Ecological monitoring along the Belgium coast
Sam Provoost
Research Institute for Nature and Forest
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This talk…
About ecological monitoring
Challenges along the Belgian coast Overview & examples
Conclusions & recommendations
Ecological monitoring…
Monitoring (s.l.)
…
Current biodiversity issues
Decline of coastal dynamics Habitat loss & fragmentation
Succession (grass/scrub encroachment) Invasive alien species
Tourist pressure
Groundwater extraction Agriculture
Atmospherical deposition Climate change
...
Monitoring need
1) Nature conservation
‘Biodiversity Status’ + management evaluation
Natura 2000, sustainability indicators (Coastal Compass)… 2) Ecosystem services/uses
E.g. coastal protection (barrier strength), recreation, … Ecological impact
Monitoring need
Coast = exceptionally rich & specific Belgian coast: ± 20 000 species
Human pressure = high
Large investment in nature restoration (LIFE)
What is the problem?
Large overlap in information needs Resource limitation & fragmentation Many initiatives (e.g. MONAIJ, PINK, ZTAR, …)
Lack of continuity
Lack of information exchange
No coherent ecological monitoring program
Strategy
General ecosystem monitoring
( Project based, targeted monitoring)
Basic inventory (holistic), long term
System status + change detection (multiple goals)
Solid foundation for scientific hypothesis
Integration: pool resources & demands
Based on understanding of the system & common sense
Robust; independence of ‘trends’ in society
Strategy
ECOSYSTEM
Abiotic variables Habitat level
Species level
SOCIETY
Land ownership
Management database Tourist infrastructure
…
Monitoring in practice
I) Abiotic variables
Meteorology Geomorphology
Hydrology/Hydrography Soil
Meteorology
Many processes strongly climate dependant Climate change
Royal Meteorological Institute = federal organisation…
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
01 jan 01 01 feb 01 01 mrt 01 01 apr 01 01 mei 01 01 jun 01 01 jul 01 01 aug 01 01 sep 01 01 okt 01 01 nov 01 01 dec 01
mm neerslag
Geomorphology elevation models
Beach (2x / year): LiDAR
Dynamic dunes & salt marsh (± 1x / 3years)
Geomorphodynamics = essential characteristic of coastal systems Data acquisition by coastal protection agency
Future …?
Geomorphology Salt marsh
Cm-changes
GPS + Sed-Ero plots
Impact assessment (dredging, …) Integration with LiDAR
No long term resources
II) Habitat level
Vegetation mapping Permanent plots
Aquatic vegetation (ponds)
Vegetation mapping
Detailed vegetation map 1/1500 Vegetation dynamics
Management planning & evaluation Research: habitat modelling…
So far about 1/3 of coast mapped
- Class - Code - Dominant - Subdominant
Fixed typology
(several 100s types)
Accountancy of habitat types
Automated translation to Natura 2000 types Maintain detail + quality information
Still not really accepted as method
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Opp (ha)
Onbegroeid Schaarsbegroeid Open helmduin Gefixeerd helmduin Mosduin Duingrasland Grasruigte/Duinroos Dauwbraam Duinvallei(/Kruipwilg) (Natte) ruigte Kruipwilg Duindoornstruweel Ligusterstruweel Overig struweel (Loof)bos Water Pad/Antropogeen
IJzermonding
Baai van Heist
Zwin
1140 1310 1320 1330
IJzermonding 23.8 7.8 0.3 3.6
Baai van Heist 0.7 4.5
Zwin 5.6 27.2 86.6
29.4 35.6 0.3 94.7
160.1
Remote sensing ??
LiDAR Vegetation height
Excellent scrub & woodland discrimination
Kempeneers et al. 2009 – Journal of Coastal Research
NIR
Red
Remote sensing
Multispectral images
Discrimination within low vegetation
Complementary to LiDAR
Remote sensing
Satisfactory classification of general vegetation (structure) types in dunes (salt marsh…??)
Vegetation mapping program of coastal protection agency stopped
Vegetation plots
Process evaluation (e.g. grazing management) Habitat evaluation
Habitat quality assessment (Natura 2000 reporting) Dunes: actually 280 to be extended tot 600
Vegetation plots
Salt marsh transects
Not used for Natura 2000 quality assessment ?
1996
2006
III) Species level
Flora
Cryptogams & fungi Mammals
Birds
Amphibians & reptiles Invertebrates
Flora
About 260 rare (indicator/target) species Mapping of entire population
Actually > 100 000 records
Flora
Rank
Abundance (# squares)
Sampling
Mapping of entire population
Asparagus prostratus
Flora
Powerful evaluation tool Future uncertain
Cryptogams, fauna & funga
Specific habitat quality indicators
Fungi & beetles in marram dune
Snails in salt marsh or dune woodland
Animals with large home range Landscape evaluation Little fauna monitoring set up or continued…
Species
Need for cooperation with volunteers So far little coordinated action
Conclusions
Basic ecological monitoring
Integration
Policy levels (e.g. Natura 2000 management)
Sector needs (e.g. bidiversity and coastal protection)
Management & research needs (entangled!)
Resources
Biogeographical level (Atlantic Europe)
Conclusions
ICZM
Need for powerful ICZM organisation
Higher policy level (umbrella)
Financial implications
Small compared to current investments
Organisation >> cost
Long term perspective
