Preliminary internal differentiation of FFH habitat types in FFH areas [multi-part polygons]

In 2003/2004, the I.L.N. Greifswald, on behalf of the Ministry of Environment M-V, developed a “preliminary inland differentiation” of the FFH habitat types in the FFH areas as part of the designation of FFH areas and the preparation of the standard data sheets for the FFH sites. “Provisional internal differentiation” is not a systematic on-site mapping of habitat types according to Annex I of the Habitats Directive, but rather a compilation of technical information from different sources. The mapping of the legally protected biotopes, the biotope and usage type mapping by CIR aerial image analysis, information of the data storage forest and the forest natural space map as well as various individual reports were used. The main objective of establishing the inland differentiation was a sound estimate of the total area size of habitat types within the respective FFH site. This information was required for the completion of the standard data sheets (StDB). The StDB is the official form for transmitting data on the notified FFH areas to the European Commission. The exact location of the habitat types within the FFH site may well differ from the ‘preliminary internal differentiation’. This is due, on the one hand, to the fact that the underlying sources of information are sometimes over 10 years old. On the other hand, the FFH habitat types were not mapped directly for the sources of information used, but were mapped (e.g. protected biotopes, stocking types, natural space mosaics, biotope and utilisation types, plant societies, vegetation forms) which are not or only partially identical to FFH habitat types, i.e. the FFH habitat types could only be derived by approximation. It is therefore necessary to examine, before any use of ‘provisional internal differentiation’, whether it is sufficiently precise in the specific area and for the specific question. If this is not the case, current habitat type surveys must be carried out on-site. It should also be noted that land fractions of the FFH sites that do not have habitat types following the ‘preliminary inland differentiation’ are also important due to the presence of species listed in Annex II and/or as functional supplementary areas and/or as buffer areas and constitute relevant components of the FFH area. Technical note: All areas of a habitat type within a FFH site are grouped into a multi-part polygon, which therefore has only one record in the attribute table. This can lead to problems with “geoprocessing”, e.g. when cutting out a sub-area. Therefore, if necessary, a second shapefile ffhlrt04_.* with “single-part polygons” is available.