Evaluation and Integration of Lithuania’s Woodland Key Habitats

Puslapiai nurodyti pagal pataisytą leidinįIn Lithuania, as well as throughout the world forest habitats are being rapidly degraded. Changes in forest structure, composition and functions have placed unwanted pressure on many species and even led to species extinction. In response, the woodland key habitat (WKH) initiative was created in 1993 by Sweden. Using this example, Lithuania adopted the WKH initiative in 2004 and by 2005 had established a national network of WKHs. Using the initial establishment of WKHs from 2004-5 and the 2013 inventory we evaluated the changes in Lithuania’s WKH network and assessed their contribution to forest protection. Results showed that between 2005-2013 89% of real WKH remained and 11% declined or were lost to harvesting. Of the potential WKH 28.4% became real WKHs, 44.2% remained as potential WKHs and 28.4% were lost. The data revealed that the reasons for WKH loss were mainly as a result of forest harvesting and incorrect identification in the first inventory. In general, the total area of WKH increased 9.8% because of establishment of new habitats including the conversion of potential WKH to real WKHs. However, 48.4% of potential WKH were lost to forest harvesting. In general, the decline in number of WKH has been offset by area gains in Lithuania. However, the loss of potential WKH for the future may be of concern. Although being very small in size (3.1/ha mean), WKHs can contribute to secure the functions and processes of forest landscape. The essential point is to find an effective way to manage and secure biodiversity long-term. WKH can provide one such avenue. However, policy, legal measures and on-going monitoring should be adopted to safeguard the future of the WKH network and their high biodiversity as formally protected areasVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij