Ecosystem Extent Accounts 2021

Also designated as continuous urban area or fabric. The Continuous Settlement Area type is assigned when settlement structures and transport networks are dominating the surface area. At least 80% of the land surface in the ecosystem asset is covered by impermeable features such as buildings, roads and artificially surfaced areas.

Also designated as discontinuous urban area or fabric. The Discontinuous Settlement Area type is assigned when settlement structures and transport networks associated with vegetated areas and bare surfaces are present and occupy significant surfaces in a discontinuous spatial pattern. The impermeable features such as buildings, roads and artificially surfaced areas range from 30 to 80 % land coverage in the ecosystem asset.

This includes land used for transport infrastructure such as roads, airports and ports, including associated areas (e.g. planted trees and bushes lines or spontaneous vegetation, such as grass verges), and artificial areas other than buildings that are used for commercial and industrial purposes including extraction sites, dump areas, and construction sites.

Areas that are artificial but do not fall under the other level 2 categories of settlements and artificial areas. This includes e.g. permanent green houses, cemeteries even if predominantly green. Countries should also record here types of artificial land of specific national importance, such as archaeological sites or others, if they do not belong to any of the level 2 categories 1.1 -1.4. Countries should inform what they cover in this category in a footnote in the questionnaire.

Cropland planted for annually or regularly harvested crops other than those that carry trees or shrubs. They include fields of cereals, of sunflowers and other oil seed plants, of beets, legumes, fodder, potatoes, and other forbs. Croplands comprise intensively cultivated fields, fallow land, temporary grass for silage and grazing as well as traditionally and extensively cultivated crops with little or no chemical fertilisation or pesticide application. Faunal and floral quality and diversity depend on the intensity of agricultural use and on the presence of borders of (semi-)natural vegetation and woody structures between fields. Includes non-permanent greenhouse installations such as film tunnels. Small semi-natural elements which are associated with agricultural land use, such as hedges, ponds, grassy margins etc., are considered part of this ecosystem type.

Inundated or inundatable fields used for the cultivation of rice (Oryza sativa). When not too heavily treated, they may provide substitution habitats for some wetland species, for example resident birds (e.g. ducks, rails and herons) and as feeding grounds for migratory birds.

Crops not under a rotation system which provide repeated harvests and occupy the land for a long period before they are renewed. Mainly plantations of woody crops, e.g. vineyards, fruit and berry plantations, olive groves. Excludes pastures, grazing lands and forests. Small semi-natural elements which are associated with agricultural land use, such as hedges, ponds, grassy margins etc., are considered part of this ecosystem type. Includes burnt areas of this type.

Crops combined with scattered tree stands, with a canopy cover, in general, between 10% and 30%. A typical expression are the Iberian dehesas and montados. Includes burnt areas of this type.

Also designated as heterogeneous agricultural areas. Includes: Non-permanent crops (arable lands) associated with permanent crops on the same plot of farmland; juxtaposition or mosaics of small parcels of diverse annual crops, pasture/grassland and/or permanent crops; areas principally occupied by agriculture, interspersed with significant natural areas; and annual crops or grazing land under the wooded cover of forestry species (i.e., agroforestry). Characteristic is that none of these land cover types is dominant in the given unit. Small semi-natural elements which are associated with agricultural land use, such as hedges, ponds, grassy margins etc., are considered part of this ecosystem type. Includes burnt areas of this type.

Other types of farmland not included in the other categories of cropland such as nurseries, Christmas tree plantations and bioenergy grasses and short rotation coppice. Small semi-natural elements which are associated with agricultural land use, such as hedges, ponds, grassy margins etc., are considered part of this ecosystem type.

Stable grassland characterised by agricultural use or strong human disturbance. Floral composition dominated by Graminaceae and shaped by human activity. Regularly re-sown and fertilised and used for grazing or mechanical harvesting of grass. Small semi-natural elements which are associated with agricultural land use, such as hedges, ponds, grassy margins etc., are considered part of this ecosystem type.

Grasslands under no or moderate human influence. Mostly low productivity grasslands composed of native species adapted to the local environment. Can be under agro-forestry use. Often situated in areas of rough, uneven ground, steep slopes or wetter areas; frequently including rocky areas or patches of other (semi-)natural vegetation. Small semi-natural elements which are associated with agricultural land use, such as hedges, ponds, grassy margins etc., are considered part of this ecosystem type. Includes burnt areas of this type.

Woodlands and forests dominated by summer-green non-coniferous trees that lose their leaves in winter. Includes woodland with mixed evergreen and deciduous broadleaved trees, provided that the deciduous cover exceeds that of evergreens. The proportion of conifers should not exceed 25%. Includes burnt areas of this type.

Vegetation formation composed principally of trees, including shrub and bush understory, where coniferous species predominate. The proportion of deciduous trees should not exceed 25%. Includes burnt areas of this type.

Forests dominated by broadleaved sclerophyllous or lauriphyllous evergreen trees, or by palms. They are characteristic of the Mediterranean and warm-temperate humid zones. Sporadic grazing use may occur. Includes burnt areas of this type.

Vegetation formation composed principally of trees, including shrub and bush understorey, where neither broadleaved nor coniferous species strongly predominate (i.e. <75% deciduous and <75% coniferous trees). Includes burnt areas of this type.

