?
  1. About
  2. Habitat classification

Habitat classification

The 2019 Red List of Finnish species applies the national habitat classification, which is used to determine at least a primary habitat for the evaluated species. The primary habitat is determined in the assessment to all evaluated species in the categories from Least Concern (LC) to Critically Endangered (CR) and, whenever possible, also to Regionally Extinct (RE) and Data Deficient (DD) species.

The classification is hierarchical. The most appropriate level is selected.

M =Forests

  • Mk = heath forests
  • Mkk = sub-xeric, xeric and barren heath forests
  • Mkt = mesic and herb-rich heath forests
  • Ml = herb-rich forests (also spruce-dominated)
  • Mlt = dry and mesic herb-rich forests
  • Mlk = moist herb-rich forests
  • Mt = alpine birch forests (excluding herb-rich alpine birch forests)
  • Mtl = herb-rich alpine birch forests

S = Mires

  • Sl = rich fens
  • Sla = open rich fens
  • Slr = rich pine fens
  • Slk = rich spruce-birch fens
  • Sn = fens
  • Snk = ombro- and oligotrophic fens
  • Snr = mesotrophic fens
  • Sr = pine mires
  • Srk = ombro- and oligotrophic pine mires
  • Srr = mesotrophic pine mires
  • Sk = spruce mires
  • Skk = oligotrophic spruce mires
  • Skr = eutrophic and mesotrophic spruce mires

V = Aquatic habitats

  • Vi = Baltic Sea
  • Vik = benthic habitats characterized by rocks and boulders
  • Vim = benthic habitats characterized by mud and silt
  • Vis = benthic habitats characterized by gravel
  • Vih = benthic habitats characterized by sand
  • Vie = mixed benthic habitats
  • Vip = pelagic habitats
  • Vs = lakes and ponds
  • Vsk = oligotrophic lakes and ponds
  • Vsr = eutrophic and mesotrophic lakes and ponds
  • Va = small ponds (also in mires etc.)
  • Vj = rivers
  • Vp = brooks and streams
  • Vk = rapids
  • Vl = spring complexes

Small aquatic habitats like ponds, small ponds, brooks, streams and spring complexes also include the adjacent shore zones.

R = Shores

  • Ri = coastal shores
  • Rim = coastal forests
  • Rimt = coastal flooded forests
  • Riml = coastal wooded swamps
  • Rip = coastal shore scrubs
  • Ril = coastal swamp shores
  • Rin = coastal meadows
  • Rir = coastal reedbeds with Phragmites australis
  • Ris = coastal gravel-, shingle- and boulder shores
  • Rih = coastal sand shores
  • Rit = coastal open alluvial shores
  • Rj = lake shores and river banks
  • Rjm = inland forests on lake shores and river banks
  • Rjmt = inland flooded forests
  • Rjml = inland wooded swamps
  • Rjp = inland shore scrubs
  • Rjl = inland swamp shores
  • Rjn = meadows on lake shores and river banks
  • Rjr = inland reedbeds with Phragmites australis
  • Rjs = inland gravel-, shingle- and boulder shores
  • Rjh = sandy lake shores and river banks
  • Rjt = inland open alluvial shores

The habitats Rim, Rimt, Riml, Rjm, Rjmt and Rjml are used in the case of forest species only if the shore-, flood- or swampeffect is essential for the distribution of the species.

K = Rock outcrops and boulder fields

  • Kk = calcareous rock outcrops and quarries
  • Ks = serpentine rock outcrops
  • Kr = canyons and gorges
  • Kl = caves and crevices
  • Km = siliceous rock outcrops

T = Alpine habitats

  • Tk = alpine heaths
  • Tn = alpine meadows
  • Tu = snowbeds
  • Tp = alpine heath scrubs
  • Tl = alpine rock outcrops and boulder fields
  • Tll = alpine siliceous rock outcrops and boulder fields
  • Tlk = alpine calcareous rock outcrops and boulder fields
  • Tls = alpine serpentine rock outcrops and boulder fields
  • Tlr = alpine gorges and canyons
  • Ts = alpine mires
  • Tlä = alpine spring complexes and seepage areas
  • Tj = alpine ponds and lakes (shores included)
  • Tv = alpine rivers, brooks and streams (shores included)
  • Ta = alpine small ponds (shores included)

I = Rural biotopes and cultural habitats

  • In = seminatural dry meadows
  • It = seminatural mesic meadows
  • Ih = wooded pastures, pollard meadows and grazed woodlands
  • Ik = seminatural moist meadows (excluding shore meadows)
  • Io = ditches etc.
  • Iv = arable land
  • Ip = parks, yards and gardens
  • Iu = open habitats formed and maintained by heavy human influence
  • Ir = buildings and constructions

Additional notations to habitat classification:

  • v = old-growth forests (including sporadic old trees and younger forests with decaying trees)
  • h = esker forests, also semi-open forests
  • p = burnt forest areas and other young stages of natural succession
  • j = broadleaved deciduous trees present
  • pa = sun-exposed
  • va = shady
  • ca = calcareous effect
  • ra = on the shore (aquatic habitat is essential for the distribution of the species)
  • ka = acidic rocks and boulder fields
  • ke = intermediate-basic rock outcrops and boulder fields