Temperate and boreal mountain Betula and Populus tremula woodland on mineral soils
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code RLG1.9a |
---|---|
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
This habitat includes deciduous woodlands growing in mountains at the extreme cold climatic limit towards the arctic or, oroarctic zone, where the short growing season, the prevalence of frost, snow conditions and high exposure limit both the possible dominants and the structure of the woodland. Silicate soils predominate, strongly acidic, often podzolised, sometimes showing cryogenic microrelief. But, nutrient-rich and moist brown soils also exist. Birch is the typical dominant tree, in northern Fennoscandia Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii (= B. tortuosa), which typically forms a very open, sometimes krummholz, canopy usually only 3-10m tall, with occasional Picea abies ssp. obovata towards the east. Beneath this, there is a layer of dwarf-shrubs including Vaccinium myrtillus, V. vitis-idaea, V. uliginosum, Empetrum hermaphroditum, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Betula nana, Rubus chamaemorus and Ledum palustre, monocotyledons and herbs such as Deschampsia flexuosa, Carex globularis, Cornus suecica and Trientalis europaea and a carpet of mosses and lichens. Similar field layers occur beneath short canopies of B. pubescens ssp. carpatica in the higher parts of the Scottish Highlands, so such woodland qualify as part of this habitat.
Indicators of good quality:
• Typical flora and fauna composition of the region
• Presence of natural disturbance
• Long historical continuity (ancient woodland) with high species diversity
• Survival of larger stands of forest without anthropogenic fragmentation and isolation (to support fauna which need large undisturbed forests)
• Absence of non-native species in all layers (flora & fauna)
• No signs of eutrophication or pollution
• No man-induced very high population levels of ungulates
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
- Intensive grazing
- Sylviculture, forestry
- Forestry activities not referred to above
- Urbanisation, residential and commercial development
- Other patterns of habitation
- Natural biotic and abiotic processes (without catastrophes)
- Damage by herbivores (including game species)
- Climate change
- Habitat shifting and alteration
Habitat restoration potential
Trends in extent |
|
Average current trend in quantity |
|
Stable ![]() |
Unknown ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Trends in quality |
|
Average current trend in quality |
|
Decreasing ![]() |
Unknown ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Conservation and management needs
List of conservation and management needs
- Measures related to forests and wooded habitats
- Restoring/Improving forest habitats
- Measures related to spatial planning
- Establish protected areas/sites
- Establishing wilderness areas/allowing succession
- Measures related to special resouce use
- Other resource use 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) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Finland mainland | Present | 4960 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
United Kingdom | Present | 450 | Decreasing | Unknown |
Austria | Present | 05-Oct | Unknown | Unknown |
Ireland | Present | 2 | Unknown | Stable |
Sweden | Present | 9428 | Stable | Stable |
Northern Island | Present | 450 | Decreasing | Unknown |
Germany | Present | 10 | Decreasing | 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) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Norway Mainland | Present | 11000 | Unknown | Increasing |
Faroe Islands | Uncertain | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Iceland | 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 | 3164100 | 859 | 14857 | |
EU28+ | 3534 | > 25857 | Total area is given without Iceland |
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 |
---|---|---|
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | Flowering Plants | |
Betula nana | Flowering Plants | |
Betula pubescens | Flowering Plants | |
Calamagrostis lapponica | Flowering Plants | |
Carex bigelowii | Flowering Plants | |
Carex globularis | Flowering Plants | |
Cornus suecica | Flowering Plants | |
Deschampsia flexuosa | Flowering Plants | |
Empetrum hermaphroditum | Flowering Plants | |
Empetrum nigrum | Flowering Plants | |
Festuca ovina | Flowering Plants | |
Geranium sylvaticum | Flowering Plants | |
Juncus trifidus | Flowering Plants | |
Ledum palustre | Flowering Plants | |
Linnaea borealis | Flowering Plants | |
Melampyrum pratense | Flowering Plants | |
Pedicularis lapponica | Flowering Plants | |
Rubus chamaemorus | Flowering Plants | |
Solidago virgaurea | Flowering Plants | |
Trientalis europaea | Flowering Plants | |
Vaccinium myrtillus | Flowering Plants | |
Viola biflora | Flowering Plants | |
Nephroma arcticum | Fungi | |
Hylocomium splendens | Mosses & Liverworts | |
Pleurozium schreberi | 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 | G1.9 | Non-riverine woodland with Betula, Populus tremula or Sorbus aucuparia | narrower |