{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,26]],"date-time":"2025-10-26T15:05:14Z","timestamp":1761491114887,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":59,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,11,2]],"date-time":"2020-11-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1604275200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Forests"],"abstract":"<jats:p>National Forest Inventories (NFIs) collect and provide a large amount of information regarding the forest volume, carbon stocks, vitality, biodiversity, non-wood forest products and their changes. Forest stands variables data are paramount to understanding their composition, especially on those related with understory characteristics and the coverage of species according to canopy layers; they are essential to assess biodiversity and to support forest management. At the same time, these inventories allow the development of harmonized forest descriptions beyond the national scale. This study aims to develop a homogeneous characterization of the Iberian Peninsula\u2019s forests, in order to classify and identify the forest types. For this purpose, harmonized data from NFIs of Portugal and Spain were used to assess the composition of species, dominance and the percentage of cover for each species in a vertical space defined by seven canopy layers. Using the \u201cK-means\u201d clustering algorithm, a set of clusters was identified and georeferenced using forest polygons from land use and cover maps of both countries. The interpretation and description of the clusters lead to the establishment of 28 forest types that characterize all of the Iberian Peninsula forests. Each forest area has been described through one of the forest types and their relation with other ecological characteristics of the stands was analyzed. Shrubs formations are generally widely distributed in the forest area of the Iberian Peninsula, however their abundance in terms of cover is lower in comparison with tree species. Around 71% of the forest types are dominated by trees, mainly species from the genera Pinus and Quercus, and 21% are dominated by shrub formations with species of Ulex spp., Cytisus spp., and Cistus spp. The Quercus ilex s.l. L. and Pinus pinaster Aiton are the common species of importance for both NFIs. The results represent a powerful and homogenous multi-use tool describing the Iberian Peninsula\u2019s forestlands with applications on landscape analysis, forest management and conservation. This information can be used for comparisons at larger scales, allowing cross-border analysis in relation to various aspects, such as hazards and wildfires, as well as management and conservation of forest biodiversity. The developed method is adaptable to an updated dataset from more recent NFIs and to other study areas.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/f11111170","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,11,2]],"date-time":"2020-11-02T09:04:46Z","timestamp":1604307886000},"page":"1170","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":13,"title":["Harmonized Classification of Forest Types in the Iberian Peninsula Based on National Forest Inventories"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2617-0468","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Le\u00f3nia","family":"Nunes","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Applied Ecology \u201cProfessor Baeta Neves\u201d (CEABN), InBIO, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal"},{"name":"CITAB, Centre of the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Science, University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Qta. de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Mauro","family":"Moreno","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 100-80055 Naples, Italy"}]},{"given":"Iciar","family":"Alberdi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"INIA-CIFOR, Departamento Selvicultura y Gesti\u00f3n de los Sistemas Forestales, Ctra. La Coru\u00f1a km. 7.5, 28040 Madrid, Spain"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5206-9128","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Juan Gabriel","family":"\u00c1lvarez-Gonz\u00e1lez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento de Ingenier\u00eda Agroforestal, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain"}]},{"given":"Paulo","family":"Godinho-Ferreira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Applied Ecology \u201cProfessor Baeta Neves\u201d (CEABN), InBIO, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal"},{"name":"Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 100-80055 Naples, Italy"}]},{"given":"Stefano","family":"Mazzoleni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 100-80055 Naples, Italy"}]},{"given":"Francisco","family":"Castro Rego","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Applied Ecology \u201cProfessor Baeta Neves\u201d (CEABN), InBIO, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,11,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Tomppo, E., Gschwantner, T., Lawrence, M., and McRoberts, R.E. (2010). National Forest Inventories: Pathways for Common Reporting, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-90-481-3233-1"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"265","DOI":"10.1007\/s10342-018-1110-7","article-title":"Mean species cover: A harmonized indicator of shrub cover for forest inventories","volume":"137","author":"Alberdi","year":"2018","journal-title":"Eur. J. For. Res."