assessment and mapping of forest ecosystems, their ... · woodland and forest ecosystems and of the...

ASSESSMENT AND MAPPING OF FOREST

ECOSYSTEMS, THEIR CONDITION AND

PROVIDED ECOSYSTEM SERVICES OUTSIDE

NATURA 2000

elaborated under project

„Forests and woodland - ecosystem services mapping

and assessment in the Bulgarian forest territories

outside NATURA 2000 network - FOR ОUR FUTURE“

Co-financed with the financial support of the Financial Mechanism of EEA

2009–2014

International Scientific Conference

"MAPPING AND ASSESSMENT OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

- SCIENCE IN ACTION"

6-7 February 2017 PROGRAMME BG02 „INTEGRATED MARINE AND INLAND WATER MANAGEMENT “

PROGRAMME BG03 „BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEMS”

Necessity of the study The performed study activities under the project are steps forward to the implementation of Target 2, Action 5 from the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020, adopted by the European Commission :

•Target 2: MAINTAINING AND ENHANCING ECOSYSTEMS AND THEIR SERVICES:

By 2020, ecosystems and their services are maintained and enhanced by establishing green infrastructure and restoring at least 15 % of degraded ecosystems.

•Action 5: IMROVE KNOWLEDGE OF ECOSYSTEMS AND THEIR SERVICES IN THE EU

Member States, with the assistance of the Commission, will map and assess the state of ecosystems and their services in their national territory by 2014, assess the economic value of such services, and promote the integration of these values into accounting and reporting systems at EU and national level by 2020.

6-7/02/2017

Policies and legislation in the field of

ecosystem services

• National Strategy for the development of the forest sector in Republic of Bulgaria (2013-2020):

Goal 3: „Enhancement the input of the forest sector to the green economy”,

Priority 4 „Utilization of the potential of the forest sector for the development of the green economy“,

4.4. „Establishment of conditions for sustainable and compensatory payments for the use of ecosystem services, provided by the forest territories “.

6-7/02/2017


ecosystem services

• Strategic plan for the development of the forest sector (2014-2023):

Operational Objective 20 „Sustainable and compensatory use of ecosystem services, provided by the forest territories “:

Action 20.1: “Preparation and implementation of a methodology for the assessment of ecosystem services and their socially sustainable management “,

Action 20.2. „Preparation, adoption and implementation of a package regulations governing the activities for the evaluation of ecosystem services and schemes for compensatory use of public ecosystem services, provided by the forest territories and for compensatory payments for the forest territories incl. those in NATURA 2000”

6-7/02/2017


ecosystem services

• EU Biodiversity Strategy is reflected in the Bulgarian legislation - the acting Law on forests (2011 г.) has a Chapter 17: „Public ecosystem benefits of the forest territories”.

9 compensatory benefits of the forest territories are defined, the main directions for development of these territories in terms of ecosystem benefits are foreseen, which favor the management activities; also is foreseen the opportunity concrete forest territories with possible payments to be defined in the regional plans for development. The income will be distributed in between the forest owners with adopted forest plans and programmes – state forest and hunting enterprises, municipalities, etc.

• Under elaboration is a draft Regulation (art. 249).

6-7/02/2017

Main activities

The project activities related to the assessment and

mapping of forest ecosystems are:

– Activity 3.1: Data Verification

– Activity 3.2: Mapping of the ecosystem services

according to approved by MOEW Methodology

6-7/02/2017

Working modalities Methodology for the assessment and mapping of the conditions of the

woodland and forest ecosystems and of the ecosystem services in Bulgaria,

B 4 – Woodland and forests

•Defining the habitats according to EUNIS (European nature

information system) based on inventory check lists and the types of

forest ecosystems according to EUNIS on a stand level for the forests

outside NATURA 2000.

The algorithm for their identification is developed on the basis of

information and parameters from the inventory check lists from the forest

data base. Tree species, number of layers, species composition, origin,

management class, forest type, type of the forest compartment, soil type,

altitude, etc. To define each type of ecosystem forming level 4, a different

combination of parameters is used. For each indicator there are unique

values pointed out in order to define the very type of ecosystem. 6-7/02/2017

Working modalities • Assessment of the ecosystems conditions

Using the Methodology of the PO - MOEW, the condition of each

stand is assessed with 5 groups of structural and functional

indicators: biotic heterogeneity, abiotic heterogeneity, energy budget,

matter budget, water budget. Together with the indicators, there are

23 indexes with the respective parameters. The total assessment of

the ecosystems condition is performed on a stand level (sub

compartment).

