Restoring Mediterranean heathlands for declining birds: Initial responses to mosaic cutting and prescribed burning in the Natura 2000 LIFE program

Globally, loss and degradation of open habitats is causing biodiversity loss. Conserving important open habitats and the animal species that rely on them will require management interventions to reduce tree encroachment and to maintain open vegetation. Effectiveness of interventions will depend on knowledge of how species respond to the spatial and temporal configuration of treatments. Here, we assess short-term (5 years) responses of open habitat birds of conservation concern to mosaics of cutting and prescribed burning in a Mediterranean heathland Natura 2000 Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Area (SPA). In the Pratomagno SAC (central Italy), vegetation structural characteristics and open habitat birds were surveyed from pre-treatment (only vegetation) to up to 4 years post-treatment. Birds were monitored each spring along fixed transects (7 reference, 19 treatment). First, we compared post-treatment trajectories of vegetation structure among treatment types. Then, we built non-linear mixed-effects models to assess changes in the abundance of singing individuals of open habitat birds (1) over time in treatment and reference areas; and (2) in response to the extent of treated vegetation within three age categories (<1 year, 1 year and >1 year since treatment). Within 4 years of treatment, shrubby vegetation was regenerating on a trajectory towards that of untreated vegetation and reduced tree height was reduced. Abundance of the Dartford warbler (Natura 2000 target species) and cirl bunting declined significantly over time in control but not reference areas. Total abundance and that of the Dartford warbler, Moltoni's warbler and common stonechat declined significantly in response to the extent of vegetation <1 year since treatment, but not the extent of older age classes. The woodlark (also target species) and cirl bunting showed non-significant positive trends to the extent of vegetation >1 year and <1 year since treatment, respectively. Synthesis and applications. Initial responses of open habitat birds indicate that mechanical cutting and prescribed burning in heathlands can maintain habitat to support open habitat bird species when applied in a mosaic approach. Vegetation treatments that resemble historic disturbance regimes (spatially and temporally staggered small-scale interventions) are recommended to regenerate vegetation, reduce tree encroachment and provide habitat for declining birds. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the journal’s blog.