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.1016\/j.forpol.2016.05.014","article-title":"Towards harmonized assessment of European forest availability for wood supply in Europe","volume":"70","author":"Alberdi","year":"2016","journal-title":"For. Policy Econ."},{"key":"ref_4","first-page":"189","article-title":"Harmonizing national forest inventories","volume":"58","author":"McRoberts","year":"2012","journal-title":"For. Sci."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Vidal, C., Alberdi, I., Hern\u00e1ndez, L., and Redmond, J.J. (2016). National Forest Inventories: Assessment of Wood Availability and Use, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-44015-6"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"793","DOI":"10.1007\/s13595-016-0545-6","article-title":"The role of European National Forest Inventories for international forestry reporting","volume":"73","author":"Vidal","year":"2016","journal-title":"Ann. For. Sci."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"27","DOI":"10.1007\/s13595-019-0811-5","article-title":"Analysis of the occurrence of wildfires in the Iberian Peninsula based on harmonised data from national forest inventories","volume":"76","author":"Nunes","year":"2019","journal-title":"Ann. For. Sci."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"361","DOI":"10.4336\/2017.pfb.37.91.1337","article-title":"The Spanish National Forest Inventory: History, development, challenges and perspectives","volume":"37","author":"Alberdi","year":"2017","journal-title":"Pesqui. Florest. Bras."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"24","DOI":"10.1007\/s13595-019-0800-8","article-title":"Harmonisation of stem volume estimates in European National Forest Inventories","volume":"76","author":"Gschwantner","year":"2019","journal-title":"Ann. For. Sci."},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"Rivas-Mart\u00ednez, S., Rivas-S\u00e1enz, S., Capelo, J., del R\u00edo, S., Mesquita, S., and Penas, A. (2020, July 12). Computerized Bioclimatic Maps of the World: Bioclimates of the Iberian Peninsula. Available online: https:\/\/www.globalbioclimatics.org\/cbm\/static\/spain\/PIberica_Bioclimates_gb.png."},{"key":"ref_11","unstructured":"ICNF (2017). 10o Relat\u00f3rio Provis\u00f3rio de Inc\u00eaNdios Florestais\u20142017: 01 de Janeiro a 31 de Outubro."},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"(2017, December 31). MAPAMA Estad\u00edstica General de Incendios Forestales; Ministerio de Agricultura y Pesca, Alimentaci\u00f3n y Medio Ambiente, Available online: http:\/\/www.mapama.gob.es\/es\/desarrollo-rural\/estadisticas\/avanceinformativo1eneroa31dediciembrede2017_tcm7-358485.pdf."},{"key":"ref_13","unstructured":"(2019, July 30). EEA Biogeographical Regions. Available online: https:\/\/www.eea.europa.eu\/data-and-maps\/data\/biogeographical-regions-europe-3."},{"key":"ref_14","unstructured":"Costa, M., Morla, C., and Sainz, H. (1997). Los Bosques Ib\u00e9ricos\u2014Una Interpretaci\u00f3n Geobot\u00e1nica, Planeta."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-54784-8_1","article-title":"Introduction to the Iberian Peninsula, general features: Geography, geology, name, brief history, land use and conservation","volume":"Volume 12","author":"Loidi","year":"2017","journal-title":"The Vegetation of the Iberian Peninsula. Plant and Vegetation"},{"key":"ref_16","unstructured":"Forest Europe (2015). State of Europe\u2019s Forests 2015, Forest Europe, Liaison Unit."},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"FAO Terms and Definitions (2015). Forest Resources Assessment Working Paper 180, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"557","DOI":"10.1071\/WF05096","article-title":"Influence of topography and forest structure on patterns of mixed severity fire in ponderosa pine forests of the South Dakota Black Hills, USA","volume":"15","author":"Lentile","year":"2006","journal-title":"Int. J. Wildland Fire"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"415","DOI":"10.1051\/forest\/2009013","article-title":"Combining forest structure data and fuel modelling to classify fire hazard in Portugal","volume":"66","author":"Fernandes","year":"2009","journal-title":"Ann. For. Sci."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"282","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foreco.2011.01.039","article-title":"Patterns of fuel types and crown fire potential in Pinus halepensis forests in the Western Mediterranean Basin","volume":"270","author":"Alvarez","year":"2012","journal-title":"For. Ecol. Manag."