Study on High Nature Value indicators for evaluations

The High Nature Value (HNV) concept first emerged in 1993 and recognises thecausality between certain types of farming activity and ‘natural values’ (Baldock et al., 1993). Typically, HNV farming systems are low intensity, low input systems, frequently with high structural diversity. In addition, the utilisation of semi natural vegetation by livestock, often in combination with the presence of other semi natural features, is a key characteristic of these systems. These systems and their associated features are beneficial to biodiversity, and support the presence of species and habitats of European, and/or national, and/or regional conservation concern.

Recently, the high nature value concept has been applied to forestry. On account of a combination of structural, compositional and functional characteristics, all natural, and a majority of semi-natural forests, when coupled with an ecologically sympathetic management regime (historical and present), can support high levels of biodiversity and thus can be considered HNV forests.