Preliminary project: Modelling of vegetation of FFH habitats

In September 2006, the Umweltbüro Klagenfurt was commissioned by the National Park Gesäuse GmbH to prepare a preliminary project for the modelling of FFH Habitat Types (FFH-LRT) and their conservation status. This preliminary project is designed as a feasibility study from a technical-methodological point of view and in view of the necessary effort and should also serve for concrete results for selected habitat types and other questions. The modelling will be based on existing data on the Gesäuse National Park. The model is to be created for five selected FFH-LRTs whose modelling is of varying difficulty. According to the offer, using the following FFH-LRT, the effort and result quality of using a comprehensive modelling of FFHLRT as the basis for the designation of the FFH-LRT of the Gesäuse National Park will be presented and analysed: Alpine larch and/or arven forest. Waldmeister-Buchenwald (Asperulo-Fagetum) (9130) (or Central European subalpine beech forest with maple and Rumex arifolius (9140) and Central European orchid-lime-beech forest (Cephalanthero-Fagion) (9150). (Cephalanthero-Fagion) (9150) possible.Central European subalpine beech forest with maple and Rumex arifolius. Bush vegetation with Pinus Mugo and Rhododendron Hirsutum (Mugo- Rhododendretum hirsuti). Montane to alpine sour spruce forests (Vaccinio-Piceetea). Gorge and hillside forests (Tilia-Acerrion). Furthermore, within the scope of the contract, it will be examined how far statements on the conservation status are possible on the basis of available data. The overall objective of the preliminary project is to present the feasibility of using modelling in terms of the quality of results, any necessary additional work, the total effort and the costs. It is essential to check with which data and which method of operation a comprehensive statement can be made in a time- and cost-efficient manner, which complies with the technical and legal requirements of the FFH Directive. In order to answer this question, a comprehensive map of the current vegetation of the National Park was prepared on the basis of the CIR aerial image interpretation of Hoffert & early (2006). All forest types (based on the approach to tree species) were identified for the forest area. The definition of forest types took place from two points of view. On the one hand, all possible FFH-LRTs are to be covered, second, a conclusion on the potential type of FFH and also a statement regarding the conservation status should be possible via the (forestry-related) different spruce content. The CIR aerial image interpretation has the disadvantage that the type response involves blurring in certain subareas (a correct response of the tree species under certain conditions is not flawless via an aerial image interpretation), but has the advantage compared to the method outlined in the offer, that reference data for model calibration and site analysis are available not only for relatively small areas, but over the entire area. This means that the results of the analysis are much more meaningful. In order to estimate the degree of uncertainty of the CIR aerial image interpretation, the result quality of the aerial image interpretation was checked randomly using four test areas based on biotope mapping (site survey). In addition, existing data were analysed with regard to their statement on conservation status. Examination area is the entire Gesäuse National Park. A detailed description of the area and test areas is provided in the Methodology chapter.