Erasing a European biodiversity hot-spot: Open woodlands, veteran trees and mature forests succumb to forestry intensification, succession, and logging in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

摘要: Abstract Open woodlands are among the biologically richest habitats of temperate zone. Although open were much more common in past and covered large areas Europe, their original cover magnitude loss remain mostly unknown. Here, we quantify assess potential for restoration an internationally protected biodiversity hot-spot, floodplain lower Thaya March rivers Dolni Morava UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Czech Republic. Aerial photographs from years 1938 2009 used to analyse changes forest canopy closure across area 146 km2 separately 270 ha nature reserves found area. Forestry maps aerial age structure. Between 2009, expansion closed-canopy reduced 41% 5.7% total wooded area, or 68.5% 14.1% state respectively. Logging has led a decrease mature 45% 26% between 1990 2009. State prevented logging, but not loss. The parallels that tropical habitats, gone unabated by conservation. Opportunities restore conserve associated (e.g. UNESCO, Natura 2000), state-owned, being compromised rapid logging. Our results also point low efficiency international conservation measures post-communist members European Union.