Linking land cover change to Linking land cover change to pressures on biodiversitypressures on biodiversity

http://www.creaf.uab.es/biopress/

Question: How have past changes in land cover

affected Biodiversity ?

Why: Legislative imperative to protect the

environment. EEA is our key stakeholder

How: Measuring land cover change by manual interpretation of aerial photos Pressure – State – Impact

Funded by EC – Framework 5:

Project coordinator: Dr. France Gerard

ffg@ceh.ac.ukTel: +44(0)1487 773381

Centre for Ecology and HydrologyMonks Wood, Abbots RiptonPE28 2 LS, UK

http://www.creaf.uab.es/biopress/

CORINE LC

Aerial photos Aerial photos

Aerial photos

From

To

Land coverConversion matrix

Human Population CensusStatistics on agricultureTransport DataEtc…

Region Specific Pressures• Abandonment• Intensification• etc…

Cause & Effect

Pressures

ZoneStratification & Extrapolation

BiodiversitySemi quantitativePressure – state model

1950 Phase I

Phase II

1990 EO

CORINE LC2000 Aerial photosEO2000+

Key steps – land cover change (1950 – 2000)

Quality assessment for pilot sites

Transect interpretation:Change matrices (1950,1990,2000)

Extrapolating the matrices to produce aEuropean land cover change product

Stratification strategy

Sampling sites across Europe: 100 windows, 50 transects

Location, acquisition, pre-processingof aerial photography

Windows: 1950 Transects: 1950, 1990, 2000

Interpreters rules: 2 manualsWindows: CORINE Land Cover backdatingTransects: photo to photo interpretation

Workshop:Training of interpreters

CORINE backdating: Change matrices

(1950-1990)

Assessment of results by external experts

Land Cover Change data

Spatial framework for integration,

extrapolation & reporting

RS of landscape features

for quantifying pressures

Improve pressure - state model

and assessment of impact on biodiversity

Error Propagation

Integrating with non RS data to

quantify pressures

Key steps – Pressure-State-Impact

Sample of Natura2000 Sites

75 Windows: 30 x 30 km (black)

59 Transects: 2 x 15 km (red)

Focussing on 4 Annex-I habitats which are found in main bio-geographical regions: (i) Freshwater habitats, (ii) Natural and semi-natural grassland formations, (iii) Raised bogs and mires and fens and (iv) Forests.

Stratification:Biogeographical Regions Map of Europe (BRME)

Sampling Area

Distribution of window area with respect to

biogeographic regions as defined by the

Biogeographic Regions Map of Europe (BRME)

Sampling Area

Area proportion of Europe calculated from the BiogeographicRegions Map of Europe (BRME)

Change matrices for ~100 Natura2000 sitesBackdating CORINE 1990 with aerial photos of the 1950’ies30 km x 30 km windows = total of 90,000 km2

Backdating CORINE land cover 1990 to 1950’ies30x30km windows centred on Natura2000 site

CORINE LC’90 on aerial photos of 1950’iesCORINE LC 1990

Area around Zaventem airport, Brussels, Belgium

Photo to Photo Interpretation15 x 2 km transects from

least intensive to most intensive

Catalonia, Spain

Semi natural shrub & woodlands

Town 1950 1990

1956 1998

Catalonia, Spain

Window 185 Czech Republic

231Pasture

242Ag’Complex

243Ag’ mosaic

211Arable

112Built

131Minerals

132Dumps

313Mixed

324Transitional

312Coniferous

322Moors

Marianskolazenske hadce (1659ha)

1950 Change 1990

Fluxes > 100haFluxes > 1000ha Fluxes > 5000ha

Window 210 Belgium

112Urban

121Industrial

124Airport

142Sports

242Ag’complex

231Pasture

243Ag’mosaic

211Arable

311Brd wood

313Mxd wood

324Scrub

Poelbos-Marais de Jette (90ha)

Valleigebied tussen Melsbroek... (1445ha)

Zoniënwoud (2761ha)

