Pinus sylvestris taiga woodland

This is forest vegetation of sub-xeric, xeric and barren sites on mineral soils in the boreal and boreonemoral zones. The soils are usually podzolic with a raw humus layer. The tree canopy is almost always dominated by Pinus sylvestris, but mixed forests and even stands dominated by Betula pendula, B. pubescens or Picea abies can be found. Canopy composition is nowadays usually regulated by forestry. Alnus incana, Populus tremula, Salix caprea and Sorbus aucuparia may occur as individual trees usually on sub-xeric sites. Juniperus communis is common, but other shrubs, like Salix phylicifolia and S. starkeana, rarely occur. The understorey vegetation is dominated by dwarf shrubs, the most abundant species being Calluna vulgaris, Empetrum nigrum, Vaccinium myrtillus and V. vitis-idaea. In the middle and northern boreal subzones V. uliginosum, Diphasiastrum complanatum and Ledum palustre are common. Towards the north, the abundance of V. myrtillus and E. nigrum increases and the abundance of V. vitis-idaea decreases. Herb and grass species are few, and they are usually entirely missing from barren sites. Convallaria majalis, Epilobium angustifolium, Maianthemum bifolium , Pteridium aquilinum, Solidago virgaurea and Trientalis europaea are the most common herbs, but their small and pale shoots are often sterile. Antennaria dioica thrives on xeric sites. Graminoids include Calamagrostis epigejos, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina and Luzula pilosa, but they are seldom abundant. In stands of this forest type on eskers there is some specialist flora, e.g. Oxytropis campestris and Thymys serpyllum. The ground layer is continuous. On sub-xeric sites, it is dominated by feather mosses, on barren sites by lichens. The number of moss, liverwort and lichen species increases towards the northern boreal subzone. The most dominant moss species are Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi, followed by Dicranum polysetum, D. scoparium and Polytrichum juniperinum. In the northern boreal subzone, Dicranum drummondii and D. fuscescens are also common. Dominant lichens include Cladina arbuscula, C. mitis, C. rangiferina, C. stellaris, Cetraria islandica and Stereocaulon spp. In addition, on xeric and barren sites there usually are numerous Cladonia species. After a major disturbance such as forest fire, windfall or regeneration cutting, grasses usually increase moderately, bryophytes decrease and lichens increase.

Indicators of good quality:

• Natural composition of canopy

• Structural diversity/ -complexity with (semi)natural age structure or completeness of layers

• Typical flora and fauna composition of the region

• Presence of old trees and a variety of dead wood (lying or standing) and the associated flora, fauna and fungi

• Presence of natural disturbance with natural regeneration

• 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 signs of acidification (relevant mainly for oligotrophic or acidic types)

• No man-induced very high population levels of ungulates

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Confidence in the assessment

Pressures and threats