Habitats Directive: A preliminary assessment of habitat and species conservation status in Denmark

A number of plant and animal species and some of Denmark’s natural habitat types are on the decline. Concerted action could reverse this trend, however. These are some of the conclusions of a new report examining the conservation status of key natural habitat types and species encompassed by the Habitats Directive. Under the Directive, Denmark has designated a total of 194 habitats for inclusion in the European network of special areas of conservation, Natura 2000.

The report focuses on a total of 13 priority natural habitat types listed under Annexe I of the Habitats Directive and 79 species listed under Annexes II, IV and V. Many of these are mainly found in Central Europe, and the report should be considered a status report in relation to the Habitats Directive rather than an assessment of the overall state of nature conservation interests in Denmark.

The main conclusions are: 1) The basic knowledge of the distribution, typical species, and structure and function of the natural habitat types is generally insufficient to allow reliable assessment of their conservation status, and 2) The nature conservation resource has been and continues to be under serious anthropogenic pressure.

The conservation status of the 13 priority natural habitat types examined was assessed as favourable for two habitats, uncertain for six habitats, unfavourable for three habitats and unknown for two habitats. The conservation status of the 79 species examined was assessed as favourable for 14 species, uncertain for 22 species, unfavourable for 17 species and unknown for 13 species, while 13 species appear to have disappeared.

The report will be included as an annexe of the first Danish national report under the Habitats Directive in 2001.

Further information: Stefan Pihl, National Environmental Research Institute. Phone: +45 8920 1506. E-mail: sp@dmu.dk
The report “Habitat and Species Covered by the EEC Habitats Directive. A Preliminary Assessment of Distribution and Conservation Status in Denmark” is available electronically at: http://www.dmu.dk/1_viden/2_Publikationer/3_fagrapporter/abstrakter/abs_365_uk.asp