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In areas where measures M12 and M15 are applied show considerably greater progress than the national average. In areas, where forest-environmental payments are applied show a stable and positive direction ) in bird abundance over longer-term horizon (2010-2018).
In 2018 (when a decline was recording on the national level as well as in areas with RDP implementation) the development of the index can be assessed as a consequence of fluctuation (as in other years).
Agricultural and forest bird species index
Last update of indicator20.12.2023
Indicator definition
The indicator uses an index to assess changes in the abundance of 20 bird species associated with agricultural landscapes and 18 bird species associated with forest landscapes in Slovakia.
Related policy documents and targets
Greener Slovakia – Strategy of the Environmental Policy of the Slovak Republic until 2030 (Envirostrategy 2030) (2019)
Slovakia will prevent the deterioration of protected species and habitats.
The assessment and appropriate completion of protected areas scheme as well as drafting, approval and implementation of documents will provide protection opportunities for all significant species and habitats in the SR.
2.1 Stopping the Loss of Biodiversity
- Conditions will be created for minimising of the negative impacts of anthropogenic activity, including the impact of climate change which are causing a loss of diversity of plant and animal species and a loss of biotopes, and the enforceability of laws related to nature protection will improve.
- The completion of the national part of the Natura 2000 network of protected areas and the systems of internationally important territories with appropriate protection, will further enhance the conditions for the protection of internationally and nationally important species and habitats and they will also increase the contribution of the Slovak Republic to halting the global loss of biodiversity.
- Until 2030, at a minimum, 15% of degraded ecosystems in Slovakia will be regenerated such as those above the timber-line, but especially salt marshes, wetlands, peatlands, alluvial forests that are significantly impacted by human activity.
- The protection of primeval forests and their habitat, as well as an appropriate management of their protection zones will be ensured.
- In cooperation with owners and land managers, via utilization of all available resources, the protection and restoration of forests, meadows and pastures that represent the highest biodiversity ecosystems and the creation of a groforestry systems will be supported.
- State institutions, in collaboration with academic institutions, expert organisations and nongovernmental organisations will regularly update the red lists of endangered species and biotopes and recommend measures for their saving.
- In the area of combating illegal hunting, poisoning, killing of animals, stealing and damaging plants and trafficking in endangered species, the cooperation of the relevant departments and organizations will be strengthened.
- Hunting and other activities will respect the needs of protected species and habitats.
- Hunting of decreasing, vulnerable and migratory species of protected animals will be carried out in accordance with the international obligations of the Slovak Republic.
3.2 Protection and Restoration of Landscape Elements on Agricultural Land
- By 2030, a gradual restoration of landscape elements will take place on agricultural land. Field groves, dense strips of the wooded area, solitary trees and other landscape elements serve both as a corridor, windbreak, anti-erosion measures, and at the same time, as an area with various protected plant species and animal shelters.
4.1 Sustainable Timber Harvesting
- Forest conservation programs will obligatorily contain conditions for the protection of species of animals, plants, fungi and their habitats relating to the protection of wooded land, for each individual part of woodland, where the compliance with the law on protection of nature and countryside is applicable.
The updated National Biodiversity Strategy up to 2020 (2014)
Area A: Nature protection
Objective A.1 To stop the deterioration of the status of all species and habitats, especially those covered by the EU legislation and achieve a significant and measurable improvement in their status.
Area C: Biodiversity Conservation in the state policy of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Area C: Biodiversity Conservation in the state policy of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Objective C.4 By 2020, implement biodiversity promoting measures of the Common Agricultural Policy so as to measurably improve the conservation status of species and habitats.
Objective C.5 Within the implementation of caring for forests programs, to ensure the measurable improvement in the conservation status of those species and habitats that depend on sound forest environment or on which the forestry has a major impact, and ensure measurable improvement in the provision of ecosystem services in line with sustainable forest management compared to the reference scenario of the EU (2010).
Action plan for implementation of measures resulting from the updated National Biodiversity Strategy up to 2020 (2014)
Area A
Objective A.1
Achieving the EU´s objective: up to 2020, to stop the deterioration of the status of all species and habitats, and achieve a significant and measurable improvement in their status so that (compared to the current assessment) by 100% more habitat assessments and by 50% more species assessments under the Habitats Directive would show improvement in the conservation status, and by 50% more species assessment within the Birds Directive would show a secure or improved status.