After the assessment with all indicators (according to Table 5 from

the Methodology), the IP-index for the forest ecosystems

performance is calculated by a formula, and in the following scale: IP

0-0,2 – very bad, 0,21-0,4 – bad, 0,41-0,6 – moderate, 0,61-0,8 – good,

0,81-1,0 – very good.

6-7/02/2017

Working modalities

• Assessment of the ecosystem services

The system of Burkhard which is a common matrix of the main

types of forest ecosystems and the provided services is the used

method of assessment of ESs.

Each EU country was able to elaborate a matrix on a national level

for the assessment of ESs according to the available for the

country indicators and possible sources of information.

The elaborated model for identification and assessment of the

types of ESs uses mainly the present information from the forest

data base and automatically calculates the results according to the

35 algorithms for each type of ESs on a 5-ranged scale.

6-7/02/2017

Main goals and tasks of the project

• Goal of the project:

Identification, reliable assessment and mapping of all types

of forest ecosystems outside NATURA 2000, as well as of the

provided ecosystem services (the working polygons are the

sub compartments, e.g. the min. forest inventory objects);

• Subject of the study:

725 000 sub compartments outside NATURA 2000 - 1 803 000

ha as a total.

6-7/02/2017

Activity 3.2: Mapping of the ecosystem services

according to approved by MOEW Methodology - main steps

• Data base conversion from ZEM – to SHAPE and DBF – conversion of 180 digital models.

• Transformation of the initial spatial data from the forest management plans (data from forest inventory and common forest management map bases) for the forests outside NATURA 2000, from coordinate system 1970 to the World Geodetic system WGS 84 (UTM) 35 N.

• Topological processing of the forest data base outside NATURA 2000, including analyzes of the quality of the initial data, elimination of the duplication of data or of forest compartments and sub compartments.

6-7/02/2017


according to approved by MOEW Methodology - main steps

• Defining the types of ecosystems according to EUNIS on a stand level for the forests outside NATURA 2000: 4 main sub types of forest on a level are defined, and on next level 3 the typology consists of 4 main types of habitats according to EUNIS, and on the last level 4 after some studies, discussions and decision of the expert council, 26 sub types of ecosystems are included as a total, incl. 3 new types (mixed broadleaved forests G1.0, mixed coniferous forests G3.0 and mixed coniferous-broadleaved and broadleaved – coniferous forests G4.0). An algorithm to define the habitats according to the EUNIS is also elaborated;

• Assessment of the condition of the forest ecosystems and assessment of ESs according to Methodology by MOEW.

6-7/02/2017



Elaboration of analytical models and algorithms

• Algorithm to define the EUNIS habitats;

• System for assessment of the condition of the forest ecosystems, incl. algorithm for assessment of the biotic diversity, algorithm for abiotic diversity, methodic for assessment of the dead wood and tree cover (in percentage).

• Algorithms for assessment of the types of ESs

6-7/02/2017



Data sources

• The Forest management plans secure data for 100% of the

forest territories. The forest data base is been updated each 10 years since 1955 while preparing the forest management plans for the respective state forest and hunting enterprises.

• CORINE project, scientific publications, In situ data, statistic data from various institutions, administrations and scientific institutes in Bulgaria and EU, additional remote monitoring and field work.

6-7/02/2017

Approved Methodology and elaborated algorithms -

results from the application

1. Assessment of the condition of the forest ecosystems – common assessment of the condition of the ecosystem types - EUNIS – level

4

• The biggest group with a total area of 1 506 212 ha have IP index 0,6-0,8 (good). There are mostly forests from type G 1.7 (thermophilous coppice and high stem broadleaved forests – 536 713 ha), G 3.F (coniferous

plantations – 302 730 ha), G 1.6 (beech woodland – 177 328 ha), G 1.A

(meso- and eutrophic coppice and high stem broadleaved forests – 158 394 ha), G 1.C (planted coppice and high stem broadleaved deciduous plantations – 137 812 ha) и G 3.4 (Scots pine forests – 75 344 ha).

• In very good condition with an assessment 0,8 – 1,0 are forest ecosystems with an area of 285 811 ha, mainly type G 1.7 (thermophilous coppice and high stem broadleaved forests – 196 970 ha) and G 1.A (meso- and

eutrophic coppice and high stem broadleaved forests – 43 098 ha).

