Heathland and shrubs

Introduction

Heathland and shrub ecosystems are areas with vegetation dominated by shrubs, which also include hedgerows, moors and sclerophyllous (small, hard-leaved) vegetation (Maes et al., 2013). They cover 5.3 % of the EU-28 area. Most of these habitats are in fact natural or seminatural ecosystems that arise during the succession process between grassland and forest. They have traditionally been managed by cutting, grazing or controlled burning, which prevent succession to woodland and forest ecosystems.

These ecosystems are found in areas with unfavourable natural conditions, and often as a consequence of intensive use (former arable land or grassland). These extreme conditions often support rare species, creating a mix of distinctive ecosystems with very high biodiversity value (ECNC, 2013). Therefore, despite covering only a small area of the EU, over 31 % of the area of heathland and shrub ecosystems is protected under Natura 2000, and for sparsely vegetated land the proportion is 54 %, making them the most highly protected of all EU ecosystems in proportion to their area in recognition of their high value for biodiversity and tourism and the losses suffered.

Heathland and shrub ecosystems are widespread in the whole territory of Bulgaria, from the subalpine zone of mountains to lowlands and plains. They are extremely diverse in species composition, structure and environmental characteristics. Three main subtypes are distinguished: F2. Arctic, alpine and subalpine shrubs (mostly in Natura 2000 sites) - 501; F3. Temperate and Mediterranean-montane shrubs (the most widespread) - 502; F9. Riverine and fen shrubs (very rare and normally with small size) - 503.

Main object of this study are deciduous shrubs in a temperate continental and transitional- Mediterranean climate. The other groups occupy smaller areas or are found mainly in protected areas and areas of the national ecological network Natura 2000, because they are specific habitats targeted for conservation. Deciduous shrubs are common in plain and foothill areas of the country - Thracian Valley, Danubian plain, Fore, Tundzha plane, which are not representative covered in the national ecological network.

The key pressures causing degradation of heathland, shrub and sparsely vegetated ecosystems are fragmentation, land abandonment, land use change, fires and pollution from atmospheric nitrogen.

An ecosystem assessment as required for the implementation of the Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 needs to provide both an analysis of the natural environment by looking at the state of biodiversity and ecosystems and by evaluating the level of ecosystem services provided to people (ecosystem service assessment). It needs to consider both the ecosystems from which the services are derived and also the people who depend on and are affected by changes in the supply of services, thereby connecting environmental and development sectors

The EU initiative on Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES), with the support of all Member States, contributes to improve the knowledge on ecosystem services. MAES is one of the building-block initiatives supporting the (EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020. In 2014, the MAES Working Group launched a forest pilot study aiming to identify available knowledge that can be used to map forest ecosystems and assess their condition and the services they provide, including forest biodiversity. On 2nd December 2014, a dedicated workshop on “Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES) in the forest environment” was held with wide participation from the private and public sector and stakeholders.

Following the EU initiative MAES and aiming implementation of Target 2, action 5 of the Biodiversity strategy to 2020, in the frame of the predefined project: BG03.PDP 2 Methodological assistance for ecosystem assessment and biophysical valuation (MetEcoSMAP) was produced the national methodological framework for assessment of the ecosystem condition and their services.

In the frame of the predefined project BG03.PDP2: Methodological assistance for ecosystems assessment and biophysical valuation (MetEcoSMAP), which is implemented under the programme BG03 “Biodiversity and ecosystem services” funded by the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area 2009-2014, was produced a national methodological framework on mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services.

This national methodological framework aims to streamline the national ecosystem mapping and biophysical assessment process in Bulgaria.

The methodology delivers a practical step-by-step guidance to the process of:

Methodoly of mapping and asseement of Heathland and shrubs ecosystem