Changes in ecosystems between 1990 and 2006 and favourable conservation status of habitats

The latest Corine Land Cover inventory (EEA, 2010) shows a continued expansion of artificial surfaces (e.g. urban sprawl, infrastructure) and abandoned land at the expense of agricultural land, grasslands and wetlands across Europe. Natural grasslands are still being turned into arable land and built-up areas. The loss of wetlands has slowed down (near 3 % lost in the last 16 years) but Europe had already lost more than half of its wetlands before 1990. Extensive agricultural land is being converted into forms of more intensive agriculture and for parts into forest.