Achieving the EU´s objective: up to 2020, to stop the deterioration of the status of all species and habitats, and achieve a significant and measurable improvement in their status so that (compared to the current assessment) by 100% more habitat assessments and by 50% more species assessments under the Habitats Directive would show improvement in the conservation status, and by 50% more species assessment within the Birds Directive would show a secure or improved status.
In order to achieve the target for birds, the conservation status of at least 64 species – in particular for those for which protected bird areas are declared – should be improved. Improvements were proposed for example for Black Stork, Great Bustard, Field Hyrax, Western Capercaillie, birds of prey and wetland habitat species.
Measure A.1.1 Consistently implement the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive, adopted resolutions and decisions of international conventions, organizations and programs and improved national legislation in order to strengthen the protection of species and habitats and also link the network of protected areas on a scientific basis
Proposed tasks:
3. To monitor the species and habitats of European importance
4. To ensure the development and update of red lists of endangered species of Slovakia and selected regions
8. To improve nesting possibilities of selected and also other bird species in the Special protection areas (SPAs) and in urban habitats, and ensure the mapping and protection of feeding habitats of criteria species of birds in SPA
9. To eliminate the death of birds on power lines and bats and birds when insulating buildings.
Area C
Objective C.4
Measure C.4.3 Identify species and habitats dependent of specific farming methods and develop and implement specific measures with the support of European Funds to improve their conservation status.
Proposed tasks:
107. Implement the Rural Development Program (RDP) scheme „conservation of permanent grassland habitats“, „European Ground Squirrel conservation“ and „Great Bustard conservation“ within „agri-environment-climate measure“.
Key question
What is the development in the abundance of agricultural and forest bird species?Key messages
-
The abundance of birds of agricultural landscapes in Slovakia is decreasing (compared to 2005 by 29.2 p.p.).
-
Most open country species have a long-term declining trend in abundance and also very small populations at the same time.
-
The species bound to the lowland areas of the agrarian country are the most endangered.
-
The abundance of selected forest landscape bird species has also decreased since 2005, by 11.4 p.p., but their long-term trend is not gradual, but rather fluctuating.
-
In the medium term (since 2015), a 20.9 p.p. decrease in the number of birds of agricultural land was recorded, while an increase of about 6 p.p. was recorded in the case of forest species.
-
In most cases, agricultural intensification has been identified as the main cause of population changes in field birds.
| Change since 2005 | Change since 2015 | Last year-on-year change |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
| In the evaluated period of 2005 – 2021, there is a decrease in the abundance of birds in agricultural and forest landscapes. | In the medium term, the abundance of birds in the agricultural landscape continues to decrease, but in the case of forest species, after a fluctuating trend, a slight increase can be observed. | Year-on-year, the abundance of birds in the agricultural landscape decreased and the number of birds in the forest landscape increased. |
Summary assessment
Detailed assessment
Birds are important components of ecosystem conservation. The existence and abundance of birds is directly linked to habitat biodiversity, being one of its most important components. Birds react very sensitively to the changes in landscape use and indicates the overall state of biodiversity. Being the top ranks of the food pyramid, birds are considered to be a bioindicator to assess change in biodiversity on at both European and national levels.
Farming in Europe has undergone profound changes both in the use of agricultural and forest landscapes. In much of Europe, this has meant an intensification of farming, which in resulted in greater pressures on nature. This pressure was reflected in overall biodiversity, inthe changes in the abundance of birds, especially in non-forest landscapes.
Farming in Europe has undergone profound changes both in the use of agricultural and forest landscapes. In much of Europe, this has meant an intensification of farming, which in resulted in greater pressures on nature. This pressure was reflected in overall biodiversity, inthe changes in the abundance of birds, especially in non-forest landscapes.
Farmland birds
The common agricultural policy of the EU caused a dramatic decline in the abundance of farmland bird species. The abundance of skylarks has decreased by 49% and the abundance of Crested Lark has decreased by 98% since the beginning of the 1980s. This decline has not been stopped yet, and even the most recent bird monitoring data at a pan-European level point to the continuing decline of common bird species (Inger et al. 2015).
Several species bound to the agricultural landscape (e.g. Emberiza hortulana, Lanius senator, Monticola saxatilis, Limosa limosa, Numenius arquata) have become completely extinct.
