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Broad Habitat Change: 1990-1998
Change (thousand hectares)
Area (thousand hectares) |
Habitat | 1998 | Change (1990-98) 1 |
|---|
Woodland | 1,294 | 32.3 |
|---|
Intensive agriculture | 1,691 | 36.7 |
|---|
Semi-natural | 4,535 | -88.9 |
|---|
Water | 106 | 0.8 |
|---|
Developed | 276 | 19.4 |
|---|
A classification of 'broad habitat' was defined for consistent reporting and monitoring of priority habitats that were identified under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. 2 The habitats range from developed land, such as built-up areas and gardens, to semi-natural land, such as grasslands, bog and bracken. The Countryside Survey 20003 reported the status of 16 of the 20 broad habitats occurring in Scotland.
Over the period 1990-1998, the largest change was the overall decrease in semi-natural habitats of nearly 90,000 hectares. There was a decrease of 5% in the area of dwarf shrub heaths. Grassland losses also contributed to the overall decline in semi-natural habitats. However, there is no clear evidence that any of these declines are statistically significant. Some semi-natural habitats increased over the period, with fens, marshes and swamps showing a significant increase of 19%.
Woodland, developed habitats and land used for intensive agriculture all increased over the period, with a significant 9% increase in the area of broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland.
The most recent Countryside Survey took place in 2007. Analysis is underway and will be reported at the UK level in late 2008, followed by an individual report for Scotland in spring 2009.
Source: Countryside Survey 20003
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