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Dr. Ana Hernando
Department of Projects and Rural Planning, Technical University of Madrid, Madrid, 28040, Spain

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0 Biodiversity
0 Conservation
0 Conservation Biology
0 Ecosystem Ecology
0 Environmental Analysis

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Journal article
Published: 26 July 2021 in Ecological Indicators
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The aim of the Natura 2000 Network is to ensure the conservation of habitats and species in their natural areas of distribution. Connectivity is an essential part of this conservation. For this purpose, a value map of importance for biodiversity (V.I.B) was generated proposing 4 levels of protection and overlapped with the Natura 2000 network. New boundaries for the zoning are proposed adding 1.600.000 ha. Two connectivity indices (MSPA and PC) are calculated in the 4 different scenarios. With these indices it is possible to know the number of existing nuclei and connectors in each of the scenarios. New boundaries cover more areas of interest for biodiversity as well as zones of great importance in relation to connectivity. We propose a uniform method that can be extrapolated to any European territory.

ACS Style

Víctor Rincón; Javier Velázquez; Javier Gutiérrez; Ana Hernando; Alexander Khoroshev; Inmaculada Gómez; Fernando Herráez; Beatriz Sánchez; Juan Pablo Luque; Antonio García-Abril; Tomás Santamaría; Daniel Sánchez-Mata. Proposal of new Natura 2000 network boundaries in Spain based on the value of importance for biodiversity and connectivity analysis for its improvement. Ecological Indicators 2021, 129, 108024 .

AMA Style

Víctor Rincón, Javier Velázquez, Javier Gutiérrez, Ana Hernando, Alexander Khoroshev, Inmaculada Gómez, Fernando Herráez, Beatriz Sánchez, Juan Pablo Luque, Antonio García-Abril, Tomás Santamaría, Daniel Sánchez-Mata. Proposal of new Natura 2000 network boundaries in Spain based on the value of importance for biodiversity and connectivity analysis for its improvement. Ecological Indicators. 2021; 129 ():108024.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Víctor Rincón; Javier Velázquez; Javier Gutiérrez; Ana Hernando; Alexander Khoroshev; Inmaculada Gómez; Fernando Herráez; Beatriz Sánchez; Juan Pablo Luque; Antonio García-Abril; Tomás Santamaría; Daniel Sánchez-Mata. 2021. "Proposal of new Natura 2000 network boundaries in Spain based on the value of importance for biodiversity and connectivity analysis for its improvement." Ecological Indicators 129, no. : 108024.

Conference paper
Published: 01 July 2021 in EDULEARN21 Proceedings
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ACS Style

Ana Hernando; Mathieu Legrand; Carlos Iglesias; Alicia López; Javier Velázquez; Antonio García-Abril. ANALYSIS OF THE WELL-BEING OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CHANGE FROM FACE-TO-FACE TO REMOTE LEARNING. EDULEARN21 Proceedings 2021, 8338 -8345.

AMA Style

Ana Hernando, Mathieu Legrand, Carlos Iglesias, Alicia López, Javier Velázquez, Antonio García-Abril. ANALYSIS OF THE WELL-BEING OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CHANGE FROM FACE-TO-FACE TO REMOTE LEARNING. EDULEARN21 Proceedings. 2021; ():8338-8345.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ana Hernando; Mathieu Legrand; Carlos Iglesias; Alicia López; Javier Velázquez; Antonio García-Abril. 2021. "ANALYSIS OF THE WELL-BEING OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CHANGE FROM FACE-TO-FACE TO REMOTE LEARNING." EDULEARN21 Proceedings , no. : 8338-8345.

Journal article
Published: 25 May 2021 in Sustainability
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This paper presents a methodology to study the connectivity that livestock trails can offer to guarantee the transit of organisms and access to pasturelands. In this regard, a connectivity analysis was carried out in two scenarios: Basic Scenario (Scenario 1: pasture) and Extended Scenario (Scenario 2: pasture + livestock trails) by using the Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA). The result of structural connectivity analysis, MSPA, showed that livestock trails reduce the fragmentation of the optimal terrain (pasturelands) for livestock activity, since the effective corridors are more numerous, and the edge effect is also reduced. Therefore, MSPA analysis allows the classification of any landscape typology at the pixel level and mapping of corridor structures (connecting elements) and other categories of spatial patterns on a continental scale. The results of the study show the importance of carrying out this type of analysis in different times of the year, detecting the evolution of connectivity throughout the year. Spring months and larger areas of pastureland offer the best conditions for the movements of organisms. This study aims to provide useful information for landscape or territorial planning, and it could be used to improve the management of wildlife dependent on high quality pastures, as well as to promote the management of semi-extensive livestock.

