Natural Capital Land Cover in the United Kingdom

In this paper ONS develops Land Cover ecosystem accounts for the United Kingdom (UK). The initial land cover accounts based on data from the Countryside Survey show that the land cover changed significantly in the UK between 1998 and 2007. The cultivated land area decreased by over 550 thousand hectares, while the corresponding increase in the area of pasture and semi-natural grassland was about 295 and 155 thousand hectares respectively. The area of broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland increased by approximately 94 thousand hectares. Land Cover in England shows similar patterns of change as in the UK as a whole, while changes were less pronounced in Scotland and Wales. Changes in land cover in Northern Ireland displayed slightly different patterns.

Date:
2015
Publisher:
UK Office for National Statistics
Author(s):
Vahé Nafilyan
Details:
Publication, 22pages
Language:
English
Topic:
Ecosystems, Land