Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Habitat Quality Assessment and Modelling for Forest Biodiversity and Sustainability

  • Chapter
Patterns and Processes in Forest Landscapes

Abstract

Safeguarding biodiversity has been one of the most important issues in the environmental and forest policies since 1990s. The problem remains in terms of decisions and knowledge on where to set appropriate conservation targets. Hence, we need detailed and reliable information about forest structure and composition and methods for estimating this information over the whole spatial domain. The approach presented aims to develop a practical tool for conservation planners and foresters to evaluate alternative conservation plans to expand and connect protected areas while identifying key forest habitats and its associated biodiversity value. In order to reach this goal and learn more about habitat quality for woodland species in boreal forests and spatial characteristics of forest landscape, we used a combination of remote sensing and field data derived from the Multi-source Finnish National Forest Inventory (MS-NFI) Habitat quality assessment and suitability maps constitute a useful approach for designing management plans to improve biodiversity conservation. In this chapter, we present an approach and tools for assessing biodiversity values in both managed and protected forest areas. The approach is intended to assist decision-making concerning protection of valuable habitats and management of natural resources. The different habitat quality models presented are used as a surrogate for biodiversity value. The indicators and the models developed reflect a sound scientific basis that can be implemented in other European countries that invest in national forest inventories. Within this framework, focusing on forests in Finland and on end-user needs, this effort constitutes the first attempt undertaken at the landscape level to use National Forest Inventory data for forest biodiversity monitoring and management.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Reference

  • Alanen A, Leivo A, Lindgren L, Piri E (1995) Lehtojen hoito-opas. Metsähallituksen luonnonsuojelujulkaisuja, sarja B, no 26, pp120

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrén H (1994) Effects of habitat fragmentation on birds and mammals in landscapes with different propositions of suitable habitat: a review. Oikos 71:355–366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andrén H (1997) Habitat fragmentation and changes in biodiversity. Ecol Bull 46:171–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Angelstam P, Anderson L (2001) Estimates of the needs for forest reserves in Sweden. Scand J For Res Supplement 3: 38–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Angelstam P, Pettersson B (1997) Principles of present Swedish forest biodiversity management. Ecol Bull 46;191–203

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartha D, Ódor P, Horváth T, Tímár G, et al (1997) Relationship of tree stand heterogeneity and forest naturalness. Acta Silv Lign Hung, 2:7–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Burgess RL, Sharpe DM (eds) (1981) Forest island dynamics in man-dominated landscapes. Springer Verlag, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Burrough P, McDonnell A (1998) Principles of geographical information systems. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Cajander AK (1926) The theory of forest types. Acta Forest Fenn 29:1–108

    Google Scholar 

  • CBD (2002) Convention on Biological Diversity. Conference of the Parties (COP) http://www.biodiv.org/convention/cops.sht

  • Esseen PA, Ehnström B, Ericson L, Sjöberg K (1997) Boreal forests. Ecol Bull 46:16–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Fahrig L (1998) When does fragmentation of breeding habitat affect population survival? Ecol Model 105:273–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fahrig L (2003) Effects of habitat fragmentation on Biodiversity. Annu Rev Ecol Evol Syst 34: 487–515

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finnish Forest Research Institute (2006) Finnish Statistical Yearbook of Forestry. Vammalan Kirjapaino Oy, Vammala, Finland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finnish Statistical Yearbook of Forestry (2001) Finnish Statistical Yearbook of Forestry, 2001. Finnish Forest Research Institute, pp374

    Google Scholar 

  • Gigord L, Pico, F, Shykoff J (1999) Effects of habitat fragmentation on Dombeya acutangula (Sterculiaceae), a native tree on La Réunion (Indian Ocean). Biol Conserv 88 43–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guisan A, Zimmermann ZE (2000) Predictive habitat distribution models in ecology. Ecol Model 135:147–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guisan A, Theurillat JP, Kienast F (1998) Predicting the potential distribution of plant species in an alpine environment. J Veg Sci 9: 65–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanski, I. 2000. Extinction debt and species credit in boreal forests: modelling the consequences of different approaches to biodiversity conservation. Annales Zoologici Fennici 37: 271–281.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanski I, Hammond P (1995) Biodiversity in boreal forests. Trends Ecol Evol 10: 5–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanson L, Larsson TB (1997) Conservation of boreal environments a completed research program and a new paradigm. Ecol Bull 46: 9–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Hildén M, Auvinen AP, Primmer E (2005) Suomen biodiversiteettiohjeman arviointi. (Evaluation of the Finnish national action plan for biodiversity.) Suomen ympäristö 770. Edita, Helsinki, pp251