On the brink of extinction in Slovakia are Coracias garrulus, Falco vespertinus and Otis tarda. And some common species, such as Perdix perdix, have declined sharply (its abundance in Slovakia has dropped by 99%).
The pan-European population index of common field birds (Farmland Bird Index) decreased by almost 60 p.p. between 1980 and 2019. Among all bird species in agricultural land, ground-nesting species, particularly those that feed primarily on insects, have experienced the greatest population decline.
Since 2005, the abundance of certain farmland bird species on national level has declined by 29.2 p.p.
Since 2005, the abundance of certain farmland bird species on national level has declined by 29.2 p.p.
Although there was a slight increase in the abundance in the first years of monitoring, since 2010 we have observed a continuous decrease in the abundance of farmland birds. Systematic monitoring, however, captures a relatively short period of time, and if we take into account the trends in the abundance of farmland birds in the surrounding countries, where monitoring has been ongoing for a long time, it can be assumed that declines in abundance occurred even in our country before 2005.
Of the 20 species included in the index, 2 species had a strong decrease in abundance (Locustella naevia and Saxicola rubetra), 5 species had a moderate decrease in abundance (Emberiza calandra, Streptopelia turtur, Chloris chloris, Serinus serinus and Sylvia communis). Eight species had an evaluated stable abundance trend (Saxicola rubicola, Hirundo rustica, Alauda arvensis, Lanius collurio, Emberiza citrinella, Passer montanus, Carduelis carduelis and Sturnus vulgaris), the remaining 5 species had an uncertain trend (Vanellus vanellus, Motacilla flava, Curruca nisoria, Falco tinnunculus and Linaria cannabina).
Trends in the abundance of farmland birds (FBI) at the national and European level expressed by abundance index
|
Year
|
Europe FBI
(index 1980=100)
|
Europe FBI
(n=39)
(index 2005=100)
|
Slovakia FBI
(n=20)
(index 2005=100)
|
|
1980
|
100
|
201.8163
|
|
|
1981
|
95.8
|
193.3401
|
|
|
1982
|
91.48
|
184.6216
|
|
|
1983
|
87.24
|
176.0646
|
|
|
1984
|
83.21
|
167.9314
|
|
|
1985
|
79.53
|
160.5045
|
|
|
1986
|
76.31
|
154.0061
|
|
|
1987
|
73.3
|
147.9314
|
|
|
1988
|
70.31
|
141.8971
|
|
|
1989
|
67.46
|
136.1453
|
|
|
1990
|
64.84
|
130.8577
|
|
|
1991
|
62.51
|
126.1554
|
|
|
1992
|
60.57
|
122.2402
|
|
|
1993
|
59.06
|
119.1927
|
|
|
1994
|
57.91
|
116.8718
|
|
|
1995
|
57.01
|
115.0555
|
|
|
1996
|
56.27
|
113.5621
|
|
|
1997
|
55.59
|
112.1897
|
|
|
1998
|
54.87
|
110.7366
|
|
|
1999
|
54.04
|
109.0616
|
|
|
2000
|
53.16
|
107.2856
|
|
|
2001
|
52.37
|
105.6912
|
|
|
2002
|
51.62
|
104.1776
|
|
|
2003
|
50.92
|
102.7649
|
|
|
2004
|
50.23
|
101.3724
|
|
|
2005
|
49.55
|
100
|
100
|
|
2006
|
48.85
|
98.58729
|
108.6527
|
|
2007
|
48.16
|
97.19475
|
114.9681
|
|
2008
|
47.49
|
95.84258
|
113.8367
|
|
2009
|
46.84
|
94.53078
|
116.0508
|
|
2010
|
46.21
|
93.25933
|
99.16263
|
|
2011
|
45.61
|
92.04844
|
97.92695
|
|
2012
|
45.01
|
90.83754
|
98.97496
|
|
2013
|
44.43
|
89.667
|
89.27806
|
|
2014
|
43.87
|
88.53683
|
93.6337
|
|
2015
|
43.31
|
87.40666
|
91.72672
|
|
2016
|
42.78
|
86.33703
|
92.77016
|
|
2017
|
42.25
|
85.26741
|
90.54462
|
|
2018
|
41.74
|
84.23814
|
80.89872
|
|
2019
|
41.25
|
83.24924
|
82.29705
|
|
2020
|
|
|
85.28374
|
|
2021
|
|
|
70.82697
|
Source: SOS Birdlife
Note: FBI – Farmland bird index
Index of variability in the abundance of farmland bird species explains the changes in the biodiversity of agricultural landscapes from a broader perspective, given the changes in the abundance of individual species are very diverse.
