Biodiversity distribution in Kalvebod Fælled

Integrating heterogeneous nature data in GIS

Author: Michala Kristensen

Academic advisor: Ole Hjort CaspersenAssistant advisor: Anton Stahl Olafsson

Submitted: 31 July 2015

Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management

Master’s thesis in Nature Management (Landscape, Biodiversity and Planning)

FACULTY OF SCIENCEUNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN

Current context

Nature Park AmagerCertification as Nature Park in January 2015One of the largest urban parks in the world(3500 ha)Increased recreational use in future

New management plan for Kalvebod Fælled

Nature Park Strategy and Nature Park Plan 2015-2020 – too general goalsStrategic planning document Nature Park Amager – Opportunities and Efforts(Caspersen et al.) including Landscape Character AnalysisBiodiversity perspective not included

Use of GIS at national (Biodiversity Map of Denmark) and municipal levelsProblematic use at local scales

Problem formulation

The main focus was to investigate how the data on biodiversity in heterogeneous nature databases can be combined in order to providea science-based decision support tool for the future managementand spatial prioritization

1) What are the requirements that biodiversity data have to fulfill in order to be useful for analysis using GIS platforms?

2) How can the biodiversity data from different sources be used to identify spatial distribution patterns in biodiversity?

3) How can the designation of Landscape Character Areas be enriched by the biodiversity data?

Case area: Kalvebod Fælled

History, terrain, hydrology former seabed reclaimed in 1941-1943 original coastal meadows in northeast site-specific hydrological conditions

Case area: Kalvebod Fælled

Nature protection NATURA-2000 area, Vestamager Nature Reserve (Vildtreservat), protected by Conservation Order

(Fredning), § 3 protected nature types (covering 90%) Dominant nature types: coastal meadows, coastal grasslands, forests and scrubs

Case area: Previous analysis

Biodiversity Map of Denmark Landscape Character Assessment Recreational developmentAreas with high species scores 7 Landscape Character Areas projects(Ejrnæs et al., 2014) (Caspersen et al., 2015) Nature Park Amager –

Opportunities and efforts (Munck Petersen et al.,

2015)

Method: Data sources

Monitoring programsNaturdata.dk (only NOVANA data used)

Citizen science platformsDanmarks svampeatlas, DOFbasen.dk, Fugleognatur.dk

Time period: past 10 years (1.1. 2005 – 1.1. 2015)

Database Availability of the data Organism groupsTotal number of

observations

Precise ImpreciseDanmarks

svampeatlas Available Fungi 928 0

DOFbasen.dk Available Birds 0 124.098

Naturdata.dk Available All organism groups 4198 0

Fugleognatur.dk Available with license All organism groups 1191 545

Method: Working process

Results: Suggestions for database improvements

Svampeatlas.dk+ good user interface+ geographically precise data (smartphone App in development)

Fugleognatur.dk+ cover all species groups+ geographical precise data (Naturbasen App)- problem with data availability (private owned)

DOFbasen.dk+ great amounts of data+ good user interface and easy download- problem with geographical precision (smartphone App recomended)

Naturdata.dk+ great amounts of data - outdated user interface, complicated structure, time consuming download- geographical coordinates not directly connected

Discussion: General recommendations for data sources

1) Dealing with geographical precision issues(e.g. by development of smart phone Apps)

2) General revision of Naturdata.dk database(and The Danish Natural Environmental Portal)with focus on providing better access to raw data

3) Exploration of the citizen science potential for biodiversity data collectionCreating a central platform for biodiversity data supported by up-to-date technologiesPositive side-effect:Public engagement and future interest in biodiversity and conservation

Results: Overall distribution map

Data included (all species):9461 observations of 1184 speciesFungi species: 347Plant species: 309Invertebrate species: 234Bird species: 283Vertebrate species excluding birds: 11

Distribution map is based on:2023 observations of 233 species(incl. 150 bird species) in the selectedcategories

