Increasing green infrastructure of wood-living species on veteran trees.
Published on 09 November 2020
Sweden
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
There is a loss of veteran trees all over Europe mainly caused by changes in land use. Remaining trees are often far away from each other or overgrown by forest in abandoned natural grasslands. Many species, not least wood living insects, have difficulties to spread between remnant veteran trees. Climate change and more tree diseases increases this problem.
The Valle area is a core area for veteran trees, and we examined the spreading possibilities for wood living insects in the area and what measures would be the most cost effective to increase green infrastructure for these insects and where to plan for these measures in the area. Green infrastructure for wood living insects on veteran trees works best with many trees within a short distance from each other without barriers. This is the best condition for long term preservation of red listed insects.
An inventory of veteran trees and the biotopes in Valle worked as a basis for connectivity analysis who mapped the spreading possibilities in the landscape for wood living insects with dispersibility from 200 to 1200 meters by calculating distances between suitable trees and the spreading resistance in the surrounding landscape. This showed where the main barriers for species are situated and where potential measures, like planning for new generations of veteran trees are most cost effective. This mapping enables a broad landscape approach when planning nature conservation measures for authorities as well as landowners.
The Valle area is a core area for veteran trees, and we examined the spreading possibilities for wood living insects in the area and what measures would be the most cost effective to increase green infrastructure for these insects and where to plan for these measures in the area. Green infrastructure for wood living insects on veteran trees works best with many trees within a short distance from each other without barriers. This is the best condition for long term preservation of red listed insects.
An inventory of veteran trees and the biotopes in Valle worked as a basis for connectivity analysis who mapped the spreading possibilities in the landscape for wood living insects with dispersibility from 200 to 1200 meters by calculating distances between suitable trees and the spreading resistance in the surrounding landscape. This showed where the main barriers for species are situated and where potential measures, like planning for new generations of veteran trees are most cost effective. This mapping enables a broad landscape approach when planning nature conservation measures for authorities as well as landowners.
Resources needed
Inventories of veteran trees can be done by trainees, NGO:s as well as authorities. Est. time for approx.10 000 hectares = 3 weeks for 2 pers. (depending on number of trees in the area)
Est. time for collecting satellite ground cover data and GIS-analysis = approx. 2 weeks for 1 pers.
Est. time for collecting satellite ground cover data and GIS-analysis = approx. 2 weeks for 1 pers.
Evidence of success
Due to this analysis we now, for the first time, have been able to identify where in the landscape there are dispersal barriers and where restoration measures will be most cost effective in terms of connectivity etc.
This knowledgebase has significantly contributed to the development of the action plan of the BIOGOV-project through a multi stakeholder partnership-process and will further on be a useful knowledgebase to implement measures in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
This knowledgebase has significantly contributed to the development of the action plan of the BIOGOV-project through a multi stakeholder partnership-process and will further on be a useful knowledgebase to implement measures in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
Potential for learning or transfer
For long term preservation of species with high requirement of connectivity of veteran trees there is a need of a knowledge base on landscape level. Preserving single trees in a too fragmented and overgrowned landscape is inadequate for green infrastructure (GI). It is important to prioritize measures when short of resources but also in relation to opposing interests. This connectivity analysis can be used for planning the most cost-effective measures to increase GI in an area.
The analysis is presented in the regional action plan for (GI) in Västra Götaland and spread to stakeholders in the region. The analysis was presented at a national conference to spread knowledge. At the peer review in Sweden in June 2019 it was presented for partners from Slovenia, Polen, Friesland and Galicia. At a peer review in Galicia it was discussed as a tool in the work of preserving natural chestnut trees. This practice can be used by different stakeholders and be applied in other regions or countries
The analysis is presented in the regional action plan for (GI) in Västra Götaland and spread to stakeholders in the region. The analysis was presented at a national conference to spread knowledge. At the peer review in Sweden in June 2019 it was presented for partners from Slovenia, Polen, Friesland and Galicia. At a peer review in Galicia it was discussed as a tool in the work of preserving natural chestnut trees. This practice can be used by different stakeholders and be applied in other regions or countries
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
County Administrative board of Västra Götaland
Sweden
Västsverige
Contact