• The smallest area of 11 817 ha take the ecosystems with a moderate condition 0,4 – 0,6. Mainly G 3.F (planted coniferous – 6 063 ha) and G 1.7 (thermophilous coppice and high stem broadleaved forests – 3 213 ha).

6-7/02/2017

Approved Methodology and elaborated algorithms -

results from the application

2. Assessment of the types of ecosystem services

- provisioning, regulating, cultural

The model for identification and assessment of the types ESs uses mainly the present information from the forest data base and automatically calculates the results according to 35 algorithms for the respective type of ESs according to 5-ranged scale :

1 – low relevant capacity to provide the particular ES;

2 – relevant capacity;

3 – medium relevant capacity;

4 – high relevant capacity;

5 – very high relevant capacity.

6-7/02/2017

6-7/02/2017

Example:

Assessment of the provisioning ecosystem services by sub types and definitive codes of service classes from Р 1 to Р 11

EUNIS code Р 1 Р 2 Р 3 Р 4 Р 5 Р 6 Р 7 Р 8 Р 9 Р 10 Р 11

F2.4 coniferous 0 1 2 2 3 3 0 3 3 2 0

G1.0 coppice broadleaved 1 4 1 2 3 3 2 2 3 3 3

G1.0 high stem 1 4 1 2 3 3 2 4 3 3 3

G1.1+2+3 coppice broadleaved 1 4 1 2 3 3 2 2 3 3 3

G1.1+2+3 high stem 2 4 2 2 3 3 3 4 3 3 4


G1.6 high stem 1 4 1 3 3 3 4 4 3 3 5


G1.7 high stem 1 4 1 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 4

G1.7D high stem 1 4 2 2 3 2 3 4 3 2 3

G1.Avcoppice broadleaved 2 3 1 2 3 3 3 2 3 3 4

G1.A high stem 2 4 1 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 4

G1.C coppice broadleaved 2 4 1 2 3 3 2 2 3 3 4

G1.C high stem 1 4 1 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

G1.D gardens 1 4 2 2 3 3 2 3 3 3 3

G3.0 mixed coniferous 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 3 2 3

G3.1 coniferous 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 5 3 2 4

G3.4 coniferous 1 2 3 2 3 3 4 4 3 2 3

G3.5 coniferous 1 2 3 2 3 2 4 4 3 2 3

G3.6 coniferous 0 2 1 2 3 3 4 4 3 2 3

G3.F coniferous plantations 2 2 3 2 3 3 4 4 3 2 3

G4.0 mixed conif.and broadleaved 0 2 2 2 3 3 0 3 3 2 0

G4.0 mixed broadleaved and conif. 2 3 2 2 3 2 3 4 3 2 3

G4.5 mixed scots pine - beech 1 3 2 2 3 3 4 4 3 2 4

G4.6 mixed fir - spruce - beech 0 3 2 2 3 3 4 4 3 2 4

G4.F mixed plantations 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 3 2 3

6-7/02/2017

Example:

Assessment of the regulating ecosystem services by sub types and definitive codes of service classes from R 1 to R 18

EUNIS code R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 R 5 R 6 R 7 R 8 R 9

R

10

R

11

R

12

R

13

R

14

R

15

R

16

R

17

R

18

F2.4 coniferous 2 3 3 4 3 4 5 3 2 3 3 3 4 3 3 1 3 3

G1.0 coppice broadleaved 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 2 4 4 3 3 3 2 3 2

G1.0 high stem 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 4 3 2 4 4 4 3 4 3 3 2


G1.123 high stem 3 3 3 4 3 3 4 4 3 2 3 4 4 3 4 3 3 2


G1.6 high stem 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 4 3 2 3 3 4 3 4 3 3 3


G1.7 high stem 2 3 3 4 3 3 4 4 2 2 3 4 4 3 3 2 3 2

G1.7D high stem 3 3 3 5 4 3 4 3 3 2 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3

G1.A coppice broadleaved 3 3 3 4 3 3 4 4 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 3

G1.A high stem 3 3 3 4 3 3 4 4 3 2 3 3 4 3 4 2 3 3

G1.C coppice broadleaved 3 4 3 4 3 3 3 4 3 2 3 3 3 3 4 2 3 2

G1.C high stem 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 4 3 2 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 3

G1.D gardens 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 2 3 3 2 3 2

G3.0 mixed coniferous 3 3 3 4 4 3 4 4 3 2 4 4 2 3 2 3 3 3

G3.1 coniferous 3 3 3 4 4 3 4 4 3 2 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3

