Natura 2000 Habitat Types

Habitat Types - Annex I

The Habitats Directive identifies habitat types of community interest in Annex I, for which special conservation areas have been established. Among these habitat types, 93 can be found in Germany. In Germany, these habitats are generally categorized based on plant sociological units (often associations) and biotope types (BfN & BLAK 2017, Ssymank et al. 2021, Ssymank et al. 2022). (Reference list of biotope types in Germany: Manderbach, R., Brunzel, S. & Stammel, B. (2024)).

The Annex I habitat types are monitored, and their conservation status is assessed as quality categories A, B, and C as part of regular monitoring (BfN & BLAK 2017, Ssymank et al. 2021, Ssymank et al. 2022). The threshold for classifying a biotope type as a habitat type listed in Annex I of the Habitast Directive is determined by factors such as size or the number of habitat-specific species, as outlined in the mapping key for each habitat type. While national guidelines exist for recording and assessing habitat types (BfN & BLAK 2017, Ssymank et al. 2021, Ssymank et al. 2022), each federal state has its own variations in guidelines and mapping keys. For instance, in Thuringia, open land habitat types are mapped and assessed using a specialized key.

Among the habitat types listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive, some biotope types of high conservation value are missing. For instance, there is no apparent reason why marsh marigold meadows (Calthion association), acidic small sedge fens (Caricion fuscae association), and alder swamps (Alnion glutinosae association) are not included on the list of habitat types of Annex I (Ssymank et al. 2021, Ssymank et al. 2022). To address this gap, these biotope types are recorded and assessed under related Annex I habitat types, such as alder swamps under LRT 91E0 (riparian forests).

360-degree panoramas are provided for some of the habitat types listed below. In the drop-down menus of the panoramas, the indicator species and dominant species characteristic of the respective habitat type (reference lists according to BfN & Blak 2017, Ssymank et al. 2021 and 2022) are shown in bold, as well as species marked with an asterisk* that can be seen in the panorama.

Coastal Habitats and Salt-Tolerant Vegetation

Dunes Along the Coast and Inland

Freshwater Habitats

Temperate Heathland and Scrub Vegetation

Hard-Leaved Shrubs (Matorrals)

Natural or Semi-Natural Grassland

Raised Bogs and Fens

Rocky Habitats and Caves

Forests

Sources

BfN: https://www.bfn.de/lebensraumtypen

Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and the Federal-Länder Working Group (BLAK) for FFH-Monitoring and Reporting Requirements (2017): Assessment Schemes for Evaluating the Conservation Status of Species and Habitat Types as a Basis for Nationwide FFH Monitoring, Part II: Habitat Types in Annex I of the Habitats Directive. BfN-Script 481, 243 pp, Bonn-Bad Godesberg

Ssymank, A., Ellwanger, G., Ersfeld, M., Ferner, J., Lehrke, S., Müller, C., Raths, U., Röhling, M., Vischer-Leopold, M. (2021): The European Natura 2000 Protected Area System. BfN Handbook on the Implementation of the Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive and the Birds Directive, Vol. 2.1: Marine and Coastal Habitat Types, Inland Waters, and Heathland and Scrub. Conservation and Biological Diversity 172. 795 pp., BfN, Bonn-Bad Godesberg.

Ssymank, A., Ellwanger, G., Ersfeld, M., Ferner, J., Lehrke, S., Müller, C., Raths, U., Röhling, M., Vischer-Leopold, M. (2022): The European Natura 2000 Protected Area System. BfN Handbook on the Implementation of the Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive and the Birds Directive, Vol. 2.2: Grassland, Moorland, Swamps and Springs, Rocky Habitats and Scree, Glaciers, and Forests. Conservation and Biological Diversity 172. 898 pp., BfN, Bonn-Bad Godesberg.

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