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnston K, Ver hoef JM, Krivoruchko K, Lucas N (2001) Using ArcGIS Geostatistical Analyst. ESRI Press, Redlands, pp300

    Google Scholar 

  • Jongman RHG, ter Braak CJF, van Tongeren OFR (1995) Data analysis in community and landscape ecology, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Salisbury, E.J., 1926. The geographical distribution of plants in relation to climatic factors. Geogr J 57:312–335

    Google Scholar 

  • Junninen K, Simila M, Kouki J, Kotiranta H (2006) Assemblages of wood-inhabiting fungi along the gradients of succession and naturalness in boreal pine-dominated forests in Fennoscandia. Ecography 29:75–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kangas A, Maltamo M (eds) (2006) Forest inventory. Methodology and applications. Managing Forest Ecosystems. Vol 10. Springer, Dordrecht, pp363

    Google Scholar 

  • Kappes H (2005) Influence of coarse woody debris on the gastropod community of a managed calcareous beech forest in western Europe. J Mollusc Stud 71: 85–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kouki J (1994) Biodiversity in the Fennoscandian boreal forests: natural variation and its management. Ann Zool Fenn 31:1–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuusinen M, Siitonen J (1998) Epiphytic lichen diversity in old-growth and managed Picea abies stands in southern Finland. J Veg Sci 9:283–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Löfman S (2006) Changes in forest landscape structure in southern Finland in the late 1900’s. Dissertationes Forestales 32, University of Joensuu, Finland, pp30

    Google Scholar 

  • Löfman S, Kouki J (2001) Fifty years of landscape transformation in managed forests of southern Finland. Scand J For Res 16:44–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lord JM, Norton DA (1990) Scale and the spatial concept of fragmentation. Conserv Biol 4: 197–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luque S (2000) Evaluating temporal changes using multispectral scanner and thematic mapper data on the landscape of a natural reserve: The New Jersey pine barrens, a case Study. Int J Remote Sens. Special Issue Remote Sensing and Landscape Ecology: Landscape Patterns and Landscape Change 21(13&14):2589–2611

    Google Scholar 

  • Luque S, Lathrop RG Jr, Bognar JA (1994) Temporal and spatial changes in the New Jersey pine barrens landscape. Landscape Ecol 9(4):287–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luque S, Riutta T, Joensuu J, Rautjärvi N, Tomppo E (2004) Multi-source forest inventory data for biodiversity monitoring and planning at the forest landscape level. In Marchetti M (ed) Monitoring and indicators of forest biodiversity in Europe – from ideas to operationality. EFI – IUFRO Proceedings, pp. 430–444

    Google Scholar 

  • Magura T, Tothmeresz B, Bordan Z (2004) Effects of nature management practice on carabid assemblages (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in a non-native plantation. Biol Conserv 93:95–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martikainen P, Siitonen J, Punttila P, Kaila L, Rauh J (2000) Species richness of Coleoptera in mature managed and old-growth boreal forests in southern Finland. Biol Conserv 94:199–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCoy, J., and K. Johnston. 2001. Using ArcGIS Spatial Analyst. ESRI Press, Redlands. 240 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mielikäinen K, Hynynen J (2003) Silvicultural management in maintaining biodiversity and resistance of forests in Europe–boreal zone: case Finland J Environ Manage 67:47–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (1994) Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Helsinki, Finland, pp20

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of the Environment (2004) METSO – The forest biodiversity programme for southern Finland 2002–2007. http://wwwb.mmm.fi/metso/TIEDOTUSMATERIAALI/esitteet_ ja_kalvosarjat/metso_booklet.pdf

  • Moore NW (1962) The heaths of dorset and their conservation. J Ecology 50:369–391

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moretti M, Obrist MK, Duelli P (2004) Arthropod biodiversity after forest fires: winners and losers in the winter fire regime of the southern Alps. Ecography 27:173–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MOSSE - Biodiversity and Monitoring Programme: METSO 2003–2007 (2007) Forest Biodiversity Programme for Southern Finland http://wwwb.mmm.fi/metso/ international/research/LIST_and_PRESENTATIONS_ of_RES_PROJECTS.html

