Documentation on the integration of European Forest Types into the EUNIS Habitat Classification - ETC/BD Working paper N°A/2015

This report aims at gathering and synthesizing the relevant information on European Forest Types (EFTs) and EUNIS Forest Habitats produced to the date to make the published crosswalks more operational. In particular, the document aims to present information on the EUNIS Forest Habitats in a synthesized and condensed way by means of factsheets.

The structure of the report is as follows. Firstly, it provides an overview of both European forest habitat classifications (Chapter 2 for EFTs and Chapter 3 for EUNIS), briefly presenting their primary goals, history, classification structure and main characteristics. Specifically, it highlights the EUNIS characteristics that could be considered attractive for those EFT users willing to take advantage of the crosswalk. Furthermore, complete lists of the EFTs and the EUNIS habitats up to the Level 3 are provided in Annex 1 and Annex 2 respectively. Chapter 4 focuses on the actual crosswalks between both classifications. Firstly, a comparison between their main characteristics is established in order to remark potential benefits to EFT and/or EUNIS users. Secondly, the actual links between types are presented in two annexes supported by explanatory guidelines. Annex 3 shows the linkages from EFTs to EUNIS in a comprehensive table. Annex 4 is comprised by 67 factsheets corresponding to all levels up to the third of EUNIS Forest Habitats, also showing their links to EFTs. The discussion section mainly reflects on the potentiality of using the crosswalk.

Prepared by: Celia García Feced and Doug Evans (from ETC/BD-MNHN, FR)

Download report: Documentation on the integration of European Forest Types into the EUNIS Habitat Classification - ETC/BD Working paper N°A/2015 — 10.35 MB