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"363","DOI":"10.1007\/s10342-012-0680-z","article-title":"Canopy fuel characteristics in relation to crown fire potential in pine stands: Analysis, modelling and classification","volume":"132","author":"Alberdi","year":"2013","journal-title":"Eur. J. For. Res."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1029\/2009JG000993","article-title":"Importance of structure and its measurement in quantifying function of forest ecosystems","volume":"115","author":"Shugart","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys."},{"key":"ref_23","first-page":"213","article-title":"Using terrestrial laser scanning to measure forest inventory parameters in a Mediterranean Coniferous Stand of western Greece","volume":"85","author":"Ghimire","year":"2017","journal-title":"PFG J. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Geoinfor. Sci."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"421","DOI":"10.1890\/1540-9295(2005)003[0421:UVAAFE]2.0.CO;2","article-title":"Understory vegetation as a forest ecosystem driver: Evidence from the northern Swedish boreal forest","volume":"3","author":"Nilsson","year":"2005","journal-title":"Front. Ecol. Environ."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"414","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1526-100X.2008.00401.x","article-title":"Vegetation management for promoting ecosystem resilience in fire-prone mediterranean Shrublands","volume":"17","author":"Dema","year":"2009","journal-title":"Restor. Ecol."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kangas, A., R\u00e4ty, M., Korhonen, K.T., Vauhkonen, J., and Packalen, T. (2019). Catering information needs from global to local scales\u2014potential and challenges with National Forest Inventories. Forests, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/f10090800"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.3832\/ifor1133-007","article-title":"Comparing multisource harmonized forest types mapping: A case study from central Italy","volume":"8","author":"Vizzarri","year":"2015","journal-title":"iForest- Biogeosci. For."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"145","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foreco.2013.07.004","article-title":"European forest types and forest Europe SFM indicators: Tools for monitoring progress on forest biodiversity conservation","volume":"321","author":"Barbati","year":"2014","journal-title":"For. Ecol. Manag."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chirici, G., Winter, S., and McRoberts, R. (2011). Harmonization tests. National Forest Inventories: Contributions to Forest Biodiversity Assessments. Managing Forest Ecosystems, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-94-007-0482-4"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"247","DOI":"10.14214\/sf.255","article-title":"Establishing forest inventory reference definitions for forest and growing stock: A study towards common reporting","volume":"42","author":"Vidal","year":"2008","journal-title":"Silva Fenn."},{"key":"ref_31","unstructured":"Instituto da Conserva\u00e7\u00e3o da Natureza e das Florestas (2016). 6\u00ba Invent\u00e1rio Florestal Nacional. Relat\u00f3rio Final."},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"IEPNB (2016). Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management in Spanish Forests."},{"key":"ref_33","unstructured":"Castroviejo, S., Aedo, C., Cirujano, S., La\u00ednz, M., Montserrat, P., Morales, R., Mu\u00f1oz Garmendia, F., Navarro, C., Paiva, J., and Soriano, C. (2015). 1986\u20132015. Flora iberica 1\u20139, 10\u201316(1), 17\u201318, 20\u201321, Real Jard\u00edn Bot\u00e1nico CSIC."},{"key":"ref_34","unstructured":"AFN (2009). Instru\u00e7\u00f5es Para o Trabalho de Campo do Invent\u00e1rio Florestal Nacional\u2014IFN 2005\/2006."},{"key":"ref_35","unstructured":"MAPAMA 2007 (2017). Mapa Forestal de Espa\u00f1a. Escala 1:25.000 (MFE25)."},{"key":"ref_36","unstructured":"DGF (1999). Manual de Instru\u00e7\u00f5es para o Trabalho de Campo do Invent\u00e1rio Florestal Nacional."},{"key":"ref_37","unstructured":"DGT (2007). Carta de Uso e Ocupa\u00e7\u00e3o de Solo de Portugal Continental\u20142007."},{"key":"ref_38","unstructured":"ESRI (1998). ESRI Shapefile Technical Description. An ESRI White Paper, Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc."},{"key":"ref_39","first-page":"462","article-title":"European Forest Types. Categories and types for sustainable forest management reporting and policy","volume":"3","author":"Portoghesi","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. Silvic. For. Ecol."},{"key":"ref_40","unstructured":"San-Miguel-Ayanz, J., de Rigo, D., Caudullo, G., Houston, D.T., and Mauri, A. (2016). European Atlas of Forest Tree Species, Publication Office of the European Union."},{"key":"ref_41","first-page":"5","article-title":"Syntaxonomical checklist of vascular plan communities of Spain and Portugal to association level","volume":"14","author":"Rivas","year":"2001","journal-title":"Itinera Geobot."