Fluxes > 100haFluxes > 1000ha Fluxes > 5000ha

1950 Change 1990

Germany Transect - De1

All transect and window data are stored in a common database

Germany Transect – De8

All transect and window data are stored in a common database

The Netherlands: Arable into harbour & build-up: Urbanisation

Finland: Peatbogs into arable land: Intensification

Germany: First intensification then abandonment

1990

1950

2000

Land cover to pressure conversionTO\T1 1.1.1. 1.1.2. 1.2.1. 1.2.2. 1.2.3. 1.2.4. 1.3.1. 1.3.2. 1.3.3. 1.4.1. 1.4.2. 2.1.1. 2.1.2. 2.1.3. 2.2.1. 2.2.2. 2.2.3. 2.3.1. 2.4.1 2.4.2. 2.4.3.1.1.1. Continuous urban fabric U U U U U U U U U U U U1.1.2. Discontinuous urban fabric U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U1.2.1. Industrial or commercial units U U U U U U U U U U U U1.2.2. Road and rail networks and associated land U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U1.2.3. Port areas U U U U U U U U U U U U U1.2.4. Airports U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U1.3.1. Mineral extraction sites U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U1.3.2. Dump sites U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U1.3.3. Construction sites U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U1.4.1. Green urban areas U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U1.4.2. Sport and leisure facilities U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U2.1.1. Non-irrigated arable land U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I2.1.2. Permanently irrigated land U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I2.1.3. Rice fields U U U U U U U U U U U Dr Dr Dr Dr Dr Dr Dr I2.2.1. Vineyards U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I2.2.2. Fruit trees and berry plantations U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I2.2.3. Olive groves U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I2.3.1. Pastures U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I2.4.1 Annual crops associated with permanent crops U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I2.4.2. Complex cultivation patterns U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I2.4.3. Land principally occupied by agriculture, with significant areas of natural vegetation U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I2.4.4. Agro-forestry areas U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I D I3.1.1. Broad-leaved forests U U U U U U D D U U U I I I I I I I I I I3.1.2. Coniferous forests U U U U U U D D U U U I I I I I I I I I I3.1.3. Mixed forests U U U U U U D D U U U I I I I I I I I I I3.2.1. Natural grasslands U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I I I3.2.2. Moors and heathland U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I I I3.2.3. Sclerophyllous vegetation U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I I I3.2.4. Transitional woodland-scrub U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I I I3.3.1. Beaches, dunes, sands U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I I3.3.2. Bare rocks U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I3.3.3. Sparsely vegetated areas U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I I I3.3.4. Burnt areas U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I I I3.3.5. Glaciers and perpetual snow U U U U U U U U4.1.1. Inland marshes U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I Dr I I I4.1.2. Peat bogs U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I Dr I I I4.2.1. Salt marshes U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I Dr I I I4.2.2. Salines U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I Dr I I I4.2.3. Intertidal flats U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I Dr I I I5.1.1. Water courses U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I Dr I I I5.1.2. Water bodies U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I Dr I I I5.2.1. Coastal lagoons U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I Dr I I I5.2.2. Estuaries U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I Dr I I I5.2.3. Sea and oceans U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I Dr I I I6.2.1. Farmed land U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I6.2.2. Plantations (food crops) U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I6.3.1. Forests U U U U U U D D D U U I I I I I I I I I I6.3.2. Grasslands U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I

Priority rules

Combination of more than one intensification OR relaxation per caseThe less natural the process, the more priority (Urbanisation > Intensification > Drainage > Deforestation > Abandonment > Afforestation) in intensification. The less natural the process, the less priority (Urbanisation < Intensification < Drainage < Deforestation < Abandonment < Afforestation) in relaxation

FINLAND - Riihimäki-Kytäjä

Total changes

ha %Urbanisation 271 9,3 %Intensification 38 1,3 %Drainage 0 0,0 %Deforestation 262 8,9 %Abandonment 0 0,0 %Afforestation 149 5,1 %Total 719 24,6 %

FI8 Riihimäki

1. Artificial surfaces (ha)

2. Agricultural areas (ha)

3. Forests and semi-natural

areas (ha)

4. Wetlands (ha) 5. Water bodies (ha)

1951 6,33% 25,66% 55,97% 0,76% 11,29%1986/1987 14,28% 21,69% 52,49% 0,83% 10,72%

2000 15,15% 20,39% 52,92% 0,83% 10,72%

Loss of valuable open habitat types and ecotonesIncrease of pine forest with no biodiversity value

Lake-and riverside fields with scattered farmhouses turned into managed forest

Forest area that turn into urban- forest lossclearcuts- loss of valuable forest habitats

Forest fragmentationloss a valuable habitaturban sprawl takes over agricultural land and forest

IMPACTImpact on Biodiversity

decrease of arable land and pasturesafforestation--intensification

agricultural areas tuned into forest

Forest and transitional woodlands turn into artificial surfacesForest turned into transitional woodland

Increase in artificial surfacesincrease of major roads

STATELand Cover Changes

IntensificationAfforestationDeforestationUrbanisationPRESSURES

Economic trendsAgricultural policiesEconomic trendsSubsidies

Economic pressuresUrban sprawl

Demographic trendsTransport networkUrban sprawl

DRIVING FORCES

DPSIR - framework Finland - Riihimäki - Hyvinkää

PRESSURES

• Urbanisation

• Deforestation

• Afforestation

• Land Abandonment

• Intensification

• Drainage

Why is it so difficult to select indicators?Pressures: How can indicators quantify them ?

INDICATORS:

• Spatial Configuration

• Semantic Composition

• Temporal Distribution

Select indicators that can be used in the short term (even when imperfect)

• Identify indicators by pressure, but also by spatial configuration, semantic composition, and temporal distribution.