G3.4 coniferous 3 3 3 4 4 3 4 4 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

G3.5 coniferous 3 3 3 4 4 3 4 4 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

G3.6 coniferous 2 3 3 4 4 4 5 4 2 2 3 3 4 3 3 2 3 3

G3.F coniferous plantations 3 3 3 5 4 3 4 4 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

G4.0 mixed conif. dnd broadleaved 3 3 3 5 3 3 4 3 3 2 3 4 4 3 3 3 3 3

G4.0 mixed broadleaved and conif. 3 3 3 4 4 3 4 4 3 2 4 4 4 3 4 3 3 3

G4.5 mixed scots pine - beech 3 3 3 4 4 3 4 4 3 2 4 4 4 3 4 3 3 3

G4.6 mixed fir - spruce - beech 3 3 3 4 4 3 4 4 3 2 4 4 4 3 4 3 3 3

G4.F mixed plantations 3 3 3 5 4 3 4 4 3 2 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3

6-7/02/2017

Example:

Assessment of the cultural ecosystem services, by sub types and definitive codes of the service classes from С 1 to С 6 EUNIS code C 1 C 2 C 3 C 4 C 5 C 6

F2.4 coniferous 1 1 0 2 1 3

G1.0 coppice broadleaved 1 2 0 2 2 2

G1.0 high stem 1 2 0 2 2 2


G1.123 high stem 1 2 0 3 2 3


G1.6 high stem 1 1 0 2 2 2


G1.7 high stem 1 1 0 2 2 2

G1.7D high stem 1 1 0 2 2 2

G1.A coppice broadleaved. 1 2 0 2 2 2

G1.A high stem 1 1 0 2 2 2

G1.C coppice broadleaved 1 2 0 3 2 2

G1.C high stem 1 2 0 3 2 2

G1.D gardens 1 2 0 2 2 2

G3.0 mixed coniferous 1 1 0 2 1 2

G3.1 coniferous 1 2 0 1 1 2




G3.F coniferous plantations 1 1 0 2 2 2

G4.0 mixed conif. and

broadleaved 1 1 0 2 2 2

G4.0 mixed broadleaved and

conif. 1 1 0 2 2 2

G4.5 mixed scots pine - beech 1 2 0 2 2 3

G4.6 mixed fir - spruce - beech 1 1 0 2 2 2

G4.F mixed plantations 1 1 0 2 2 2

6-7/02/2017

Activity 3.1. Data verification • The data verification is implemented over 10% of the total forest territory

outside NATURA 2000, incl. over 2% field work and 8% office work, resp.: 43 561,73 hа, e.g. 2,4% on the field and 149 172 ha in the office, e.g. 8,27%. Data verification was performed by experts Forest data, field experts of EFA and experts Forest protection in no evenly distributed sub compartments within the 16 Regional Forest Directorates.

• Visiting each sub compartment a check list is filled – filed check of the inventory indicators, assessment of the condition of the stands and of the provided ESs and additional data. At the same time, plots to define the quantity of dead wood and grass cover for each sub compartment were set. Additional data for invasive species, threatened species, abiotic and biotic damages, places of cultural interest and etc. was also collected.

• The NA data like grass cover, dead wood volume is assessed with empiric models. The models are prepared on the basis of field measurements in all habitats, age classes and canopy density. The total number of stands where real measurement is done is over 2 500.

