2 Heathland, Shrub and Savanna Habitats Around
the World
Around the world, each region harbors a great variety of shrub, heathland and/or
savanna habitats with a unique and characteristic species composition. The following examples provide an overview of the variety of these habitats, their ecological
conditions and threats. They are intended to highlight the importance of protecting
and managing these ecosystems.
2.1 Europe
Across Europe, most heathlands and shrub habitats are manmade and influenced by
activities, such as grazing, fire, and felling of trees for timber, that open up the
landscape (Gimingham et al. 1979).
The first occurrence of inland heath dates back to c. 4000 years BP (Webb 1998).
Climatic conditions which limit the growth of trees favour the development of
heathland (Heil and Aert 1993). This is often the case in alpine zones (Fig. 1), in
coastal regions and in the tundra of the arctic region.
Heaths and shrublands are widespread today and can be found from the Arctic to
the Mediterranean, and from coastal to eastern continental regions.
Fig. 1 Shrub vegetation in alpine zones of the Austrian Alps (photographed by author)
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N. El Balti