ACS Style

Javier Gutiérrez; Javier Velázquez; Jacobo Rodríguez; Ana Hernando; Inmaculada Gómez; Fernando Herráez; Aida López-Sánchez. Livestock Trails as Keystone Structural Connectors for Pastureland Analysis Based on Remote Sensing and Structural Connectivity Assessment. Sustainability 2021, 13, 5971 .

AMA Style

Javier Gutiérrez, Javier Velázquez, Jacobo Rodríguez, Ana Hernando, Inmaculada Gómez, Fernando Herráez, Aida López-Sánchez. Livestock Trails as Keystone Structural Connectors for Pastureland Analysis Based on Remote Sensing and Structural Connectivity Assessment. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (11):5971.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Javier Gutiérrez; Javier Velázquez; Jacobo Rodríguez; Ana Hernando; Inmaculada Gómez; Fernando Herráez; Aida López-Sánchez. 2021. "Livestock Trails as Keystone Structural Connectors for Pastureland Analysis Based on Remote Sensing and Structural Connectivity Assessment." Sustainability 13, no. 11: 5971.

Journal article
Published: 30 April 2019 in iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry
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In order to consider forest biomass as a real alternative for energy production, it is critical to obtain accurate estimates of its availability using non-destructive sampling methods. In this study, we estimate the biomass available in a Scots pine-dominated forest (Pinus sylvestris L.) located in Spain. The biomass estimates were obtained using LiDAR data combined with a multispectral camera and allometric equations. The method used to fuse the data was based on back projection, which assures a perfect match between both datasets. The results present estimates for each of the seven different biomass components: above ground, below ground, log, needles, and large, medium and small branches. The accuracy of the models varied between R2 values of 0.46 and 0.67 with RMSE% ranging from 15.72% to 35.43% with all component estimates below 20%, except for the model estimating biomass of big branches. The models in this study are suitable for the estimation of biomass and demonstrate that computation is possible at a fine scale for the different biomass components. These remote sensing methods are sufficiently accurate to develop biomass resource cartography for multiple energy uses.

ACS Style

A. Hernando; Luis Puerto; B. Mola-Yudego; J.A. Manzanera; A. García-Abril; M. Maltamo; R. Valbuena. Estimation of forest biomass components using airborne LiDAR and multispectral sensors. iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry 2019, 12, 207 -213.

AMA Style

A. Hernando, Luis Puerto, B. Mola-Yudego, J.A. Manzanera, A. García-Abril, M. Maltamo, R. Valbuena. Estimation of forest biomass components using airborne LiDAR and multispectral sensors. iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry. 2019; 12 (2):207-213.

Chicago/Turabian Style

A. Hernando; Luis Puerto; B. Mola-Yudego; J.A. Manzanera; A. García-Abril; M. Maltamo; R. Valbuena. 2019. "Estimation of forest biomass components using airborne LiDAR and multispectral sensors." iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry 12, no. 2: 207-213.

Journal article
Published: 14 January 2019 in Sustainability
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The European Union (EU) ensures the conservation of biodiversity through the Natura 2000 Network, which establishes the classification and selection of protected areas at European level. Unfortunately, member countries cannot make the best zoning decisions for biodiversity conservation because there are no clear and uniform parameters to designate Natura 2000 sites. Due to this, it is convenient to evaluate the importance of the criteria for biodiversity conservation through a general assessment, which could establish relevant criteria that can be analysed through geostatistical methods combined in multicriteria analysis. This paper aims to consider biodiversity importance values taking into account land use, so that it is possible to develop a zoning proposal which verifies or corrects the suitability of the designated areas for the Natura 2000 Network in Castilla y León, Andalucía and Madrid (Spain). The choice of these regions allows us to compare areas with a high variability of population density, making possible to compare the potential protected areas with respect to the population living in each area. This assessment has been performed using basic and easily adaptable criteria of biodiversity conservation, so it could be applied in other European territories. In this way, clear and uniform parameters for zoning will be used, being possible to detect the best protected areas. One of the most important purposes of the Natura 2000 Network is to increase connectivity between territories; our work proposes new areas that could be linked to currently protected territories, to favour the achievement of this purpose of the Natura 2000 Network.

