Conservation status of mire inhabiting species under the EU habitats directive
Summary
Half of the conservation status assessments for mire inhabiting species covered by the EU Habitats Directive present in Finland are at a favorable level. The indicator has utilized assessments of the conservation status of ten species, four of which have been assessed from both the boreal and alpine zones (a total of 14 assessments). There has been no significant change in the conservation status between reporting periods.
Status
The status of the indicator is poor. The status has been determined based on the most recent reporting in relation to the goal that all species assessments under the annexes of the Habitats Directive should be at a favorable conservation status (see About the Site and Indicator Calculation).
In the boreal zone, according to the latest directive report, only three out of ten mire inhabiting species under the EU habitats directive were found to be in a favorable conservation status, six were assessed as inadequate, and one as poor. Four of the species have also been assessed from the alpine zone, where all are at a favorable conservation status (see Background Material).
Trend
No significant change is observed in the proportion of assessments at a favorable conservation status between different reporting periods in the indicator. For individual species, the conservation status of the woodland brown (Lopinga achine) changed from inadequate to favorable between the first and second reporting periods, but reverted to unfavorable in the latest reporting period.
The conservation status of the Geyer’s whorl-snail (Vertigo geyeri) for boreal and alpine regions, the long-stalked thread moss (Meesia longiseta) in the alpine region, and the slender green feather-moss (Hamatocaulis vernicosus) in the alpine region were not assessed for the first reporting period. This causes slight fluctuations in the proportions between reporting periods.
Significance
The indicator includes conservation status assessments for ten species belonging to different biological groups (beetles, butterflies, mollusks, vascular plants, and mosses). In interpreting the indicator, particular attention should be paid to the fact that a small group of species under the EU habitats directive primarily occurs in mires, which means changes in individual conservation status assessments can significantly affect the entire indicator. Additionally, the species in the indicator are predominantly scarce and/or have limited distribution ranges.
The indicator describes the development of populations, distribution ranges, and habitat quality of species considered especially significant for nature conservation. It tells us whether conservation actions and sustainable use of natural resources can ensure these species reach a favorable conservation status. A conservation status is favorable if a species is viable in its natural habitats and remains so over the long term. The goal of the EU’s biodiversity strategy is that at least 30 percent of species currently not at a favorable conservation status achieve this level by 2030.
References
Data used
The indicator is based on the country-specific reports for Finland under the European Union’s Habitats Directive from three different reporting periods (2001-2006, 2007-2012, and 2013-2018). These reports assess the favorable conservation status of various species based on their distribution range, estimated population size, habitat quantity, and future prospects. A single species can be assessed for its conservation status across multiple zones (boreal, alpine, and Baltic Sea).
The species assessed in the reports are listed in Annexes II, IV, and V of the European Union’s Habitats Directive. Annex II includes animal and plant species, subspecies, or groups considered important, for which specific conservation areas must be designated (Natura 2000 network). Annex IV describes species, subspecies, or groups considered important that require strict protection. Annex V lists species, subspecies, or groups considered important, whose collection from the wild and utilization may require regulated use to ensure that it does not jeopardize the species’ conservation status.
For this indicator, only those species whose primary habitat has been assessed as a peatland habitat in the latest threat assessment are selected from the species listed in the Habitats Directive annexes.
The species from the EU Habitats Directive annexes that are included in the indicator (with conservation status by region in parentheses):
Pytho kolwensis (boreal: unfavorable, inadequate)
Woodland brown – Lopinga achine (boreal: unfavorable, inadequate)
Geyer’s whorl-snail – Vertigo geyeri (boreal: favorable)
Fen orchid – Liparis loeselii (boreal: unfavorable, bad)
Polar grass – Arctagrostis latifolia (boreal: favorable)
Lapland buttercup – Ranunculus lapponicus (boreal: favorable; alpine: favorable)
Yellow marsh saxifrage – Saxifraga hirculus (boreal: unfavorable, inadequate; alpine: favorable)
Long-stalked thread moss – Meesia longiseta (boreal: unfavorable, inadequate; alpine: favorable)
Slender green feather-moss – Hamatocaulis vernicosus (boreal: unfavorable, inadequate; alpiininen: suotuisa)
Herzogiella turfacea (boreal: unfavorable, inadequate)
Indicator calculation
The proportions of different conservation statuses in the indicator are directly based on the results from the reporting periods of the European Union’s Habitats Directive. In the Habitats Directive reporting, the assessment is carried out separately for the Alpine, Boreal, and Baltic regions according to the EU’s biogeographical divisions. For the indicator concerning peatland species, results from both the Boreal and Alpine regions have been used.
From the species listed in Annexes II, IV, and V of the Habitats Directive, only peatland species primarily occurring in wetland habitats, including wooded mires, have been selected (see Background Data). The primary habitats for the species were determined using the latest Red List assessment, which identifies primary habitats for over 20,000 species.
For the indicator, the proportion of favorable conservation status assessments out of all assessments was calculated for each of the three reporting periods. Assessments may include multiple evaluations for the same species if the species was assessed separately for the Boreal and Alpine regions. Therefore, the proportion does not represent the share of species in favorable conservation status out of all species, but rather the proportion of assessments in favorable status.
The proportion of assessments in favorable conservation status from the most recent reporting period (2013-2018) directly determines the indicator’s status in relation to the situation where all assessments would be in favorable conservation status. Thus, any deviation from the scenario where all assessments are in favorable status lowers the indicator’s status assessment (see Information About the Site).
The indicator’s trend, on the other hand, is calculated based on how the proportion of assessments in favorable conservation status has changed across different reporting periods. The trend evaluation is conducted using a generalized linear model based on a binomial distribution.
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Ulla-Maija Liukko
Senior coordinator, group manager (Syke), Red List Assessment, EU directives reporting
Santtu Kareksela
Service owner (Metsähallitus), Habitats management and restoration