1. Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets
Dr Paul Campling
Spatial Applications Division Leuven (SADL)
WG - AEI
EUROSTAT
3 December 2002

2. Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets
Objectives and Aims
Objectives: produce concrete indicators of Landscape State (Indicator 32) and Impact on Landscape Diversity (Indicator 35).
Aim: reduce the set of Landscape Indicators proposed in COM(2000)20 and COM(2001)144.
Explore: EU wide datasets (CLC, FSS and LUCAS)
Time frame: 3 years
3 December 2002
Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets

3. Data Assessment for Landscape Indicators
Review definitions of Landscape State and the Impact on Landscape Diversity
Review model framework for developing landscape indicators and reference levels according to “driving forces”
Develop spatial framework for interpreting landscape indicators on the basis of agro-ecological zoning
Explore available European Union wide datasets for calculating landscape indicators
Select case study areas for the Landscape indicator feasibility study
Develop methods for deriving landscape indicators
3 December 2002
Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets

4. Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets
Landscape State
Landscape State represents the complex interaction between human societies and the natural environment
Defined in reference to a former state (desired or planned state).
Analytical indicator of landscape diversity and composition
Candidate indices:
Land use / land cover diversity
Crop importance (specialisation)
Agricultural intensification
Linear elements/features and degree of fragmentation
3 December 2002
Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets

5. Impact on Landscape Diversity
Impact is linked to factors of change
Factors changing agricultural landscape include
Policy initiatives (CAP reforms, cross compliance measures, agri-environmental programmes)
Farming practices (advances in machinery, new breeds & variaties, organic farming, agro-forestry)
Farming economics (parcel size, land prices, crop/livestock prices, migration)
Consumer demands (bio-products, food standards)
Indices of changes in diversity
Evaluation in terms of data on soil, topography and climate (COM (2001) 144) – ‘natural baseline of diversity’
3 December 2002
Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets

6. Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets
GISCO-database
CORINE Land Cover (CLC), Administrative boundaries (NUTS-regions)
FSS at NUTS 2 and 3:
crop type and area, livestock type and number, farm sizes (ha and ESU), fallow, irrigation
LUCAS
land cover & land use, linear features
openness of landscape, vertical and colour indices
Different scales, procedures and definitions -indicators aggregated to NUTS 3 level
3 December 2002
Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets

7. Selection of case study areas (CSAs)
Farming environment is very diverse across EU
EU policy needs to be applied at the local scale in a decentralised way
CSAs reflect different landscape typologies of Europe
Meeus (1988) landscape typology (13 in total, 5 used)
Dominant land use from CLC
e.g. arable land, olives and vineyards
Representative of a NUTS 3 area (indices aggregated to NUTS 3 level)
Characteristic of northern and southern Europe
3 December 2002
Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets

8. Selection of case study areas
3 December 2002
Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets

9. Processing of LUCAS SSU-data
10 SSU’s per PSU:
At each SSU: observation of Land cover and Land use
Calculation of indices – diversity, dominance, characteristics
3 December 2002
Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets

10. Landscape Indicators (LUCAS SSUs)
LCDI = # LC classes / PSU
LUDI = # LU classes / PSU
ADI=#Agric classes / PSU
3 December 2002
Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets

11. Processing of LUCAS transect-data
1 transect per PSU, 1200 m
Along the transect: observation of land use + linear elements (width > 1m)
Selection of transects per CSA (≥ 1 NUTS3-region)
Calculation of indices – transition, fragmentation, linear elements
3 December 2002
Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets

12. Landscape Indicators (LUCAS transect)
LUDI = # LC classes / km
LUTI = # LU classes / km
ADI=#Agric classes / km
FI= # fragments (LUT or LE) / km
LEI=# agric. Linear Elements/km
3 December 2002
Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets

13. Number and character of the linear elements (LUCAS Transects)
3 December 2002
Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets

14. Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets
Agricultural Importance Index – FSS agricultural area / NUTS surface area
3 December 2002
Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets

15. Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets
Arable Importance Index – FSS sum of arable crops / total agricultural area
3 December 2002
Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets

16. Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets
Grassland Importance Index temp. + perm grass / total agricultural area
3 December 2002
Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets

17. Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets
Irrigation Importance Index Total irrigable area / Total agricultural area
3 December 2002
Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets

18. Mean Farm Size (ha) Total agricultural area (ha) / # holdings
3 December 2002
Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets

19. Mean Farm Size (ESU) Total ECU / # holdings
3 December 2002
Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets

20. Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets
Agricultural Intensity Index Mean farm size (ESU) / Mean farm size (ha)
3 December 2002
Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets

21. Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets
Conclusions (1)
A range of landscape indicators calculated from European Union wide databases such as CLC, FSS and LUCAS
CLC, FSS and LUCAS have different scales, methods and procedures – necessary to attach source of data to each indicator e.g. CLC land cover diversity index, LUCAS land cover diversity index
Case studies selected to represent major landscapes and crop types, results show distinct differentiation in farming environments
Impact on Landscape Diversity requires time series information
3 December 2002
Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets

22. Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets
Conclusions (2)
LUCAS
Greatest differentiation in terms of land transition index, fragmentation index and linear elements index, reflects differences in parcel sizes and degree of urbanisation
FSS 1990 vs 2000
Agriculture – stable or marginal increase
Arable farming – marginal increase N Europe CSAs, marginal decrease S Europe CSAs
Grassland – marginal increase S Europe CSAs, stable in N Europe CSAs
Irrigation – overall marginal increase
3 December 2002
Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets

23. Landscape Indicators using EU wide datasets
Dr Paul Campling
Spatial Applications Division Leuven (SADL)
WG - AEI
EUROSTAT
3 December 2002