FEASIBILITY OF USING LITHUANIAN FOREST DATA FOR SUPPORTING EU FOREST HABITAT ASSESSMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF CLOSER-TO-NATURE FOREST MANAGEMENT

Abstract

The decline of biodiversity and the degradation of forest habitats remain among the most significant environmental challenges in Europe. The European Union Habitats Directive and the Natura 2000 network require the identification and monitoring of habitats of Community importance. However, traditional field-based habitat inventory methods are often time-consuming and resource-intensive. This study evaluates the feasibility of using Lithuanian national forest stand data for the identification of EU forest habitats and the differentiation of their conservation status within the context of closer-to-nature forest management. The research was conducted using forest stand inventory data from the Šimoniai Forest area. Habitat distribution, ecological condition classes, and structural forest indicators were analysed. The results revealed that habitat type 9010 (Western taiga) is dominant, accounting for nearly 40% of the analysed habitats. The analysis also showed that larger habitat patches tend to be associated with better ecological condition and that stand age correlates with habitat conservation status. The findings indicate that national forest inventory data can serve as an additional tool for habitat identification and conservation status assessment. The study contributes to the development of methodological approaches for more effective use of existing forest data in biodiversity conservation and the implementation of closer-to-nature forest management practices.