  • Nitare J, Norén M (1992) Woodland key-habitats of rare and endangered species will be mapped in a new project of the Swedish National Board of Forestry. Sven. Bot. Tidskr. 86, pp. 219–226 (In Swedish, with English summary)

    Google Scholar 

  • Noss RF (2001) Forest Fragmentation in the Southern Rocky Mountains. Landscape Ecol 16:371–372

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nuutinen T, Anola-Pukkila A, Haara A, Kärkkäinen L, et al (2001) Team report from Finnish Forest Research Institute, MELA Team. In Nordic Trends in Forest Inventory, Management Planning and Modelling Proceedings of SNS Meeting, Slovalla, Finland April 17–19, 2001, pp21–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Odor P, Standovar T (2001) Richness of bryophyte vegetation in near natural and managed beech stands: the effects of management-induced differences in dead wood. Ecol Bull 49: 219–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Pascual-Hortal, L, Saura S (2006) Comparison and development of new graph-based landscape connectivity indices: towards the priorization of habitat patches and corridors for conservation Landscape Ecol 21:959–967

    Google Scholar 

  • Perlman DL, Adelson G (1997) Biodiversity: Exploring Values and Priorities in Conservation. Blackell Science, MA., USA.pp192

    Google Scholar 

  • Ponge JF (2003) Humus forms in terrestrial ecosystems: a framework to biodiversity. Soil Biol Biochem 35:935–945

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pressey RL, Nicholls AO (1989) Efficiency in Conservation Evaluation: Scoring versus Iterative Approaches. Biol Conserv 50:199-218

    Google Scholar 

  • Rassi P, Alanen A, Kanerva T, Mannerkoski I (eds) (2001) The Red List of Finnish Species. Ministry of the Environment & Finnish Environment Institute, Helsinki, pp432 (English Summary)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rautjärvi N, Luque A, Tomppo E (2001) Mapping spatial patterns from national forest inventory data: a regional conservation planning tool. Schriften aus Fortslichen Falcultät der Universität Göttingen und der Niedersächsischen Forstlichen Versuchsanstalt. band 138: 293–302. J.D. auerländer’s Verlag Frankfurt am Main, pp407

    Google Scholar 

  • Reid WV (2006) Nature: the many benefits of ecosystem services, Nature,.443:749

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ReVelle CS, Williams JC, Boland JJ (2002) Counterpart models in facility location science and reserve selection science. Environ Model Asses 7:71–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodrigues ASL, Gaston KJ (2002) Optimization in reserve selection procedures-why not? Biol Conserv 107:125–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Romero-Calcerrada R, Luque S (2006) Habitat quality assessment using weights-of-evidence based GIS modelling: the case of Picoides tridactylus as keystone species indicator of the biodiversity value of the Finnish forest. Ecol Model 196:62–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saura S, Pascual-Hortal L (2007) A new habitat availability index to integrate connectivity in landscape conservation planning: Comparison with existing indices and application to a case study, Landscape Urban Planning 83 (2–3): 91–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt W (2005) Herb layer species as indicators of biodiversity of managed and unmanaged beech forests. For Snow Landsc Res 79 (1/2): 111–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmiegelow FKA, Mönkkönen M (2002) Fragmentation issues in dynamic landscapes: avian perspectives from the boreal forest. Ecol Appl 12:375–389

    Google Scholar 

  • Schuster A (1994) Regional distribution of breeding birds elaborated by a geographic information system – Possibilities and limitations. In Hagemeijer EJM, Vertrael TJ (eds) Bird Numbers 1992 – Distribution, monitoring and ecological aspects, Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen and SOVON, Beek-Ubbergen, pp493–501

    Google Scholar 

  • Siitonen J (2001) Forest management, coarse woody debris and saproxylix organisms: Fennoscandian boreal forests as an example. Ecol Bull 49:1–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Siitonen P, Tanskanen A, Lehtinen A (2002) Method for selection of old-forest reserves. Conserv Biol 16:1398–1408

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spence JR (2001) The new boreal forestry: adjusting timber management to accommodate biodiversity. Trends Ecol Evol 16(11):591–593

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Store R, Jokimaki J (2003) A GIS-based multi-scale approach to habitat suitability modelling. Ecol Model 169:1–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Store R, Kangas J (2001) Integrating spatial multi-criteria evaluation and expert knowledge for GIS-based habitat suitability modelling. Landscape Urban Plan 55:79–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strandberg B, Kristiansen SM, Tybirk K (2005) Dynamic oak-scrub to forest succession: effects of management on understorey vegetation, humus forms and soils. For Ecol Manage 211:318–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suomen ympärsitö 437 (2000) Metsien suojelun tarve Etelä-Suomessa ja Pohjanmaalla. Etelä-Suomen ja Pohjanmaan metsien suojelun tarve -työryhmän mietintö.(Forest protection in southern Finland and Ostrobothnia.) Edita, Helsinki, pp284

