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Key Scottish Environment Statistics 2003

land

Broad Habitat Change: 1990-1998

Area (thousand hectares)

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.

SOURCE: COUNTRYSIDE SURVEY 2000 ³

Area (thousand hectares)

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is the main nature conservation designation in Great Britain. Under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act, the sites are notified as areas of outstanding quality to protect their flora, fauna, geological or physiographical features. At 31 March 2002, there were 1,447 SSSIs in Scotland, covering a total of 1,007,000 hectares (13% of land in Scotland).

Special Area of Conservation (SAC) sites are designated under the 1992 EC Habitats Directive to protect wildlife and their habitats throughout the EU. Special Protection Area (SPA) sites are designated under the 1979 EC Wild Birds Directive to safeguard naturally occurring and migratory species of birds. Ramsar sites are designated under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance to protect the habitats of waterfowl. At 31 March 2002, there were 222 SACs, 132 SPAs and 51 Ramsar sites in Scotland.

A designated site may be protected by more than one scheme. For example, it is estimated that about 65% of land designated as SAC is also designated as SSSI. Similarly, some 90% of the area of SPA land is also included in SSSI land.

SOURCE: SCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE ⁴

Area (thousand hectares)

Agricultural land use has a strong influence on the landscape and environment of Scotland. In particular, changes in agricultural land use have an impact on wildlife habitats, water pollution, and emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.

Between 1982 and 2002 the total land used for agriculture in Scotland decreased by 4%, although woodland areas more than doubled. In addition, the amount of land set-aside increased to 86,300 ha, mostly due to the Arable Area Payment Scheme (AAPS), whereby farmers are paid area aid to take land out of agricultural production. AAPS is designed primarily as a production control mechanism, and the standard set-aside rate has been fixed at 10% for the period 2000-2004.

The increase in woodland area and set-aside land, and the involvement in agri-environment schemes may have helped to reduce the impact of agriculture on the environment.

SOURCE: SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE ENVIRONMENT AND RURAL AFFAIRS DEPT

Application rate of fertiliser (kg/ha)⁸

Fertilisers contain nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which improve plant growth and crop yields. The inappropriate or mistimed use of fertilisers may cause nutrient enrichment and eutrophication of waters. Excess nitrates in drinking water are also a danger to human health. The EC Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) provides a framework to protect water bodies from agricultural nitrate pollution. This includes the designation of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones, where mandatory practises of fertiliser use are implemented.

The total application rate of fertiliser together with the amount of agricultural land provides an estimate of the tonnage of fertiliser used each year. Changes in an overall application are due to the (actual) field areas of application used on farms, or to a change in the dressing cover, or to changes in both. Weather and economic factors may also contribute to changes in fertiliser use.

Overall between 1986 and 2001, total fertiliser application rates have been relatively stable. In 2001, total application rates were 217kg/ha, of which nitrogen contributed 59%.

SOURCE: SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE ⁹

The amount of woodland ¹⁰ is of significant environmental importance. The extent of forestry has wide ranging effects on wildlife habitats, the physical environment and is an indication of the development of sustainable paper and timber production. In addition, woodland has aesthetic and recreational properties.

Woodland is managed by the Forestry Commission, other public bodies (including other government departments and local authorities), and private owners. The Forestry Commission manages just over a third of woodland in Scotland. Planting and management of non-Forestry Commission woodland is normally carried out with the assistance of government grants. Over 45% of Scotland's woodland area is certified as sustainably managed.

Five woodland censuses have been carried out in the period 1924-1999. The 1995-1999 National Inventory of Woodland and Trees showed that 16.4% of the total land area of Scotland was woodland, nearly three times as much as in 1924.

SOURCE: FORESTRY COMMISSION ¹¹

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