Comparison of development in areas, where agri-environmental payments are applied
(available until 2018)
Trend in the index of variation in the abundance of farmland bird species, including areas with applied agro-environmental schemes
Source: SOS/BirdLife Slovakia
Note:
black line – total in the Slovak Republic
yellow line – areas where agri-environmental payments are applied
Source: SOS/BirdLife Slovakia
Note:
black line – total in the Slovak Republic
yellow line – areas where agri-environmental payments are applied
The evaluation of changes in the abundance of common and rare bird species in Slovakia in relation to the measures of the RDP of Slovakia 2014-2020 (SOS / Birdlife, 2019) shows that the overall situation on areas with applied agri-environmental payments was slightly better than at national level. This is demonstrated through a rather positive classification trends for certain species (for example for Yellowhammer) and increasing trends for two other species, while there were no increases on national level.
However, the overall situation on areas, where agri-environmental payments are applied is not ideal. 10 species are declining in abundance, while 8 species are increasing. Therefore, the negative trends prevail even in these areas (as a consequence of inadequate implementation of agri-environmental measures for nesting birds). On the other hand, the said decline has been moderate and in some species no decline was recorded, which may be a consequences of a generally more environmentally friendly approach to biodiversity conservation in areas, where agri-environmental payments are applied. When compared their status with the year 2005, the abundance of birds declined by 4 %.
In 2009, the abundance of bird species at the national level was 19% higher than in 2005 and in areas where agri-environmental payments were applied the abundance was 73% higher. Since 2009, however, the abundance in areas with agri-environmental measures applied has declined more significantly, than at the national level. In 2015, the variability in the abundance since 2005 was similar both at the national level and in areas with applied agri-environmental payments.
In 2009, the abundance of bird species at the national level was 19% higher than in 2005 and in areas where agri-environmental payments were applied the abundance was 73% higher. Since 2009, however, the abundance in areas with agri-environmental measures applied has declined more significantly, than at the national level. In 2015, the variability in the abundance since 2005 was similar both at the national level and in areas with applied agri-environmental payments.
Such a negative development is linked with a lack of schemes in agri-environmental payments, that would directly target farmland bird species. The existing schemes don´t consider the needs of farmland bird species adequately.
The evaluation of abundance trends for individual species highlights more positive trends for species in areas, where agri-environmental payments are applied. For several species, the trend in areas where agri-environmental payments are applied showed more positive results in comparison with the national level (European Goldfinch, Yellowhammer, and Common Whitethroat). These species benefited from a biodiversity conservation sensitive management in areas, where agri-environmental payments were applied.
Nevertheless, this was not enough to prevent a decline in the overall index of farmland bird species in areas where agri-environmental payments are applied since 2009. The reason behind this is:
- A negative trend in long-term migrant bird species – in species that winter in sub-Saharan Africa (illegal hunting and habitat changes on wintering sites and migration routes), as well as
- Negative trends in species, whose needs where not adequately taken into account within agro-environmental payments
Forest bird species
Trends in abundance of forest bird species at the national and European level expressed by abundance index
|
Rok
|
EU Forest Bird Index
(index 1980=100)
|
EU Forest Bird Index (n=34)
(index 2005=100)
|
SK Forest Bird Index (n=18)
(index 2005=100)
|
|
1980
|
100
|
112.0574
|
|
|
1981
|
100.05
|
112.1134
|
|
|
1982
|
100.01
|
112.0686
|
|
|
1983
|
99.88
|
111.9229
|
|
|
1984
|
99.69
|
111.7100
|
|
|
1985
|
99.47
|
111.4635
|
|
|
1986
|
99.23
|
111.1945
|
|
|
1987
|
98.95
|
110.8808
|
|
|
1988
|
98.58
|
110.4662
|
|
|
1989