    Google Scholar 

  • Sverdrup-Thygeson A (2002) Key habitats in the Norwegian production forests: A case study. Scand J For Res 17:166–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tomppo E (1992) Satellite image aided forest site fertility estimation for forest income taxation purposes. Acta Forestalia Fennica 229, pp70

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomppo E (2006) The Finnish National Forest Inventory. In Kangas A, Maltamo M (eds) Forest inventory. Methodology and applications. Managing Forest Ecosystems. Vol 10. Springer, Dordrecht, pp179–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomppo E, Halme M (2004) Using coarse scale forest variables as ancillary information and weighting of variables in k-NN estimation: a genetic algorithm approach. Remote Sens Environ 92:1–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uotila A, Kouki J (2005) Understorey vegetation in spruce-dominated forests in eastern Finland and Russian Karelia: Successional patterns after anthropogenic and natural disturbances. Forest Ecol Manage 215 (1–3): 113–137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uotila A, Kouki J, Kontkanen H, Pulkkinen P (2002) Assessing the naturalness of boreal forests in eastern Fennoscandia. Forest Ecol Manage 161: 257–277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Väisänen R, Järvinen O (1996) How are extensive, human-caused habitat alterations expressed on the scale of local bird populations in boreal forests? Ornis Scandinavica 17:282-292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vallauri D, André J, Dodelin B, Eynard-Machet R, Rambaud D (2005) Bois mort et à cavités : une clé pour des forêts vivantes. Lavoisier, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Vellak K, Ingerpuu N (2005) Management effects on bryophytes in estonian forests. Biodiver Conserv 14:3255–3263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Virkkala R, Korhonen KT, Haapanen R, Aapala K (2000) Protected forests and mires in forest and mire vegetation zones in Finland based on the 8th National Forest Inventory. Finnish Environment Institute, Forest Research Institute. The Finnish Environment n.395

    Google Scholar 

  • Virolainen K, Nättinen K, Siitonen J, Kuitunen M (2001) Selecting herb-rich forest networks to protect different measures of biodiversity. Ecol Appl 11:411–420

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vitousek PM, Mooney HA, Lubchenco J, Melillo JM (1997) Human domination of Earth’s ecosystems. Science 277: 494–499

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Webb NR, Haskins LE (1980) An ecological survey of the Heathlands in the Poole Basin, Dorset, England. Biol Conserv 17:281-296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilcove DS, McLellan CH, Dobson AP (1986) Habitat Fragmentation in the Temperate Zone. In Soulé ME (ed.). Conservation Biology: The Science of Scarcity and Diversity. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, Massachusetts, pp237–256

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson EO, Willis EO (1975) Applied biogeography. In Cody ML, Diamond JM (eds) Ecology and Evolution of Communities. Belknap Press, Cambridge, MA, pp522–534

    Google Scholar 

  • Winter S, Flade M, Schumacher H, Kerstan E, Möller G (2005) The importance of near-natural stand structures for the biocoenosis of lowland beech forests. For Snow Landsc Res 79 1/2: 127–144

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cemagref, – Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Engineering Research. UR Ecosystèmes Montagnards, Grenoble, F-38402 Saint-Martin-d’Hères cedex, France

    Sandra Luque

Authors
  1. Sandra Luque
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nina Vainikainen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Scienze delle Produzioni Vegetali, University of Bari, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari BA, Italy

    Raffaele Lafortezza  & Giovanni Sanesi  & 

  2. Dept. Earth, Ecological & Environmental Sciences, University of Toledo, 2801 W. Bancroft St., Toledo, OH 43606-3390, USA

    Jiquan Chen

  3. USDA Forest Service Environmental Sciences Research, WFWAR - Stop Code 1113 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington DC, 20250-1113, USA

    Thomas R. Crow

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Luque, S., Vainikainen, N. (2008). Habitat Quality Assessment and Modelling for Forest Biodiversity and Sustainability. In: Lafortezza, R., Sanesi, G., Chen, J., Crow, T.R. (eds) Patterns and Processes in Forest Landscapes. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8504-8_14

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation