The nature and biodiversity policy of European Union is mainly based on two directives, the so-called Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora) and the Birds Directive (2009/147/EC on the conservation of wild birds). These directives are the main instruments of achieving the EU biodiversity strategy objective to ‘halt the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the EU and help stop global biodiversity loss by 2020’. Together the Special areas of Conservation (SACs) within Habitats Directive and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) within Birds Directive form a network of protected areas called Natura 2000 (Habitats Directive article 3).
Forests and other wooded lands cover about 42 percent of the EU land area, corresponding to 176 million hectares. Approximately 21 percent of the total forest area of EU is included in the Natura 2000 network, comprising 50 percent of the total Natura 2000 area. Within European forests there are many forest ecosystems that do not require management and retain their characteristics through natural dynamics. On the other hand, there are also forest types whose typical characteristics are originally man-made and therefore they are management-dependent. The aim of this systematic map is to review the evidence base on biodiversity conservation within the forest habitats fulfilling the criteria of Natura 2000 network.
This systematic map is part of a joint research project by Metsäteho Oy, University of Helsinki, and University of Jyväskylä funded by The Finnish Forest Foundation.
Research team
Anna Johansson, Metsäteho Oy, Finland
Sini Savilaakso, Metsäteho Oy; Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland
Matti Häkkilä, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
Anne Uusitalo, Helsinki University Library, Finland
Terhi Sandgren, Helsinki University Library, Finland
Pasi Puttonen, Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland
Mikko Mönkkönen, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