Transitional forests and woodland shrub. Includes vegetation that is always shrubland and areas of temporarily cleared forest (as part of forest management). Sporadic grazing use may occur. Includes burnt areas of this type.

Monoculture plantations or plantations strongly dominated by one or few species of non-European coniferous and broadleaved trees with very sparse or lacking undergrowth, e.g. eucalyptus plantations. Forest stands of single or mixed species consisting of native and/or non-native trees species that have long been established in European ecosystems and have diverse undergrowth typical for forest ecosystems should be classified as part of types 4.1 to 4.4. If not possible to distinguish plantations, these areas should be attributed to the classes 4.1 – 4.4. Includes burnt areas of this type.

Vegetated land with graminoids, shrubs, mosses or macro lichens overlying permafrost. European tundras are limited to Spitzbergen and northern Russia. Vegetation with the same species also occurs on boreal mountains and in the low arctic remote from the main permafrost region, notably in Fennoscandia and Iceland; these oroboreal and low arctic habitats are listed under alpine and subalpine grassland or arctic, alpine and subalpine shrub.

Vegetation with low and closed cover, dominated by bushes, shrubs, dwarf shrubs (heather, briars, broom, gorse, laburnum etc.) and herbaceous plants, including semi-natural/successional stages and mature stages of development. Includes burnt areas of this type.

Bushy sclerophyllous vegetation including semi-natural/successional stages and mature stages of development; including maquis, matorral and garrigue. Includes burnt areas of this type.

Scree, cliffs, rock outcrops, including areas of active erosion, rocks and reef flats outside marine influence, inland salt planes. At least 90% of area of the ecosystem asset is covered by rocks. Rocks within a zone up to 100m from the high-water mark can be classified as coastal ecosystems.

Non-coastal habitats with less than 30% vegetation cover (other than in crevices of rocks, screes or cliffs) which are characterised by very low water availability. They include areas which are sparsely vegetated due to land degradation.

High mountain zones and high latitude land masses occupied by glaciers or by perennial snow. They may be inhabited by algae and invertebrates.

Low-lying land usually flooded in winter, and more or less saturated by water all year round. Vegetation is composed mainly of rushes, sedges, and some reed and shrub. Other types of this class include reedbeds and springs.

Wetlands, with the water table at or above ground level for at least half of the year, dominated by mosses, herbaceous or ericoid vegetation. Includes inland saltmarshes and water ogged habitats where the groundwater is frozen. Excludes the water body and rock structure of springs and waterlogged habitats dominated by trees or large shrubs. Includes bog degradation stages dominated by heathland but excludes wet heathlands on mineral soils which support limited peat formation. Includes peat extraction sites. Includes burnt areas of this type.

Natural watercourses, such as rivers, streams etc. (even though often modified by man) serving as water drainage channels.

Artificial watercourses serving as water drainage or transport channels.

Natural (but sometimes modified) water bodies with presence of standing water surface during the entire year (except in very dry years for some types).

Artificial water bodies with presence of standing water surface during most of the year. Developed mainly for water supply or energy generation purposes.

Hot springs, geysers, mud pots and associated wetlands resulting from interactions of deeply circulating groundwater with magma and hot rocks that produce chemically precipitated substrates. They support a specialised but low diversity biota structured by extreme thermal and geochemical gradients.

Stretches of salt or brackish water in coastal areas which are separated from the sea by a tongue of land or other similar topography. These water bodies can be connected to the sea at limited points, either permanently or for parts of the year.

This class includes two main types: a) estuaries, i.e., the mouth of a river under tidal influence within which the tide ebbs and flows. b) bays, i.e., a coastal body of water partly enclosed by land and that directly connects to a larger main body of water, in particular a sea or ocean. Vegetation, and fauna is adapted to saline and/or brackish conditions. It is recommended to align the border between marine waters, estuaries and river mouths in agreement with Marine Strategy Framework Directive reporting.

Coastal zone under tidal influence between open sea and land, which is flooded by sea water regularly twice a day in a ca. 12 hours cycle. Defined by the area between the average lowest and highest sea water level at low tide and high tide. Generally non-vegetated expanses of mud, sand or rock lying between high and low water marks.

Man-made dykes and dams, including wave breakers extending into the sea, constructed primarily to protect land from seawater, but sometimes also used for roads. Deposited or dumped artificial structures in the coast may attract marine biota that would not otherwise occupy such locations. Excludes transport infrastructure on the shore such as ports and seaside promenades that should be recorded in Settlements & Other Artificial Areas.

Natural non-vegetated expanses of sand or pebble/gravel, in coastal locations, like beaches, dunes, gravel pads, muddy shores. Including salt-influenced wetlands between rows of dunes.

Scree, cliffs, rock outcrops, including areas of active erosion, rocks and reef flats situated above the high-water mark up to a distance of 100 m away from the high water mark.

This class includes two main types: a) Coastal saltmarshes, which are vegetated low-lying areas in the coastal zone, mostly above the high-tide line, but always susceptible to flooding by seawater. Often in the process of being filled in by coastal mud and sand sediments, gradually being colonized by halophilic plants. b) Salt-pans for extraction of salt from salt water by evaporation, under active use or in process of abandonment. Actively exploited salines can have a rather artificial character whereas those no longer in use often have developed substantial ecological value.