Activity 3.1. Data verification

6-7/02/2017

real 2% field

verification

in forests

outside

NATURA

2000 verified 2% %

8% office

verification in

forests outside

NATURA 2000 verified 8% %

Reg. For. Directorate number of stands area, ha area, ha area, ha area, ha

Berkovitsa 44 435 87 366,00 1 747,32 1741,1 100% 6 989,30 7 009 100%

Blagoevgrad 51 029 163 261,40 3 265,23 3 300,60 101% 13 060,90 13 071,50 100%

Burgas 19 916 121 983,60 2 439,67 2 961,40 121% 9 758,70 9 778,30 100%

Varna 14 666 51 248,20 1 024,96 1 108,90 108% 4 099,90 4 520,90 110%

Veliko Tarnovo 63 582 143 977,40 2 879,55 2 905,50 101% 11 518,20 11644,8 101%

Kardzhali 32 265 131 665,70 2 633,31 2 674,90 102% 10 533,20 10553,1 100%

Kyustendil 53 167 127 458,40 2 549,17 2 652,40 104% 10 196,70 10201,6 100%

Lovetch 43 027 87 053,80 1 741,08 1 892,30 109% 6 964,30 7 234,70 104%

Pazardzhik 22 400 85 248,80 1 704,98 1 697,80 100% 6 819,90 6892,2 101%

Plovdiv 23 559 77 225,80 1 544,52 1 545,30 100% 6 178 6 183,90 100%

Ruse 17 503 64 296,90 1 285,94 1 750,20 136% 5 143,80 5 650,40 110%

Sliven 14 019 79 065,50 1 581,31 2 269,50 144% 6 325,30 6 418,60 101%

Smolyan 36 140 114 156,50 2 283,13 2 335,30 102% 9 132,52 9 229,90 101%

Sofia 78 881 226 642,40 4 533 4 591,03 101% 18 131,30 20 328 112%

Stara Zagora 29 824 123 398,10 2 467,96 2 796,20 113% 9 871,90 10 537,90 107%

Shumen 26 334 119 814,40 2 396,29 2 812,60 117% 9 585,20 9917,3 103%

570 747 1 803 862,90 36077,42 39035,03 108% 144 309.03 149 173 103%

field expert EFA 2966,0

field expert EFA 778

field expert EFA 782,7

total, field experts 4526,7

Total

Activity 3.1. Data verification Results

First results of the verification of the model of assessment of the condition of forest ecosystems:

• 55% confirmation in the field checks;

• 96% confirmation if not taking into account the assessment using the parameter “red list animal species”;

• Still awaiting results from the verification of the model for assessment of the ecosystem services.

6-7/02/2017

Activity 3.2: Mapping of the ecosystem services according

approved by MOEW Methodology • Mapping of types of ecosystems – 77 maps produced with detailed color codes

for visualization;

• Mapping of the condition of the ecosystems - 77 maps produced with the

results of the calculation of the IP index for the types of ecosystems, with

detailed color codes for visualization;

• Mapping of the ecosystem services - 77 maps produced presenting the results

of the calculated capacity of the ecosystems to provide provisioning, regulating

and cultural services, with detailed color codes for visualization.

All maps are produced оf a scale 1: 125 000, in PDF, as each data frame consists

of one plot of 50 km coordinate grid of the EEA that defined the number of

each type of maps to be 77 or altogether - 231 maps. Data mapping and their

processing is performed using ArcMap and ArcCatalog, and the data base format

is ESRI GDB.

.

.

6-7/02/2017


to approved by MOEW Methodology Map of the types of forest ecosystems

6-7/02/2017


according to approved by MOEW Methodology Map of the assessment of the condition of the forest

ecosystems

6-7/02/2017


to approved by MOEW Methodology Map of the assessment of the ecosystem services

CONCLUSIONS

As a result of the project activities, there is a centralized data base

established, comprised of :

• National layer Forests outside NATURA 2000 with topologically

processed spatial data;

• forest ecosystems typology;

• assessment of their functional state;

• assessment of the present ecosystem services that they provide to the

society;

• maps produced according the requirements of the Methodology and

visualizing the result of the three types of study.

6-7/02/2017

CONCLUSIONS

• Though the significant scale of the studies performed, the

elaborated models and the based on them analytical algorithms do

have imperfections and gaps with insufficient information.

• The Methodology for the assessment and mapping of the

conditions of the woodland and forest ecosystems and of the

ecosystem services in Bulgaria should be refined due to some

unclear definitions of indicators and parameters or their

unavailability.

6-7/02/2017

CONCLUSIONS Further work:

• To perform and analyze the compliance and verification of the data

from the elaborated models (algorithms) for assessment of the

condition of the forest ecosystems and the provided ecosystem

services, compared to the data collected on the field. Assessment of

the two main models, resp. for defining the condition of the forest

ecosystem and of the provided ecosystem services must be done.

• In terms of data provision, a Methodology for assessment of the

grass cover and the dead wood using remote sensing methods should

be elaborated.

6-7/02/2017

6-7/02/2017

. THANK YOU FOR YOUR

ATTENTION! Krasimir Kamenov

Rosica Horozova

Lyubcho Trichkov

Georgi Tinchev

Vasko Raychinov

Georgi Gogushev

Executive Forest Agency, Sofia

Regional Forest Directorate, Kardzhali

Regional Forest Directorate, Blagoevgrad

http://fofproject.bg/

assessment and mapping of forest ecosystems, their ... · woodland and forest ecosystems and of the...

Documents