ACS Style

Víctor Rincón; Javier Velázquez; Javier Gutiérrez; Beatriz Sánchez; Ana Hernando; Antonio García-Abril; Tomás Santamaría; Daniel Sánchez-Mata. Evaluating European Conservation Areas and Proposal of New Zones of Conservation under the Habitats Directive. Application to Spanish Territories. Sustainability 2019, 11, 398 .

AMA Style

Víctor Rincón, Javier Velázquez, Javier Gutiérrez, Beatriz Sánchez, Ana Hernando, Antonio García-Abril, Tomás Santamaría, Daniel Sánchez-Mata. Evaluating European Conservation Areas and Proposal of New Zones of Conservation under the Habitats Directive. Application to Spanish Territories. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (2):398.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Víctor Rincón; Javier Velázquez; Javier Gutiérrez; Beatriz Sánchez; Ana Hernando; Antonio García-Abril; Tomás Santamaría; Daniel Sánchez-Mata. 2019. "Evaluating European Conservation Areas and Proposal of New Zones of Conservation under the Habitats Directive. Application to Spanish Territories." Sustainability 11, no. 2: 398.

Articles
Published: 13 October 2017 in International Journal of Digital Earth
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In the context of predicting forest attributes using a combination of airborne LIDAR and multispectral (MS) sensors, we suggest the inclusion of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) metrics along with the more traditional LIDAR height metrics. Here the data fusion method consists of back-projecting LIDAR returns onto original MS images, avoiding co-registration errors. The prediction method is based on non-parametric imputation (the most similar neighbor). Predictor selection and accuracy assessment include hypothesis tests and over-fitting prevention methods. Results show improvements when using combinations of LIDAR and MS compared to using either of them alone. The MS sensor has little explanatory capacity for forest variables dependent on tree height, already well determined from LIDAR alone. However, there is potential for variables dependent on tree diameters and their density. The combination of LIDAR and MS sensors can be very beneficial for predicting variables describing forests structural heterogeneity, which are best described from synergies between LIDAR heights and NDVI dispersion. Results demonstrate the potential of NDVI metrics to increase prediction accuracy of forest attributes. Their inclusion in the predictor dataset may, however, in a few cases be detrimental to accuracy, and therefore we recommend to carefully assess the possible advantages of data fusion on a case-by-case basis.

ACS Style

Ruben Valbuena; Ana Hernando; Jose Antonio Manzanera; Eugenio Martínez-Falero; Antonio García-Abril; Blas Mola-Yudego. Most similar neighbor imputation of forest attributes using metrics derived from combined airborne LIDAR and multispectral sensors. International Journal of Digital Earth 2017, 11, 1 -14.

AMA Style

Ruben Valbuena, Ana Hernando, Jose Antonio Manzanera, Eugenio Martínez-Falero, Antonio García-Abril, Blas Mola-Yudego. Most similar neighbor imputation of forest attributes using metrics derived from combined airborne LIDAR and multispectral sensors. International Journal of Digital Earth. 2017; 11 (12):1-14.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ruben Valbuena; Ana Hernando; Jose Antonio Manzanera; Eugenio Martínez-Falero; Antonio García-Abril; Blas Mola-Yudego. 2017. "Most similar neighbor imputation of forest attributes using metrics derived from combined airborne LIDAR and multispectral sensors." International Journal of Digital Earth 11, no. 12: 1-14.

Journal article
Published: 01 April 2017 in Forest Ecology and Management
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ACS Style

Javier Velázquez; Javier Gutiérrez; Ana Hernando; Antonio García-Abril. Evaluating landscape connectivity in fragmented habitats: Cantabrian capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus cantabricus) in northern Spain. Forest Ecology and Management 2017, 389, 59 -67.

AMA Style

Javier Velázquez, Javier Gutiérrez, Ana Hernando, Antonio García-Abril. Evaluating landscape connectivity in fragmented habitats: Cantabrian capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus cantabricus) in northern Spain. Forest Ecology and Management. 2017; 389 ():59-67.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Javier Velázquez; Javier Gutiérrez; Ana Hernando; Antonio García-Abril. 2017. "Evaluating landscape connectivity in fragmented habitats: Cantabrian capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus cantabricus) in northern Spain." Forest Ecology and Management 389, no. : 59-67.

Journal article
Published: 01 September 2016 in Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science
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ACS Style

Mathieu Legrand; José Nogueira; Antonio Lecuona; Ana Hernando. Single camera volumetric shadowgraphy system for simultaneous droplet sizing and depth location, including empirical determination of the effective optical aperture. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science 2016, 76, 135 -145.

