New high nature value map of Estonian agricultural land: Application of an expert system to integrate biodiversity, landscape and land use management indicators

Kikas, Tambet; Bunce, R.G.H.; Kull, Ain; Sepp, Kalev

doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.02.008

Cited by 16 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…The approach is consistent with other HNVf studies (e.g. Kikas et al 2017;Paracchini et al 2008). Even so, there are some notable differences in the distribution of HNVfs between our approach and that of JRC's ( Fig.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

High nature value farmlands: challenges in identification and interpretation using Cyprus as a case study

Zomeni¹,

Martinou²,

Stavrinides³

et al. 2018

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High Nature Value Farmland systems (HNVf) in Europe are recognised for their importance for biodiversity conservation and their extent is one of the impact indicators in the CAP monitoring and evaluation framework for the 2014–2020 cycle. Due to differences in farming typologies and data availability between nations, a common methodology for identifying HNVf does not exist, nor is considered appropriate. In the current study we use the Mediterranean island of Cyprus as a case study to highlight EU-wide issues for the identification and mapping of HNVf. We brought together under a common spatial framework datasets on farming typology, agro-chemical inputs, water use intensity and biodiversity data collected from public authorities and nature/biodiversity conservation organisations. Using an expert driven approach informed by a range of stakeholders, we identified and mapped potential HNVf areas employing a 1 km2 mapping grid as the reporting spatial framework under two storylines for defining farmland area within every grid cell: a liberal with 10% threshold and a conservative with 25% threshold. Areas containing potentially HNVf may extend from 22.5–34.5% of the island, depending on the storyline employed. HNVf Type I is the more restricted type for both storylines, while Type II is the most extensive. The highest overlap was between Type II and Type III for the liberal storyline and between Type I and II for the conservative storyline. HNVfs cover an area between 30 to 57% of the Natura2000 network on the island depending on the storyline. With the liberal storyline for farmland definition, the spatial extent of HNVfs together with the existing Natura2000 sites cover 90% of the study area, while with the conservative storyline this figure drops to ca.75%. The results confirm the role of HNVfs within and around Natura2000 sites in Cyprus and their potential for providing connection and site buffering opportunities, particularly in the lowlands, while they can provide information about policy-making for agri-environmental payments targeting.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

High nature value farmlands: challenges in identification and interpretation using Cyprus as a case study

Zomeni¹,

Martinou²,

Stavrinides³

et al. 2018

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“…Of these, most traditional wooded meadows were lost during the twentieth century due to the re-organization of agriculture; only < 10,000 ha remain (Sammul et al 2008 ). Compared with Western Europe, the Estonian agricultural landscapes still retain significant areas with natural components such as scattered tree rows and single trees (e.g., Kikas et al 2018 ). Biodiversity hotspots in the countryside include rural parks that may have dead wood amounts comparable with those in production forests (e.g., Lõhmus & Liira 2013 ), and riparian zones that contain specific habitats (such as large Salix trees) rarely found in forests.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polypore fungi as a flagship group to indicate changes in biodiversity – a test case from Estonia

2021

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Polyporous fungi, a morphologically delineated group of Agaricomycetes (Basidiomycota), are considered well studied in Europe and used as model group in ecological studies and for conservation. Such broad interest, including widespread sampling and DNA based taxonomic revisions, is rapidly transforming our basic understanding of polypore diversity and natural history. We integrated over 40,000 historical and modern records of polypores in Estonia (hemiboreal Europe), revealing 227 species, and including Polyporus submelanopus and P. ulleungus as novelties for Europe. Taxonomic and conservation problems were distinguished for 13 unresolved subgroups. The estimated species pool exceeds 260 species in Estonia, including at least 20 likely undescribed species (here documented as distinct DNA lineages related to accepted species in, e.g., Ceriporia, Coltricia, Physisporinus, Sidera and Sistotrema). Four broad ecological patterns are described: (1) polypore assemblage organization in natural forests follows major soil and tree-composition gradients; (2) landscape-scale polypore diversity homogenizes due to draining of peatland forests and reduction of nemoral broad-leaved trees (wooded meadows and parks buffer the latter); (3) species having parasitic or brown-rot life-strategies are more substrate-specific; and (4) assemblage differences among woody substrates reveal habitat management priorities. Our update reveals extensive overlap of polypore biota throughout North Europe. We estimate that in Estonia, the biota experienced ca. 3–5% species turnover during the twentieth century, but exotic species remain rare and have not attained key functions in natural ecosystems. We encourage new regional syntheses on long studied fungal groups to obtain landscape-scale understanding of species pools, and for elaborating fungal indicators for biodiversity assessments.

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“…We used soil taxonomic diversity map developed by Kikas et al (2017). It is based on the Estonian Soil Map (1:10,000), which distinguishes 109 soil taxonomic units.…”

Section: Initial Datasets and Preprocessingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Green and brown infrastructures support a landscape-level implementation of ecological engineering

Mander

Kull

Uuemaa

et al. 2018

Ecological Engineering

Self Cite

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The green infrastructure (GI) is a network of natural and semi-natural areas with environmental features that is designed and managed to deliver a wide range of ecosystem services. The concept has roots in the former hierarchical system of ecological networks. There are several examples of GIs, but details of their implementation at a landscape level are often missing or they have been used non-systematically. Here, we demonstrate opportunities for landscape-level implementation of GIs based on spatial analysis through the application of ecological engineering or other measures. Using maps and expert evaluations of different land-use types, we created a methodology for national-scale determination of Estonia's GI. Based on spatially explicit datasets (e.g., land cover, soils, topography, roads), we determined the proportions of greenness and brownness (primarily anthropogenic) landscape indices. Areas with the highest greenness values served as the GI's core areas, whereas areas with the greatest anthropogenic composition represented the brown infrastructure. Identification and classification of hotspots where the two infrastructures are in conflict (e.g., construction, mining areas, roads, settlements, airports, power lines, wind turbines) revealed locations where ecological engineering and other measures are needed to mitigate or eliminate the conflict. Developing spatially explicit models of the conflicts between the infrastructures represents a new approach in landscape planning and environmental management that links coarse-scale landscape planning and regional landscape plans with more detailed local landscape plans that support the design of site-specific ecological engineering and other measures. We demonstrate that the implementation of GIs is inseparably connected with ecological engineering and landscape-scale planning.

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New high nature value map of Estonian agricultural land: Application of an expert system to integrate biodiversity, landscape and land use management indicators

Cited by 16 publications

References 14 publications

High nature value farmlands: challenges in identification and interpretation using Cyprus as a case study

High nature value farmlands: challenges in identification and interpretation using Cyprus as a case study

Polypore fungi as a flagship group to indicate changes in biodiversity – a test case from Estonia

Green and brown infrastructures support a landscape-level implementation of ecological engineering

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