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Short introduction to the method The Last Chance method is describes and biologically founded in the Last Chance-report 2002-11: “The Last Chance Method: A systematic review of the principles and scientific grounds”, 151 p.
The last chance method and the method utilized in the Swedish woodland key habitat inventory shear many basic principles.
The method is a management tool for mapping and preserving forest biodiversity. The purpose of the method is to obtain a scientific ground for securing the biodiversity. The scientific ground is obtained by collecting information on biodiversity values, delineation and documentation of areas with high conservation value. The method is developed for forest habitat, but is easy adapted to other habitats such as alpine land, mires, agricultural landscapes and coastal habitats.
The method is based on scientific publications and on relevant professional experiences. The use of scientific results to develop a practical registration method and suggesting managing advices implies several strategic choices.
To obtain more information about the method principles, see the method-report (only in Norwegian).
Principles of the registration method
All together there are 17 method-principles: 6 strategic, 4 biological and
7 management principles:
Strategic principles
- Responsibility and transparency in all parts of the process
- The precautionary principle should be taken into account when dealing with all activities that alter the conditions for biological diversity.
- Biological competence is necessary during the whole process of setting up a management plan for biodiversity
- Professional discretion is necessary
- Management suggestions should be worked out during field-work
- Dynamic method
- Pristine forest as a pattern. There should be taken measures to mimic the dynamics (elements, structures) of pristine forests in managed stands.
- Changed conditions for the species diversity
- Continuity
- Signal species, red listed species and other special species fullfill the registration information of key-elements
- The management model: The forest area are classified into three management categories: a) Key habitats, b) Areas of extended environmental measures, and c) Areas of economic priorities
- Functional delineation of key habitats
- Restoration
- Areas of extended environmental measures are important for area demanding species
- Transparent and testable evaluation of areas with the use of professional discretion
- Explicit objects clause and management options should be set for all areas
- Complementary key habitats should be chosen
The Last Chance method was gradually drawn up by the Last Chance Foundation in the period 1992-2002. The method has been gradually improved by implementing professional experiences from the users of the method. Further the method has improved by including scientific results and taking advance from publications from the equivalent Swedish method. All the contributors to the method-development have a biological degree either on a master or a Dr. philos level.
A dynamic method
Ecological science is developing fast, but our knowledge is nonetheless still very limited. To days version of the method is therefore not “the ultimate version”. The last chance method offers a useful tool box to safeguard forest biodiversity, but the exact measures will inevitably change over time. The method has evolved from being a method for identifying woodland key habitats to become a more integral management tool for preserving biodiversity in different habitats and nature types in a perspective of landscape ecology.
The method has changed its character in many ways during the development.
Its original focus was woodland key habitats, but today is also includes restoration habitat and areas of extended environmental measures. Signal/indicator species, red listed species and other focal species were heavily weighed in the evaluation of key habitats in the beginning of our history. Such species are still an important part of the Last Chance Method, but the species are today considered complementary to the more than 30 habitat indicators used to identify key habitats.
Harmonized with DN-handbook 13
The evaluation system currently in use in the Last Chance Method is based on several parameters, and is harmonized with the system used in DN-handbook 13-1999. Read more about the DN-handbook (in Norwegian), here.
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