• Weighting indicators using a space-time assessment Priority, ranking, or value of indicators

BIOPRESS’s strategy:

Bottom-up approach & use of analytical zoning

• Suitable spatial scales to tackle habitat information range from 1:5,000 to 1:100,000 and landscape maps are required as input to compute indicators with a spatial component.

• Suitable temporal scales are not that clear yet.

IMPACT TABLES

WP4400

Ecological interpretation of land cover change:

Loss of high value habitats? Threats on existing habitats? Fragmentation of high value habitats? Landscape structure?

BIODIVERSITY IMPACT

LAND COVER CHANGE

PRESSURE

WP4300

Link a specific pressure to an amount of land cover change:

Change in indicator of pressure? Change in land cover? Relationship?

CORINE LC

Aerial photos Aerial photos

Aerial photos

From

To

Land coverConversion matrix

Human Population CensusStatistics on agricultureTransport DataEtc…

Region Specific Pressures• Abandonment• Intensification• etc…

Cause & Effect

Pressures

ZoneStratification & Extrapolation

BiodiversitySemi quantitativePressure – state model

1950 Phase I

Phase II

1990 EO

CORINE LC2000 Aerial photosEO2000+

TO\T1 1.1.1. 1.1.2. 1.2.1. 1.2.2. 1.2.3. 1.2.4. 1.3.1. 1.3.2. 1.3.3. 1.4.1. 1.4.2. 2.1.1. 2.1.2. 2.1.3. 2.2.1. 2.2.2. 2.2.3. 2.3.1. 2.4.1 2.4.2. 2.4.3.1.1.1. Continuous urban fabric U U U U U U U U U U U U1.1.2. Discontinuous urban fabric U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U1.2.1. Industrial or commercial units U U U U U U U U U U U U1.2.2. Road and rail networks and associated land U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U1.2.3. Port areas U U U U U U U U U U U U U1.2.4. Airports U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U1.3.1. Mineral extraction sites U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U1.3.2. Dump sites U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U1.3.3. Construction sites U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U1.4.1. Green urban areas U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U1.4.2. Sport and leisure facilities U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U2.1.1. Non-irrigated arable land U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I2.1.2. Permanently irrigated land U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I2.1.3. Rice fields U U U U U U U U U U U Dr Dr Dr Dr Dr Dr Dr I2.2.1. Vineyards U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I2.2.2. Fruit trees and berry plantations U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I2.2.3. Olive groves U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I2.3.1. Pastures U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I2.4.1 Annual crops associated with permanent crops U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I2.4.2. Complex cultivation patterns U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I2.4.3. Land principally occupied by agriculture, with significant areas of natural vegetation U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I2.4.4. Agro-forestry areas U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I D I3.1.1. Broad-leaved forests U U U U U U D D U U U I I I I I I I I I I3.1.2. Coniferous forests U U U U U U D D U U U I I I I I I I I I I3.1.3. Mixed forests U U U U U U D D U U U I I I I I I I I I I3.2.1. Natural grasslands U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I I I3.2.2. Moors and heathland U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I I I3.2.3. Sclerophyllous vegetation U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I I I3.2.4. Transitional woodland-scrub U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I I I3.3.1. Beaches, dunes, sands U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I I3.3.2. Bare rocks U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I3.3.3. Sparsely vegetated areas U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I I I3.3.4. Burnt areas U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I I I3.3.5. Glaciers and perpetual snow U U U U U U U U4.1.1. Inland marshes U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I Dr I I I4.1.2. Peat bogs U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I Dr I I I4.2.1. Salt marshes U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I Dr I I I4.2.2. Salines U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I Dr I I I4.2.3. Intertidal flats U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I Dr I I I5.1.1. Water courses U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I Dr I I I5.1.2. Water bodies U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I Dr I I I5.2.1. Coastal lagoons U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I Dr I I I5.2.2. Estuaries U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I Dr I I I5.2.3. Sea and oceans U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I Dr I I I6.2.1. Farmed land U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I6.2.2. Plantations (food crops) U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I6.3.1. Forests U U U U U U D D D U U I I I I I I I I I I6.3.2. Grasslands U U U U U U U U U U U I I I I I I I I

Priority rules

Combination of more than one intensification OR relaxation per caseThe less natural the process, the more priority (Urbanisation > Intensification > Drainage > Deforestation > Abandonment > Afforestation) in intensification. The less natural the process, the less priority (Urbanisation < Intensification < Drainage < Deforestation < Abandonment < Afforestation) in relaxation

Combination of intensification AND relaxation in the same case: When intensification is less natural than relaxation, intensification has priorityWhen intensification is more natural than relaxation, decision should be taken per case

Socio economic Indicators

IMPACT TABLES

WP4400

Ecological interpretation of land cover change:

Loss of high value habitats? Threats on existing habitats? Fragmentation of high value habitats? Landscape structure?

BIODIVERSITY IMPACT

LAND COVER CHANGE

PRESSURE

WP4300

Link a specific pressure to an amount of land cover change:

Change in indicator of pressure? Change in land cover? Relationship?

Integration