Mapping of Non-Forest Habitats and Rare Insect Species in Natura 2000 Sites

The goal of this specialized field mapping in Sites of Community Importance is to refine our understanding of the occurrence and condition of valuable non-forest habitats and selected insect species.

The data collected will help improve the planning of their conservation and the necessary management measures. The mapping will take place in 2026–2027.

What do we determine when mapping non-forest habitats?

Mapping non-forest habitats involves more than simply recording their presence. Field mappers delineate individual habitat areas, determine their type and coverage, and record their species composition. The field data also includes a list of plant species, estimates of their abundance or coverage, and photographic documentation.

The result is precise digital maps in GIS format, supplemented with data characterizing individual areas. The information obtained in this way makes it possible not only to update our knowledge of habitat distribution but also to better assess their quality and the changes taking place within them.

We also map rare insect species

The survey includes beetles, orthoptera, butterflies, and dragonflies in selected Sites of Community Importance. For example, we are monitoring the stag beetle (Lucanus cervus), the hermit beetle (Osmoderma eremita), the Alpine longhorn beetle (Rosalia alpina), the large copper butterfly (Lycaena dispar), and the snake-eyed damselfly (Ophiogomphus cecilia).

Before the field survey itself, experts identify potential habitats for individual species and propose representative survey sites. Their selection takes into account the nature and variability of the habitat, known occurrences of the species, and the representativeness of the sites within the entire area.

In the field, researchers then record not only the presence of the species but also, where possible, its abundance, population characteristics, habitat quality, and the impacts and threats it faces. The results include photographs and precise spatial data.

Data to Support Practical Nature Conservation

The data obtained in this way will help better target practical management of Natura 2000 sites and the protection of their most valuable habitats and species. The data will also be processed into the Comprehensive information and monitoring system of the State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic and spatial GIS layers.

Field mapping will thus provide an up-to-date and more detailed picture of where valuable habitats and species are located, what condition they are in, and what they need for their long-term conservation.