},{"key":"ref_42","unstructured":"EC European Commission (2019, August 28). COM2013. 659 Final. A New EU Forest Strategy: For Forests and the Forest-Based Sector. Available online: https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/resource.html?uri=cellar:21b27c38-21fb-11e3-8d1c-01aa75ed71a1.0022.01\/DOC_1&format=PDF."},{"key":"ref_43","unstructured":"Watt, A. (2017, May 29). Biodivertisy Assessment. Final Report of the Bioassess Project. Available online: http:\/\/www.isa.ulisboa.pt\/ceabn\/uploads\/docs\/projectos\/bioassess\/Final_Reportbioassess.pdf."},{"key":"ref_44","first-page":"41","article-title":"Prospects for harmonized biodiversity assessments using National Forest Inventory data","volume":"Volume 20","author":"McRoberts","year":"2010","journal-title":"The Management of Industrial Forest Plantations"},{"key":"ref_45","first-page":"1","article-title":"Carta da tipologia florestal de Portugal continental","volume":"13","author":"Azevedo","year":"2005","journal-title":"Silva Lusit."},{"key":"ref_46","unstructured":"Marchetti, M. (2004). Combination of structural and compositional factors for describing forest types using national forest inventory data. EFI No. 51: Monitoring and Indicators of Forest Biodiversity in Europe \u2013 From Ideas to Operationality, European Forest Institute."},{"key":"ref_47","unstructured":"(2000). MCPFE Work Programme on the Follow-up of the Third Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, Liaison Unit."},{"key":"ref_48","unstructured":"Vasilijevi\u0107, M., and Pezold, T. (2011). Crossing Borders for Nature. European Examples of Transboundary Conservation, IUCN Programme Office for South-Eastern Europe."},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"216","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biocon.2016.06.015","article-title":"Gaps in ecological research on the world\u2019s largest internationally coordinated network of protected areas: A review of Natura 2000","volume":"200","author":"Orlikowska","year":"2016","journal-title":"Biol. Conserv."},{"key":"ref_50","unstructured":"AFN (2010). Invent\u00e1rio Florestal Nacional, Portugal Continental\u2014IFN5 2005-2006. Relat\u00f3rio Final."},{"key":"ref_51","unstructured":"MAPAMA (2007). Mapa Forestal de Espa\u00f1a a escala 1:50.000 (MFE50)."},{"key":"ref_52","first-page":"486","article-title":"Interactions of elevation, aspect, and slope in models of forest species composition and productivity","volume":"53","author":"Stage","year":"2007","journal-title":"For. Sci."},{"key":"ref_53","unstructured":"Aronson, J., Pereira, J.S., and Pausas, J.G. (2012). Cork Oak Woodlands on the Edge: Ecology, Adaptive Management, and Restoration. The Science and Pratice of Ecological Restoration Series, Island Press."},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Malizia, A., Blundo, C., Carilla, J., Acosta, O.O., Cuesta, F., Duque, A., Aguirre, N., Aguirre, Z., Ataroff, M., and Baez, S. (2020). Elevation and latitude drives structure and tree species composition in Andean forests: Results from a large-scale plot network. PLoS ONE, 15.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0231553"},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"169","DOI":"10.1051\/forest:2005109","article-title":"A fire probability model for forest stands in Catalonia (north-east Spain)","volume":"63","author":"Trasobares","year":"2006","journal-title":"Ann. For. Sci."},{"key":"ref_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"79","DOI":"10.1071\/WF03005","article-title":"Fuel characteristics and fire behaviour in mature Mediterranean gorse shrublands","volume":"13","author":"Baeza","year":"2004","journal-title":"Int. J. Wildland Fire"},{"key":"ref_57","unstructured":"CEABN (2013). Fireland. Efeitos do Fogo Sobre a Din\u00e2mica da Vegeta\u00e7\u00e3o \u00e0 Escala da Paisagem em Portugal, CEABN."},{"key":"ref_58","unstructured":"(2017, June 19). MAPAMA Los Incendios Forestales en Espa\u00f1a. Decenio 2001\u20132010; Ministerio de Agricultura y Pesca, Alimentaci\u00f3n y Medio Ambiente, Available online: http:\/\/www.mapama.gob.es\/es\/desarrollo-rural\/estadisticas\/incendiosforestales2001-2010finalmod1_tcm7-349255.pdf."},{"key":"ref_59","unstructured":"Instituto Nacional para la Conservaci\u00f3n de la Naturaleza (Espa\u00f1a) (1990). Segundo Inventario Forestal Nacional, 1986\u20131995. Explicaciones y M\u00e9todos, ICONA."}],"container-title":["Forests"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1999-4907\/11\/11\/1170\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T10:28:11Z","timestamp":1760178491000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1999-4907\/11\/11\/1170"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,11,2]]},"references-count":59,"journal-issue":{"issue":"11","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,11]]}},"alternative-id":["f11111170"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/f11111170","relation":{},"ISSN":["1999-4907"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"1999-4907"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2020,11,2]]}}}