards the Atlantic zone. The associated flora throughout can be rich with large graminoids, tall herbs and sprawlers, including many typical fen species, and a carpet of bryophytes tolerant of more shady wet habitats. In Boreal and Euxinic stands, the associated flora has some distinctive herbs. In other stands, alders and huge sedge tussocks can dominate in much more species-poor swamp with much bare peat and open water.

Indicators of quality:

• No forest exploitation or only very limited signs of forestry
• Intact natural hydrology: maintenance of high groundwater table and no signs of drying of the peat or water-logged soil
• Typical structure and composition of canopy: dominance must always ultimately lie with vigorously growing trees rather than the associated shrubs
• Presence of old trees and a variety of dead wood (lying and standing) and the associated flora, fauna and fungi
• Presence of natural disturbance such as treefall openings with natural regeneration
• Structural diversity/complexity with (semi)natural age structure or completeness of layers
• Regional variation in the associated flora of this essentially azonal habitat is low but such distinctive typical flora and fauna species as are characteristic should persist.
• Absence of non-native tree species and absence of invasive aliens in all layers (fauna and flora),
• Absence of species indicative of drying of the peat or the wet soil conditions or of excessive eutrophication and no signs of pollution

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Confidence in the assessment

Pressures and threats