|
98.16
|
109.9955
|
|
|
1990
|
97.71
|
109.4913
|
|
|
1991
|
97.24
|
108.9646
|
|
|
1992
|
96.78
|
108.4491
|
|
|
1993
|
96.30
|
107.9113
|
|
|
1994
|
95.74
|
107.2837
|
|
|
1995
|
95.15
|
106.6226
|
|
|
1996
|
94.54
|
105.9390
|
|
|
1997
|
93.93
|
105.2555
|
|
|
1998
|
93.34
|
104.5944
|
|
|
1999
|
92.79
|
103.9780
|
|
|
2000
|
92.22
|
103.3393
|
|
|
2001
|
91.57
|
102.6109
|
|
|
2002
|
90.88
|
101.8377
|
|
|
2003
|
90.24
|
101.1206
|
|
|
2004
|
89.67
|
100.4818
|
|
|
2005
|
89.24
|
100
|
100
|
|
2006
|
89.01
|
99.74227
|
83.37409
|
|
2007
|
88.91
|
99.63021
|
90.47903
|
|
2008
|
88.84
|
99.55177
|
102.7124
|
|
2009
|
88.84
|
99.55177
|
86.23429
|
|
2010
|
88.91
|
99.63021
|
92.87898
|
|
2011
|
89.05
|
99.78709
|
89.57373
|
|
2012
|
89.27
|
100.0336
|
74.74746
|
|
2013
|
89.58
|
100.3810
|
69.68374
|
|
2014
|
89.99
|
100.8404
|
84.71061
|
|
2015
|
90.47
|
101.3783
|
82.67665
|
|
2016
|
91.06
|
102.0394
|
100.27200
|
|
2017
|
91.71
|
102.7678
|
93.37778
|
|
2018
|
92.46
|
103.6082
|
69.14075
|
|
2019
|
93.28
|
104.5271
|
71.17419
|
|
2020
|
|
|
84.58628
|
|
2021
|
|
|
88.63923
|
Source: SOS Birdlife
Assessment of the status and trend of birds bound to forest ecosystems in 2005-2015
- In the years 2005-2015, as part of the monitoring of trends in common bird species, 117-160 bird species (8,530-18,597 individuals) were recorded in Slovakia. However, due to insufficient data for some species, trends were evaluated for only 102 of them.
- Of the 27 evaluated species, a demonstrable trend was found in 12 species at the national level.
- A stable trend was found in Coccothraustes coccothraustes, Dendrocopos major, Parus ater and Phylloscopus collybita.
- A slight decrease was detected in Anthus trivialis, Ficedula albicollis,Garrulus glandarius, Phylloscopus sibilatrix and Pyrrhula pyrrhula.
- Strong decline in Nucifraga caryocatactes.
- A slight increase was found in Certhia familiaris and Sitta europaea.
- For the other species, the trend was classified as uncertain, with 10 of these species showing a decreasing trend in abundance and 5 showing an increasing trend. Overall, after evaluating the index of changes in the abundance of forest bird species, the abundance shows a decreasing tendency. Compared to 2005, the abundance of all species included in the index of forest species decreased by more than 20%.
- The overall decrease in their abundance can be primarily traced to the decay of mountain spruce trees and the subsequent logging of calamities and windbreaks in previous years, which caused the decay of the forest on some monitored transects (for example, on Orava or in Stolické vrchy).
Comparison of development in areas supporting the forest-environment (RDP implementation in the Slovak Republic)
(available until 2018)
Based on the obtained data and subsequent analyzes (Ridzoň, J., 2019), it is clear that the index of changes in the abundance of bird species is significantly positive in the territories with the implementation of Rural Development Programme of the SR (RDP SR) measures (M12 and M15) compared to the Slovak average.
Trend in the index of variation in the abundance of forest bird species on a national level, including areas with the support of forest-environmental payments (implementation of RDP SR)
Source: SOS/BirdLife Slovakia
Note: orange line – total in the Slovak Republic
blue line – areas where forest-environmental payments are applied
Source: SOS/BirdLife Slovakia
Note: orange line – total in the Slovak Republic
blue line – areas where forest-environmental payments are applied
The abundance of forest species is moderately increasing in areas where the RDP measures are applied (the year 2018 is specific, similarly on the national level). A positive trend for bird population in areas supporting the forest-environment is recorded for the majority of individual monitored forest bird species. 11 out of 18 monitored species show positive trends in abundance (61% of the monitored species).
In areas where measures M12 and M15 are applied show considerably greater progress than the national average. In areas, where forest-environmental payments are applied show a stable and positive direction ) in bird abundance over longer-term horizon (2010-2018).
In 2018 (when a decline was recording on the national level as well as in areas with RDP implementation) the development of the index can be assessed as a consequence of fluctuation (as in other years).
