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EUNIS habitat classification

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Prod-ID: DAT-137-en
Created 26 May 2014 Published 09 Feb 2018 Last modified 06 Mar 2020
4 min read
The EUNIS habitat classification is a comprehensive pan-European system for habitat identification. The classification is hierarchical and covers all types of habitats from natural to artificial, from terrestrial to freshwater and marine. The habitat types are identified by specific codes, names and descriptions.

European data

EUNIS marine habitat classification review 2019

The review of the marine component of the EUNIS habitat classification was initiated in 2014. Marine benthic habitats, marine pelagic and marine ice associated habitats are separated into three distinct groups, each with a separate classification structure. The first major division in the benthic marine part of the EUNIS classification is based on major biological zones (related to depth) and substrate type. Level 3 reflects the main biogeographical regions of Europe’s seas based on their distinct combinations of salinity and temperature regimes (Arctic, Baltic, Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Sea). From 16 June 2021 the classification was complemented with crosswalks to Habitats Directive Annex I and to European Red List of Habitats. Crosswalks to marine EUNIS habitats of version 2012 need to be revisited.

EUNIS terrestrial habitat classification review 2017

An extensive review of the EUNIS terrestrial habitat classification was initiated in 2012 based on European vegetation plot data. The first groups of the classification to be revised were forest and other wooded land and heathland, scrub and tundra. The review concerns codes, scientific names and descriptions. A new element of the revised classification is that indicator species are identified for level 3 habitat types. The revision of the groups were concluded after a consultation with EIONET and vegetation experts. The review is on-going and more groups will become available as will also crosswalks from revised groups to Habitats Directive Annex I, to European Red List of Habitats and to the EuroVeg CheckList 2016. Links to the detailed methodology are in the Documents tab.

EUNIS habitat classification 2012 - updated 2019 as regards two habitats

The full list of EUNIS habitats 2012: codes, scientific names and revised descriptions. The habitat descriptions of the EUNIS classification 2007 were revised in 2012. The 2007 habitat types were not changed in the 2012 description revision which mostly replaced Palaearctic or UK Marine habitat classification codes used in habitat descriptions at levels 5 and below with their EUNIS classification equivalents. In 2019 the classification was further amended to include two new habitats of the revised Resolution 4 of Bern Convention as adopted at the 38th Standing Committee meeting, November 2018. The two habitats are G3.4G Pinus sylvestris forest on chalk in the steppe zone and X36 Depressions (pody) of the Steppe zone.

Documents

Documents about the EUNIS habitat classification

Reports from the projects leading to the revision of EUNIS habitat classification, including a detailed methodology, are available at https://forum.eionet.europa.eu/nrc-biodiversity/library/eunis_classification/reports. Below are documents and crosswalks for the 2019 marine classification and the 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) version of the classification.

Metadata

information.png Reporting obligations (ROD)
  • Not applicable
Relation:
Derived data set:  EUNIS modular database
Derived data set:  Predicted distribution of habitat suitability for EUNIS habitat types
Derived data set:  Ecosystem types of Europe
Derived data set:  Ecosystem types of Europe
information.png Rights:
EEA standard re-use policy: unless otherwise indicated, re-use of content on the EEA website for commercial or non-commercial purposes is permitted free of charge, provided that the source is acknowledged (https://www.eea.europa.eu/legal/copyright). Copyright holder: European Environment Agency (EEA).
information.png Data sources

Vocabulary: EUNIS habitat classifications

information.png Owners:
European Environment Agency (EEA)
information.png Processors:
European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity (ETC/BD)

Additional information

Cross-walks between the EUNIS habitat classification and other hierarchies (e.g. Habitats Directive Annex I habitat types or Corine land cover classes) are available from the Documents tab.

The EUNIS habitat groups that are revised will be published in parallel to the EUNIS habitat classification 2007. A maximum of 20 indicator species for each of the revised habitats is included in the Excel file. The full lists of indicator species are available from the background reports.

 

The EUNIS habitat classification of 2007 is also available in:

French (translation not by the EEA)

Terrestrial habitats

Marine habitats volume 1 : habitats littoraux

Marine habitats volume 2 : Habitats subtidaux et complexes d’habitats

Italian (translation not by the EEA)

Habitats according to the Eunis nomenclature: manual of classification for the Italian reality

 

Habitat checklists based on the EUNIS habitat classification developed at the national level:

Official checklist for habitats present in Spain

 

Related content

Derived dataset

Data Ecosystem types of Europe The dataset combines the Copernicus land service portfolio and marine bathymetry and seabed information with the non-spatial EUNIS habitat classification for a better biological characterization of ecosystems across Europe. As such it represents probabilities of EUNIS habitat presence for each MAES ecosystem type.
Data
Archived
Ecosystem types of Europe The dataset combines the Corine based MAES ecosystem classes with the non-spatial EUNIS habitat classification for a better biological characterization of ecosystems across Europe. As such it represents probabilities of EUNIS habitat presence for each MAES ecosystem type.
Data Predicted distribution of habitat suitability for EUNIS habitat types The modelled suitability for the EUNIS habitat types is an indication of where conditions are favourable for each habitat type based on verified sample plot data (Braun-Blanquet database) and the Maxent software package. The modelled suitability maps may be used as a proxy for the potential geographical distribution of the habitat types in given environmental and climatic envelopes. Note however that it is not representing the actual distribution of the habitat types. A first set of habitat suitability maps for forest types is available. Over the next years more suitability maps of habitat types will be provided from this page.
Data EUNIS modular database EUNIS modular database brings together European data from several databases and organisations into three interlinked modules on protected sites, species and habitat types.

Produced figures

Related publications

See also

File Annex 4
File Annex 3
File Annex 2
File Annex 1
Figure File
Draft
EUNIS habitat suitability map
Image Flow chart
Page An introduction to habitats The term “habitat” has several meanings. In ecology it means either the area and resources used by a particular species (the habitat of a species) or an assemblage of animals and plants together with their abiotic environment. The focus of this introduction addresses the latter. The most comprehensive hierarchical approach for describing habitats in European ecosystems is the EUNIS habitat classification. EUNIS stands for the European Nature Information System. The definition of habitats used for the EUNIS habitat classification is: “a place where plants or animals normally live, characterized primarily by its physical features (topography, plant or animal physiognomy, soil characteristics, climate, water quality etc.) and secondarily by the species of plants and animals that live there”.
Data File Coordinate reference system (ESRI friendly)
Data File G3-1c
Data File G3-B
Data File G3-A
Data File G3-4c
Data File G2-5
Data File G2-2
Data File G3-6
Link to external data file
Data Table INSPIRE compliant metadata set
Data File G1-9a
Data File G3-2
Data File G3-9a
Data File B1-7
Data File G3-4b
Data File G1-1
Data File G2-1
Data File G3-7
Data File G1-4
Data File G1-3
Data File G1-2
Data File G1-8
Data File G3-9b
Data File G1-A
Data File G2-6
Data File G1-6a
Data File G1-7
Data File G2-4
Data File G3-E
Data File G1-5
Data File G3-1b
Data File G1-6b
Data File G3-4a
Data File G3-1a
Link to external data file INSPIRE compliant metadata set - woodland, forest and other wooded land habitats
Link to external data file INSPIRE compliant metadata set - coastal habitats
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Temporal coverage

For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/eunis-habitat-classification or scan the QR code.

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