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In Slovenia, the Natura 2000 network covers 35.5% of its territory or 286 areas, encompassing 10 forest habitat types. The majority of indicators for the assessment of the conservation status and changes of forest habitat types are to be estimated within the forest management planning framework. In this paper, a hierarchical concept of forest habitat types monitoring in Pohorje Mts (810 km2) was examined and presented, based on landscape structure and position of habitat types in this structure. A spatial model was designed for the assessment of forests structure and spatial characteristics of forest habitat types and changes in the extension and spatial structure of habitat types based on data of forest management plans and line transect method for a quick assessment of changes in the landscape and stand structure. Based on spatial model and on the presented inceptions in terms of monitoring, significant changes in the area of habitat types in the Pohorje Mts may be expected. The spatial model that was used in order to estimate the landscape structure draws attention to its fragility in the event of potential abandonment of agricultural use in the areas with harsh farming conditions.