AMA Style

Mathieu Legrand, José Nogueira, Antonio Lecuona, Ana Hernando. Single camera volumetric shadowgraphy system for simultaneous droplet sizing and depth location, including empirical determination of the effective optical aperture. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science. 2016; 76 ():135-145.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mathieu Legrand; José Nogueira; Antonio Lecuona; Ana Hernando. 2016. "Single camera volumetric shadowgraphy system for simultaneous droplet sizing and depth location, including empirical determination of the effective optical aperture." Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science 76, no. : 135-145.

Conference paper
Published: 01 July 2016 in EDULEARN16 Proceedings
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ACS Style

Ana Hernando; Mathieu Legrand; Javier Velázquez; Moisés Silva; Antonio García-Abril. VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS IN MASTER CLASSES: WEB CONFERENCING. EDULEARN16 Proceedings 2016, 1, 6878 -6883.

AMA Style

Ana Hernando, Mathieu Legrand, Javier Velázquez, Moisés Silva, Antonio García-Abril. VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS IN MASTER CLASSES: WEB CONFERENCING. EDULEARN16 Proceedings. 2016; 1 ():6878-6883.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ana Hernando; Mathieu Legrand; Javier Velázquez; Moisés Silva; Antonio García-Abril. 2016. "VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS IN MASTER CLASSES: WEB CONFERENCING." EDULEARN16 Proceedings 1, no. : 6878-6883.

Journal article
Published: 01 June 2014 in Computers & Geosciences
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ACS Style

Guillermo Castilla; Ana Hernando; Chunhua Zhang; Francisco Mauro; Greg McDermid. POLS: A versatile tool for sampling polygon GIS layers. Computers & Geosciences 2014, 67, 139 -149.

AMA Style

Guillermo Castilla, Ana Hernando, Chunhua Zhang, Francisco Mauro, Greg McDermid. POLS: A versatile tool for sampling polygon GIS layers. Computers & Geosciences. 2014; 67 ():139-149.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Guillermo Castilla; Ana Hernando; Chunhua Zhang; Francisco Mauro; Greg McDermid. 2014. "POLS: A versatile tool for sampling polygon GIS layers." Computers & Geosciences 67, no. : 139-149.

Articles
Published: 24 January 2014 in International Journal of Remote Sensing
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We recently completed the accuracy assessment of a Landsat-derived landcover polygon layer covering the entire province of Alberta (660,000 km2), Canada, for which we gathered reference information for nearly 5000 randomly selected polygons ranging from two hectares to thousands of hectares in size. This gave us the unique opportunity to quantify, for the first time, how the probability of correctly classifying a landcover object varies with its size. Irrespective of whether they are represented as polygons or as sets of connected pixels with the same label, the classification accuracy of landcover objects decreases as their size decreases, steadily for large and medium sizes, and more dramatically when they are within two orders of magnitude of the pixel size of the input image. We show that this size-dependency is bound to occur whenever the size distribution of landcover objects follows an inverse power law. Our results are consistent with previous studies on related issues, confirm the need to account for size when assessing the accuracy of object-based landcover maps, and cast doubts on the validity of (1) recently proposed object-based accuracy estimators, and (2) landscape pattern analyses where the minimum patch size is close to the pixel size.

ACS Style

Guillermo Castilla; Ana Hernando; Chunhua Zhang; Gregory J. McDermid. The impact of object size on the thematic accuracy of landcover maps. International Journal of Remote Sensing 2014, 35, 1029 -1037.

AMA Style

Guillermo Castilla, Ana Hernando, Chunhua Zhang, Gregory J. McDermid. The impact of object size on the thematic accuracy of landcover maps. International Journal of Remote Sensing. 2014; 35 (3):1029-1037.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Guillermo Castilla; Ana Hernando; Chunhua Zhang; Gregory J. McDermid. 2014. "The impact of object size on the thematic accuracy of landcover maps." International Journal of Remote Sensing 35, no. 3: 1029-1037.

Journal article
Published: 01 September 2012 in Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing
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ACS Style

Ana Hernando; Lara A. Arroyo; Javier Velázquez; Rosario Tejera. Objects-based Image Analysis for Mapping Natura 2000 Habitats to Improve Forest Management. Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing 2012, 78, 991 -999.

AMA Style

Ana Hernando, Lara A. Arroyo, Javier Velázquez, Rosario Tejera. Objects-based Image Analysis for Mapping Natura 2000 Habitats to Improve Forest Management. Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing. 2012; 78 (9):991-999.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ana Hernando; Lara A. Arroyo; Javier Velázquez; Rosario Tejera. 2012. "Objects-based Image Analysis for Mapping Natura 2000 Habitats to Improve Forest Management." Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing 78, no. 9: 991-999.

