composition (Glitzenstein et al. 1995). The suppression of fires in many regions of
the world can have dramatic effects on natural species composition.
4 Conclusion and Outlook
Scientific awareness of habitats dominated by dwarf shrubs or shrubs is not as
advanced as for forest, freshwater ecosystems, or coastal habitats, for example. In
comparison with forest or wetland areas, heath and shrub habitats have received little
attention in ecological research and practical nature conservation programmes.
This group of habitats harbours a huge diversity of plant and animal species with
many endangered species. In most cases, they represent transitions between open
landscapes and forest in space or time or are composed of different structural
elements and vegetation heights. The vegetation structure of these woody habitats
is often much richer than that of neighbouring habitat types.
In some cases, shrublands can provide alternative habitats for forest or grassland
species if these habitats in the neighbourhood are destroyed.
Thus, increased appreciation of these types of landscapes and habitats in science
and nature conservation practice might help to find solutions for protecting the
natural biodiversity.
Appreciation can mean, for example, recognition, mapping, and protection of the
respective habitat types.
Large areas of arable land where woody structures have already been completely
destroyed might be given more value allowing space for small strips along the fields
for natural succession or establishment of hedgerows, for example.
The heathlands, shrublands and savannas of the world include unique and diverse
ecosystems; these habitats harbour many rare and endemic plants and animals.
However, loss and degradation of heathlands, savannas and shrublands can be
observed worldwide, in both developing and industrial countries.
Many heathlands have soils with low or very low nutrient contents. It is not easy
to protect oligotrophic conditions in regions with an input of eutrophic substances
such as NO x from the atmosphere or agriculture. However, different courses of
action have been successfully tested to protect heathland in many regions of Europe.
The savannas also face many environmental and conservation problems. Desertification is often the result of intensive grazing and too many domestic animals
(Sivakumar 2007), leading to a decrease in woody plant cover, as for example in
West Africa (Thiollay 2006). Most likely, some savannas will continue to degrade
and will transform into deserts.
Changing use intensities and global warming result in a shift of vegetation zones
and change of distribution patterns, and a migration of scrub zones to the North can
already be observed (Tape et al. 2012). If temperatures continue to rise, subarctic
shrubs and heaths may immigrate into areas where conditions were previously
unsuitable. In the United States of America, for example, shrubs are encroaching
374
N. El Balti
the world can have dramatic effects on natural species composition.
4 Conclusion and Outlook
Scientific awareness of habitats dominated by dwarf shrubs or shrubs is not as
advanced as for forest, freshwater ecosystems, or coastal habitats, for example. In
comparison with forest or wetland areas, heath and shrub habitats have received little
attention in ecological research and practical nature conservation programmes.
This group of habitats harbours a huge diversity of plant and animal species with
many endangered species. In most cases, they represent transitions between open
landscapes and forest in space or time or are composed of different structural
elements and vegetation heights. The vegetation structure of these woody habitats
is often much richer than that of neighbouring habitat types.
In some cases, shrublands can provide alternative habitats for forest or grassland
species if these habitats in the neighbourhood are destroyed.
Thus, increased appreciation of these types of landscapes and habitats in science
and nature conservation practice might help to find solutions for protecting the
natural biodiversity.
Appreciation can mean, for example, recognition, mapping, and protection of the
respective habitat types.
Large areas of arable land where woody structures have already been completely
destroyed might be given more value allowing space for small strips along the fields
for natural succession or establishment of hedgerows, for example.
The heathlands, shrublands and savannas of the world include unique and diverse
ecosystems; these habitats harbour many rare and endemic plants and animals.
However, loss and degradation of heathlands, savannas and shrublands can be
observed worldwide, in both developing and industrial countries.
Many heathlands have soils with low or very low nutrient contents. It is not easy
to protect oligotrophic conditions in regions with an input of eutrophic substances
such as NO x from the atmosphere or agriculture. However, different courses of
action have been successfully tested to protect heathland in many regions of Europe.
The savannas also face many environmental and conservation problems. Desertification is often the result of intensive grazing and too many domestic animals
(Sivakumar 2007), leading to a decrease in woody plant cover, as for example in
West Africa (Thiollay 2006). Most likely, some savannas will continue to degrade
and will transform into deserts.
Changing use intensities and global warming result in a shift of vegetation zones
and change of distribution patterns, and a migration of scrub zones to the North can
already be observed (Tape et al. 2012). If temperatures continue to rise, subarctic
shrubs and heaths may immigrate into areas where conditions were previously
unsuitable. In the United States of America, for example, shrubs are encroaching
374
N. El Balti