Søgaard, B., Pihl, S., Wind, P., Clausen, P., Andersen, P.N., Bregnballe, T. & Wiberg-Larsen, P. 2010: Arter 2009. NOVANA. Danmarks Miljøundersøgelser, Aarhus Universitet. 114 s. – Faglig rapport fra DMU nr. 805.
Denmark has achieved systematic monitoring of habitats and species included in the Habitats Directive and the Wild Birds Directive through the launch of the National Programme for Monitoring of Aquatic Environment and Nature (NOVANA).
The monitoring programme for species within NOVANA has as its primary target the monitoring of population size and distribution of the relevant species. This will in time provide the scientific background to assess conservation status for each species and strengthen the basis for deciding on any measures that might be able to improve conservation status for one or more species.
The monitoring programme for species was first planned and implemented for the period 2004-2009. It covers selected plant and animal species included in the Habitats Directive and birds protected by the Wild Birds Directive (breeding birds and regularly occurring migratory birds). In addition the monitoring programme includes species for which more than 20% of the total population occur in Denmark (species of special national responsibility).
In chapter 3 the results of the monitoring in 2009 of species included in Annex II and Annex IV of the Habitats Directive and species of national responsibility are presented with an evaluation of the status of the species. The monitoring programme includes one amphibian (Bombina bombina), ten moths (species of national responsibility), one mussel (Unio crassus) and four vascular plants on the Annex II of the Habitats Directive (Botrychium simplex, Cypripedium calceolus, Liparis loeselii and Saxifraga hirculus). For most of the species the results of the monitoring constitutes a baseline for comparisons with future monitoring results. Time series of data already exist for some of the monitored species making assessment of changes in distribution or population size possible. For instance vascular plant species on the Annex II of the Habitats Directive have been monitored yearly since the onset of the NOVANA-programme in 2004.
Bombina bombina was recorded on its well-known localities on the islands of Funen and Zealand in similar numbers compared with 2007, though the population on one locality (Enø) is approaching extinction due to illegal removal of individuals. A systematic surveillance of ten moths of national responsibility was carried out for the first time in Denmark, forming a baseline of their distribution and abundance for future comparisons. Back in 2000 the mussel Unio crassus was believed to be extinct in Denmark but has in 2007-2009 been found in three watercourses, albeit as a breeding population in only one of these.
The vascular plant species Botrychium siplex was not recorded in 2009 on any of the localities where the species had previously been found. Saxifraga hirculus was recorded on six localities with the species not found in 2009 on one of the classical sites where it had been recorded in previous years. The number of flowering shoots was highest in the last three years. Cypripedium calceolus was still present on the two previously known localities, with the number of flowering and vegetative shoots recorded in 2009 the highest for the entire period that the two populations have been monitored. A lower number of flowering and vegetative shoots of Liparis loeselii was recorded on thirteen localities compared to 2008.
In chapter 4 the results of the monitoring in 2009 of breeding birds on Annex I on the Wild Birds Directive and Cormorant are presented together with the results of the monitoring of staging and wintering waterbirds.
The monitoring of breeding birds was undertaken by the environmental centres and included 11 species in 2009: Crane (Grus grus), Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta), Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria), Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola), Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica), Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis), Little Tern (Sterna albifrons), Black Tern (Chlidonias niger), Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) and Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris). Golden Plover, Gull-billed Tern and Tawny Pipit are disappearing from Denmark but breed occasionally. Crane and Wood Sandpiper are both undergoing population increases, while the fluctuating Short-eared Owl population in Denmark was recorded in comparatively high numbers. The status of the Danish breeding birds is generally well known and data sets for comparisons of distribution and population size of the species already exist.
In 2009 the monitoring of staging and wintering waterbirds was carried out by the National Environmental Research Institute, University of Aarhus. The purpose of this monitoring scheme is to obtain the scientific background to evaluate the status of the migratory waterbird species mentioned in the designation document for one or more Special Protection Areas designated according to the Wild Birds Directive. A number of surveys are international and are carried out simultaneously all over Europe. In 2009 a reduced mid-winter survey of waterbirds was completed. An international survey of Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) in March was supplemented with a count of Pink-footed Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus). In May Dark-bellied Brent Goose (Branta b. bernicla) and Light-bellied Brent Goose (Branta b. hrota) were monitored together with Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria). In August Avocet, Curlew (Numenius arquata), Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola), Redshank (Tringa totanus) and Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) were monitored in the Wadden Sea. Grey-lag Goose (Anser anser) was monitored in September, and dabbling ducks together with Light-bellied Brent Goose and Pochard (Aythya ferina) in October. Finally, Bewicks Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii) was monitored in November.
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