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A standardized procedure for surveillance and monitoring European habitats and provision of spatial data

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Abstract

Both science and policy require a practical, transmissible, and reproducible procedure for surveillance and monitoring of European habitats, which can produce statistics integrated at the landscape level. Over the last 30 years, landscape ecology has developed rapidly, and many studies now require spatial data on habitats. Without rigorous rules, changes from baseline records cannot be separated reliably from background noise. A procedure is described that satisfies these requirements and can provide consistent data for Europe, to support a range of policy initiatives and scientific projects. The methodology is based on classical plant life forms, used in biogeography since the nineteenth century, and on their statistical correlation with the primary environmental gradient. Further categories can therefore be identified for other continents to assist large scale comparisons and modelling. The model has been validated statistically and the recording procedure tested in the field throughout Europe. A total of 130 General Habitat Categories (GHCs) is defined. These are enhanced by recording environmental, site and management qualifiers to enable flexible database interrogation. The same categories are applied to areal, linear and point features to assist recording and subsequent interpretation at the landscape level. The distribution and change of landscape ecological parameters, such as connectivity and fragmentation, can then be derived and their significance interpreted.

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Acknowledgements

The work presented in this paper was carried out as part of the EU Fifth Framework project BioHab (EVK2-CT-2002-20018). We thank K. Zaunberger and M. Sharman for their continued advice, support and interest. In addition, thanks are also given to the many other scientists who contributed valuable discussions and ideas, especially IALE members participating in the Ecoland Forum Working Group.

Author information

Author notes

  1. M. J. Metzger

    Present address: Centre for the Study of Environmental Change and Sustainability (CECS), School of Geo-Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Crew Building, Edinburgh, EH9 3JN, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alterra Wageningen University and Research Centre, P.O. Box 47, Wageningen, 6700 AA, The Netherlands

    R. G. H. Bunce, R. H. G. Jongman, C. A. Mücher & M. Perez-Soba

  2. Environmental Systems Analysis group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    M. J. Metzger

  3. Department of Environmental, Social and Spatial Change, Roskilde University, P.O. Box 260, Roskilde, 4000, Denmark

    J. Brandt & D. Paelinx

  4. Research Institute for Nature and Forest, Kliniekstraat 25, Brussels, 1070, Belgium

    G. de Blust

  5. Department of Forestry, Polytechnic University of Madrid, Madrid, 28040, Spain

    R. Elena-Rossello

  6. Department of Wildlife Ecology and Biodiversity, NERI, Kalø, Grenaavej 14, Roende, 8410, Denmark

    G. B. Groom

  7. Institute of Landscape Ecology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Akademicka 2, Nitra, 949 01, Slovak Republic

    L. Halada

  8. ART Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon, Swiss Federal Research Station, Zürich, 8046, Switzerland

    G. Hofer

  9. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK

    D. C. Howard

  10. Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benatska 2, Prague, 128 01, Czech Republic

    P. Kovář

  11. Department of Landscape and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, Milan, 20126, Italy

    E. Padoa-Schioppa

  12. Institute of Geography, University of Tartu, 46 Vanemuise Street, Tartu, 51014, Estonia

    A. Palo

  13. CESUR, Avenida Rovisco Pais, Lisbon, 1049-001, Portugal

    I. L. Ramos

  14. University Paul Cezanne, IMEP UMR 6116 CNRS, Europole de l’Arbois, B.P. 80, 13545 Aix-en-Provence cedex 4, Marseille, France

    P. Roche

  15. Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, 10691, Sweden

    H. Skånes

  16. Institute of Conservation Biology, Vegetation Ecology and Landscape Ecology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, Vienna, 1090, Austria

    T. Wrbka

Authors
  1. R. G. H. Bunce
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  2. M. J. Metzger
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  3. R. H. G. Jongman
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  4. J. Brandt
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  12. C. A. Mücher
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  13. E. Padoa-Schioppa
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  15. A. Palo
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  17. I. L. Ramos
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  18. P. Roche
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Correspondence to R. G. H. Bunce.

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Bunce, R.G.H., Metzger, M.J., Jongman, R.H.G. et al. A standardized procedure for surveillance and monitoring European habitats and provision of spatial data. Landscape Ecol 23, 11–25 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-007-9173-8

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