Assessing Forest Classification in a Landscape-Level Framework: An Example from Central European Forests

Abstract

Abstract:Traditional land classifications developed on the basis of what was once prevailing expert knowledge have since largely become obsolete. We assessed expert knowledge based landscape-level units delineated in central European temperate forests: Natural Forest Areas (NFA) and Forest Vegetation Zones (FVZ). Our focus was determining to what degree these units reflect vegetation-environmental relationships. After considering as many as 49,000 plots with vegetation and 25,000 plots with environmental data within a territory of the Czech Republic, we analyzed 11,885 plots. We used multivariate statistics to discriminate between the landscape-level units. While NFAs performed extremely well, FVZ results were less successful. Classification of the environment provided better results than classification of vegetation for both the Hercynicum and Carpaticum phytogeographic part of the Czech Republic. Taking into account significance of the environment in our analysis, a delimitation of FVZs and similar vegetation-driven structures worldwide via explicit a priori stratification by tree species without consideration of environmental limits would not be supported by our analysis. We suggest not relying only on vegetation in classification analyses, but also including the significant environmental factors for direct classification of FVZ and units in particular in altered vegetation composition setting such as the central European forests. We propose a novel interpretation of FVZ via appropriate vegetation stratification throughout the environment used in conjunction with the zonal concept. Understanding of coarse-scaled vegetation-environmental relationships is not only fundamental in forest ecology and forest management, but is also essential for improving lower classification levels. Valuable expert knowledge should be combined with formal quantification, which is consistent with recent calls for advanced multidisciplinary ecological classifications in Europe and North America and for forming classifications in Asia.

Thorny Shrubs Limit the Browsing Pressure of Large Herbivores on Tree Regeneration in Temperate Lowland Forested Landscapes

“…The results of our study are comparable with studies of broadleaved lowland forests [47], although some of our study plots are located above 700 m a.s.l., which is the limit for lowland forests in the Czech Republic [48]. In our study area, common ash formed the majority of seedlings and saplings, followed by wild cherry and sycamore maple.…”

Ungulate Browsing Limits Bird Diversity of the Central European Hardwood Floodplain Forests

“…meandering Morava River [22]. According to the Czech national classification of forest habitats, the hardwood floodplain forests in the study area [23] are classified as Ulmi-fraxineta carpini superior [24]. According to the European classification of forest natural habitats under the Natura 2000 network [25], they are classified as riparian mixed forests along the great rivers (habitat code 91F0).…”

Bird Diversity as a Support Decision Tool for Sustainable Management in Temperate Forested Floodplain Landscapes

“…), Field Maple (Acer campestre L.), Sycamore Maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.), Norway Maple (Acer platanoides L.), Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.), European White Elm (Ulmus laevis Pallas) and Bird Charry (Prunus padus L.) [35]. These forest stands are classified as riparian mixed forests along the great rivers (international habitat code 91F0) according to the Natura 2000 habitats classification [36].…”