Assessing the Conservation Status of Alder-Ash Alluvial Forest and Atlantic Salmon in the Natura 2000 River Network of Cantabria, Northern Spain - River Conservation and Management - page 184

main rivers (Doadrio, 2001). The southern river
catchments are also dominated by brown trout
and Adour minnow, but introduced gudgeon
( Gobio gobio ) can also be dominant in some river
reaches.

term, the conservation status assessment needs to
take account of factors that might change or affect
the ecological integrity of habitats and species.
Conservation status assessment, therefore, should
indicate the likelihood of a habitat or species
remaining sufficiently extensive to sustain its long-
term ecological integrity (European Commission,
2006). This principle can be equally applied to the
conservation of species and habitats where they
occur outside the Natura 2000 network of protected
sites.
Our evaluation of conservation status
uses an assessment of habitat and species
characteristics and ecosystem function based
on five groups of measurable attributes:
(i) intrinsic indicators (e.g. endemism); (ii)
specific indicators (e.g. distribution range); (iii)
hydrological

Methods

Conservation status assessment
The methods described in this chapter were
developed as part of a larger project to
write management plans for 'Special Areas
of Conservation' in the Natura 2000 river
network in Cantabria (IH Cantabria, 2010). These
management plans include recommendations for
conservation and restoration actions based on
the evaluation of habitat and species conservation
status. For these actions to be effective in the longer

connectivity; (iv) habitat integrity;

and (v) biological communities (Figure 16.2).

Conservation Status Assessment

Assessment of Habitats/Species
Characteristics

Ecosystem Assessement

Hydrology &
Connectivity

Physical
Habitat
Integrity

Biological
Communities

Intrinsic
Indicators

Specific
Indicators

Hydrological
Regimen (IRC)

Area/
Distribution
Range

Macroinvertebrate
Community (MMI)

Endemicity

Physical
Habitat
Integrity
(ICEF)

Fragility

Longitudinal
Connectivity
(ICFC)

Fish Community
(ICI)

Relictism Structure &

Composition

Priority Habitat

Modification
Score (HMS)

Riparian Quality
(RQI)

Lateral
Connectivity
(END)

Vulnerability

Singularity

Environmental Objectives

Conservation and/or Restoration Measures (Management Plan)

Figure 16.2 Variables used in the assessment of the conservation status of habitats and species within the Natura 2000
river network in Cantabria and how they inform environmental objectives and conservation actions.