Book chapter
Published: 29 August 2012 in Biodiversity Enrichment in a Diverse World
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ACS Style

Rosario Tejera; Mara Victoria; Ana Hernando; Javier Velzquez; Ana Prez-Palomino. Biodiversity and Conservation Status of a Beech (Fagus sylvatica) Habitat at the Southern Edge of Species´Distribution. Biodiversity Enrichment in a Diverse World 2012, 1 .

AMA Style

Rosario Tejera, Mara Victoria, Ana Hernando, Javier Velzquez, Ana Prez-Palomino. Biodiversity and Conservation Status of a Beech (Fagus sylvatica) Habitat at the Southern Edge of Species´Distribution. Biodiversity Enrichment in a Diverse World. 2012; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rosario Tejera; Mara Victoria; Ana Hernando; Javier Velzquez; Ana Prez-Palomino. 2012. "Biodiversity and Conservation Status of a Beech (Fagus sylvatica) Habitat at the Southern Edge of Species´Distribution." Biodiversity Enrichment in a Diverse World , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 31 January 2012 in Journal for Nature Conservation
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ACS Style

Victoria Núñez; Ana Hernando; Javier Velázquez; Rosario Tejera. Livestock management in Natura 2000: A case study in a Quercus pyrenaica neglected coppice forest. Journal for Nature Conservation 2012, 20, 1 -9.

AMA Style

Victoria Núñez, Ana Hernando, Javier Velázquez, Rosario Tejera. Livestock management in Natura 2000: A case study in a Quercus pyrenaica neglected coppice forest. Journal for Nature Conservation. 2012; 20 (1):1-9.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Victoria Núñez; Ana Hernando; Javier Velázquez; Rosario Tejera. 2012. "Livestock management in Natura 2000: A case study in a Quercus pyrenaica neglected coppice forest." Journal for Nature Conservation 20, no. 1: 1-9.

Journal article
Published: 15 July 2011 in Forest Ecology and Management
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Conservation and enhancement of ecological connectivity is widely recognized as one of the key objectives of forest landscape management. However, practical difficulties still exist due to the lack of pragmatic and operational methodologies that can be efficiently applied for these purposes within the scope of a forest management plan. Here we present the novel integration of two recent approaches for analyzing forest structural connectivity that offers considerable synergies and potential relevant benefits for forest planning at a variety of scales. We combine the morphological analysis of forest spatial patterns with recent indices for the analysis of landscape network connectivity based on the concept of measuring habitat availability (reachability) at the landscape scale. The combination of these approaches in a single integrated workflow embraces from (1) the diagnosis and characterization at the pixel level of the forest spatial patterns and their individual constituents, which are mainly the core habitat areas and the structural connectors (bridges) between them, to (2) the assessment of their individual importance to uphold ecological fluxes as irreplaceable providers of structural connectivity. We present and show different analytical possibilities within the integrated workflow from where the manager can choose depending on the planning targets and on the characteristics of the ecological processes of interest. We illustrate the application of the combined approach in two forested areas in Central Spain with different scales and management contexts, in which the structural connectivity between forest habitat areas needs to be sustained. Our assessment was able to discriminate and highlight a concise subset of cores and bridges that concentrated most of the contribution to the overall connectivity and functioning of the forest habitat network. This provides clear guidelines on where the conservation management efforts should be targeted, allowing for many alternative areas where the rest of the management objectives and activities can be accommodated as required by the multifunctionality of forest resources. The proposed integrated approach can equally serve to identify (a) those forest areas that play a crucial role to sustain ecological fluxes that are to be promoted by management, such as the dispersal of native biota or (b) those sites where the spread of wildfires or invasive species can be halted more effectively. The potential of the proposed methodology to inform and guide forestry decisions is reinforced by the availability of the required analytical tools (Guidos and Conefor Sensinode) as freeware software packages.

ACS Style

Santiago Saura; Peter Vogt; Javier Velázquez; Ana Hernando; Rosario Tejera. Key structural forest connectors can be identified by combining landscape spatial pattern and network analyses. Forest Ecology and Management 2011, 262, 150 -160.

