FO14 Directive forest species

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Status of Habitats Directive Species

EU Habitats Directive species' status has been reported in Finland twice, in 2007 and 2013. All of the 33 forest species listed in the EU Habitats Directive occur in the Boreal region while four of these can also be found in the alpine region. The group consists mainly of mosses, vascular plants, mammals and beetles. Three species of butterflies, one snail (Gastropoda) and one heteroptera are also included.

The conservation status of most of these species has been evaluated as unfavourable-inadequate. Four species ? narrow-mouthed whorl snail, hermit beetle, Scarce Fritillary and glade fern - have been included in the least threatened class, ie. their conservation status has been evaluated as favourable.

The least favourable conservation status has been assigned for four species, flat bark beetle, eastern pasqueflower, green shield-moss and Cephalozia macounii (a liverwort). The conservation status of the latter species is even expected to continue to deteriorate in the future.

Nearly all of the forest-dwelling Directive beetle species and three mosses require dead wood habitats. Their inadequate conservation status is mainly due to the low volume of dead wood not only in commercial forest, but also in most protected areas (FO6).

Status of Birds Directive species

 More than half of the Birds Directive forest species? populations were descending before year 1990. Most common reasons for the declining trends were hunting and raptor persecution. The structural changes of forests, such as reducing dead wood volumes, caused the decline of the Piciformes. The populations of three species were strengthening.

After 1990 decreasing trends have been rarer. The population of western hunny buzzard has started to decrease and the populations of capercaillie and black grouse have continued the declining trend. The grouse populations began to decline already in the 1960s and the trend is still similar. The populations of golden eagle and white-backed woodpecker have increased thanks to effective conservation.