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This report ‘Europe´s biodiversity’ from the European Environment Agency (EEA) for the first time describes both the eleven biogeographical regions and the seven regional seas around Europe in comparable chapters (Box 1). The main focus of the chapters is on wild-living species, on the major ecosystems and some selected natural or semi-natural habitat types. The geographical coverage of the report is Europe to the Urals with surrounding regional seas. Because information is not evenly available, not all regions and seas are treated at the same level of detail. The collection of information, writing storylines and editing of this report has been carried during several years. The chapters on the regional seas were published already by 2002 while the biogeographical region chapters have been successively published 2002-20081. Thus the information presented in the different chapters is not equally up to date. In particular the strategies and policies to protect biodiversity is continuously developing as well as the implementation in e.g. the the European Union (which expanded from 15 to 27 member states during recent years). For example the data collection e.g. on areas and species protected according to the EU Habitats and Bird Directives largely refer to the EU-15 states, i.e. relate to the state of 2002 or before.

The Mediterranean biogeographical region and the Mediterranean Sea constitute a frontier zone between Europe, Asia and Africa in terms of climate and species. The climate is warm with hot summers and mild winters. Arid and desert conditions are increasing and water will become more and more scarce. Soils are low in humus, and the erosion risk is great in most areas. The number of indigenous species is still the highest in Europe, the wider Mediterranean area being one of the two hotspots for species in Europe. There is also a high number of endemics as well as wild ancestors to cultivated plants. The cultural influence on nature is the longest in Europe, but rural areas are increasingly being depopulated and abandoned. More than 35 % of the tourists visits in Europe take place in the region, exerting heavy pressure on land and coasts, water and nature resources. Formerly widespread dry grasslands and traditional agro-forestry with dehesa and montados are decreasing, the areas turned to intensive agriculture or abandonned to scrub formation. The intensive agriculture, vegetable growing and the large citrus orchards require intensive irrigation. The region is the olive oil, fruit and nut production region of Europe. Though there is only around 25% forest cover trees are a dominant feature in the landscape (incl. orchards, olive groves etc.). Oaks are important, natural old forests are scarce. Sclerophyllous (evergreen) trees, shrubs and dwarfshrubs are characteristic, many with aromatic oil contents. There are few lakes and bogs, the area covered by mires is reduced. However, some of Europe’s most important wetlands for birds migrating between Europe and Africa are found both in eastern and western parts. Wolf and wildcat have spread, but the Iberian lynx is close to extinction.

Some wild plant resources are severely threatened by habitat loss and species-selective overexploitation. In addition, indigenous knowledge about the uses of wild plant resources is rapidly disappearing from traditional communities. In the context of conservation and sustainable and equitable use of wild plant resources, quantitative ethnobotany can contribute to the scientific base for management decisions. In the past, most ethnobotanical studies have recorded vernacular names and uses of plant species with little emphasis on quantitative studies. In this working paper, a selection of multivariate and statistical methods particularly applicable to the analysis of ethnobotanical field data is presented. The working paper aims at assisting researchers and students to recognize the appropriate method to analyse their data and to develop management recommendations from scientifically sound conclusions. The techniques presented include cluster and principal component analysis, regression analysis, analysis of variance, and log-linear modelling. Multivariate and statistical analysis requires computerized statistics and graphics programs. Basic technical knowledge to use such tools as well as basic understanding of statistical terms are important requirements to get most benefit from this publication.