AMA Style

Santiago Saura, Peter Vogt, Javier Velázquez, Ana Hernando, Rosario Tejera. Key structural forest connectors can be identified by combining landscape spatial pattern and network analyses. Forest Ecology and Management. 2011; 262 (2):150-160.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Santiago Saura; Peter Vogt; Javier Velázquez; Ana Hernando; Rosario Tejera. 2011. "Key structural forest connectors can be identified by combining landscape spatial pattern and network analyses." Forest Ecology and Management 262, no. 2: 150-160.

Journal article
Published: 31 December 2010 in Journal for Nature Conservation
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The conservation of biodiversity in Europe is defined by Directive 92/43/EEC – commonly known as the Habitats Directive – relating to the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna. This Directive established the creation of an ecological network of European protected areas – the Natura 2000 network – , and also recognised the need to manage these areas to maintain their “favourable conservation status”. This paper proposes a methodology which enables the conservation of biodiversity to be integrated into the management of Natura 2000 forest spaces. The methodology comprises an “environmental diagnosis” in three phases. The first phase evaluates the current conservation status of habitats using the following criteria: vital functions; floristic richness; forest structure; area occupied by the habitat; and recovery capacity. The second phase assesses the fragility of the space to determine the degree of vulnerability of habitats. This involves evaluating the fire hazard, erosion hazard, and the fragility of the vegetation. The last phase combines the two previous ones to generate management areas (optimum, intermediate or unfavourable) and to prioritise management actions. This methodology was applied in a protected forest area in the Natura 2000 network, located in Avila (Spain). Different management areas were generated for biodiversity conservation, and each habitat was associated to one of them. Finally, actions were prioritised and designed to raise the habitats to a “favourable conservation status”.

ACS Style

Javier Velázquez; Rosario Tejera; Ana Hernando; María Victoria Núñez. Environmental diagnosis: Integrating biodiversity conservation in management of Natura 2000 forest spaces. Journal for Nature Conservation 2010, 18, 309 -317.

AMA Style

Javier Velázquez, Rosario Tejera, Ana Hernando, María Victoria Núñez. Environmental diagnosis: Integrating biodiversity conservation in management of Natura 2000 forest spaces. Journal for Nature Conservation. 2010; 18 (4):309-317.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Javier Velázquez; Rosario Tejera; Ana Hernando; María Victoria Núñez. 2010. "Environmental diagnosis: Integrating biodiversity conservation in management of Natura 2000 forest spaces." Journal for Nature Conservation 18, no. 4: 309-317.

Journal article
Published: 25 March 2010 in Biodiversity and Conservation
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The main goal of Natura 2000 network is to guarantee the favourable conservation status of habitats and species ensuring European biodiversity. As a result, certain forest areas have been included in this network listed as 9230-Quercus pyrenaica habitat and 9340-Quercus ilex subsp. rotundifolia forest habitat. These areas were previously used for firewood extraction or livestock grazing and browsing. Nowadays these habitats are coppice forests with asexual regeneration, which is far from the desired conservation status. Traditional timber harvesting plans do not take account of the new objectives required for these Natura sites, which attempt to ensure biodiversity and recreational uses instead of simply focusing on timber production. This paper proposes a flexible methodology (applied to the study area “Dehesa Boyal” in Ávila, Spain) for managing Natura 2000 forest sites by stands for sustainable forest management and the new requirements. The methodology has two phases. The first, “Division of the forest area into stands”, defines homogeneous patches of vegetation distinct in species composition, physiognomic structure and future management. The second, “Conservation status assessment of stands”, quantifies the conservation status of each previously classified stand considering a series of factors such as: functional health, restoration, floral richness and structure. A total value integrating the conservation status of stands is then calculated for the habitat. Both phases use Geographic Information System tools for managing information and visualizing results. The proposed methodology provides forest managers with a good knowledge of the territory and subsequently enables them to take appropriate conservation measures to maintain biodiversity.

ACS Style

Ana Hernando; Rosario Tejera; Javier Velázquez; María Victoria Núñez. Quantitatively defining the conservation status of Natura 2000 forest habitats and improving management options for enhancing biodiversity. Biodiversity and Conservation 2010, 19, 2221 -2233.

AMA Style

Ana Hernando, Rosario Tejera, Javier Velázquez, María Victoria Núñez. Quantitatively defining the conservation status of Natura 2000 forest habitats and improving management options for enhancing biodiversity. Biodiversity and Conservation. 2010; 19 (8):2221-2233.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ana Hernando; Rosario Tejera; Javier Velázquez; María Victoria Núñez. 2010. "Quantitatively defining the conservation status of Natura 2000 forest habitats and improving management options for enhancing biodiversity." Biodiversity and Conservation 19, no. 8: 2221-2233.