Results: Priority areas for biodiversity – fungi and invertebrates

Results: Priority areas for biodiversity – plants and birds

Results: Priority areas for biodiversity designation

Designation of approximately onethird of the case area (737 hectares)includes following areas:Klydesø Lake areaNorthern Pinseskoven ForestKoklapperneEastern SvenskeholmHejresø LakeStore Høj LakeSmall area in Fasanskoven Forest

Designation covers wide range ofdifferent nature types

Discussion: Priority areas for biodiversity vs. Biodiversity MapGeneral distribution is in goodaccordance

Major differences: Koklapperne area eastern Svenskeholm Hejresø Lake central part of

Kalvebod Fælled

Large polygons Based on Red-Listed species Weighted species score

Higher suitablility to local scale Based on broader range of categories Transparent method(no weighting system)

Results: Priority areas for recreational development

8 priority areas for recreationaldevelopment were identified:1) Northeastern Fasanskoven Forest2) Fasanskoven Forest near Kalvebod Sti3) Central area of Svenskeholm4) Area around Villahøj and Svenskehøj5) Area around Ugandavej6) Southern part of Pinseskoven Forest

7) + 8) Small areas by the artificial dike

Zonation is a central strategy inspired by recreation management frameworks (Recreation Opportunity Spectrum framework)

Basis for zonation applied bythe Danish Nature Agency:Priority areas for biodiversity = Silent zone

Priority areas for recreational development= Facility zone

Areas suitable for recreation= Outdoor recreation zone

Discussion: Priority areas for recreational developmentGood coherence with thesuggested key projects(2, 5 and 6 correspond to mainentrances and key projects)

Adjustments and differences: Area of Kalveboderne

(concentration of activitiesin the north)

Area of Indvindingen(consider Hejresø Lake)

Area no. 4 (Villahøj andSvenskehøj) can attractvisitors inside the park

Results: Adjustments to the Landscape Character Areas (LCA)

Suggested adjustments1) Extension of the LCA Svenskeholmtowards east2) Establishment of new LCA“Southern coastal meadows”3) Sub-division of the LCA area“Kalvebod Fælled” in 4 sub-areas

Adjusted LCA areas can serve as basic areas for similar nature and recreation management

Conclusion

The GIS-based method resulted in:– priority areas for biodiversity and recreational development designation– adjustments to the Landscape Character Areas

Therefore, the combination of monitoring data and citizen science data can be usedto provide basis for management actions at local scale.

Suggestions for improvements: Adress the limitations of data sources (access and precision) Explore the potential of the citizen science data

Thank you for your attention!

ReferencesCaspersen, O. H., Petersen, R. M., Nyed, P. K., Stilling S., Christensen I. K., Lynggard, I., Schoor, I., Santini, A., Østerbye,

K. G. D., Pejldrup, S., & Hartman, L. (2015). Naturpark Amager. Muligheder og indsatser. Temaraporter. IGN Rapport Januar 2015. Frederiksberg C: Institut for Geovidenskab og Naturforvaltning, Københavns Universitet.

Ejrnæs, R., Petersen, A. H., Bladt, J., Bruun, H. H., Moeslund, J. E., Wiberg-Larsen, P., & Rahbek, C. (2014). Biodiversitetskort for Danmark. Videnskabelig rapport fra DCE - Nationalt Center for Miljø og Energi nr. 112. Aarhus: Aarhus Universitet, DCE – Nationalt Center for Miljø og Energi.

Munck Petersen, R., Caspersen, O. H., Nyed, P. K., Stilling, S., Christensen I. K., Lynggaard, I., Schoor, I., Santini, A., Østerbye, K. G. D., Pejldrup, S., & Hartman, L. (2015). Naturpark Amager. Muligheder og indsatser. Katalog. IGN Rapport januar 2015. Frederiksberg C: Institut for Geovidenskab og Naturforvaltning, Københavns Universitet.