Monitoring and Indicators of Forest Biodiversity in Europe - From Ideas to Operatioanlity

Joensuu

2004

526 S.

Bandaufführung

13756

121599

In this volume, the importance of linking different spatial and time scales and developing an integrated set of indicators across scale have been emphasised. In this context, an important indicator is species richness, that is a statistically significant indicator of other components of biodiversity at least at large spatial scale. Some evidence was given that species richness in one species guild could be used in predictions of species richness in other guilds. Dead wood and other structural aspects of forest stands are potentially important biodiversity indicators; they are straightforward indicators for operationality, but only partially relevant and more research is needed on natural reference points and the development of these parameters during stand development. It is important to consider that, for an European Forests wide biodiversity assessment and monitoring system, the use of remote sensing data combined with terrestrial sampling seems to be a feasible low cost approach, despite of technological limits, costs and standardized procedures. In this way landscape structure could be monitored frequently as far as a rapid indicator for possible changes in biodiversity is needed and as input to the large-scale aspects of biodiversity changes. In times of tight budgets existing monitoring schems (e.g. NFIs, ICP Forests) should be extensively utilised and crucial will be the harmonization and coordination efforts (e.g. ForestBIOTA, ENFIN initiatives). It is also important to consider public wishes and political goals: they have changed in the past and will change again: therefore monitoring systems should be sufficiently robust to cope with current and future changes in policy emphasis. On the whole, perspectives and operational works tend to be fragmented. Since the need for an overall policy relevant synthesis and guidance for decision-makers and forest managers are increasing, we hope that this book and the event that originated it in the IUFRO Conference in Florence in 2003, will contribute for a better understanding on the importance of interdisciplinary approach in forest biodiversity assessment.