Forest landscape fragmentation pattern (1km^2 surroundings)

The landscape forest fragmentation in a given region is characterised from three measures: the forest cover share in ‘core natural’ pattern, in ‘mixed natural’ pattern and in ‘some natural’ pattern. The measures are based on the forest spatial pattern and the composition in terms of agriculture, artificial and natural/semi-natural surfaces in the immediate surroundings (~1km2) of each hectare of forest. Underlying concepts are the total forest interior habitat area, the isolation of forest patches within other land use forms (agricultural areas, transport infrastructures or settlements), and the types of forest edges along natural or modified ecosystems. Forest areas with a ‘core natural’ pattern, are likely “un-fragmented” (significant interior area) and/or always adjacent to other natural/semi-natural lands (natural edge types). “Fragmented” forests have a ‘mixed natural’ pattern when forests are intermingled with agricultural and/or artificial land uses, still in a predominant natural context (60% of the surroundings at least). Highly fragmented forests have a ‘some natural’ pattern when woodlands are embedded in a predominantly agricultural or artificial context. Measures are reported per landscape units of 25 km by 25 km, per provinces (NUTS2/3) and per country (NUTS 0) at broad-scale for year 2006. Trends are given in the time period 1990-2000-2006. A negative trend in ‘core natural’ pattern means that the ‘fragmented’ patterns shares were increased at the expenses of ‘core natural’. Indicator set for this metadata Indicator 1: Core natural (unfragmented) pattern Indicator 2: Mixed natural (fragmented) pattern Indicator 3: ‘Some natural’ (highly fragmented) pattern Indicator 4: Trends in core natural (unfragmented) pattern Indicator 5: Trends in mixed natural (fragmented) pattern Indicator 6: Trends in ‘some natural’ (highly fragmented) pattern