Ecosystem types of Europe

Data
Prod-ID: DAT-146-en
Created 07 Feb 2019 Published 26 Feb 2019 Last modified 26 Feb 2019
3 min read
The dataset combines the Copernicus land service portfolio and marine bathymetry and seabed information with the non-spatial EUNIS habitat classification for a better biological characterization of ecosystems across Europe. As such it represents probabilities of EUNIS habitat presence for each MAES ecosystem type.

European data

Ecosystem types of Europe - version 3.1
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  • Full - INSPIRE METADATA
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  • Terrestrial
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  • Terrestrial - INSPIRE METADATA
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  • Terrestrial Reliability Map
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  • Terrestrial Reliability Map - INSPIRE METADATA
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  • Marine
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  • Marine - INSPIRE METADATA
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Metadata

information.png Reporting obligations (ROD)
  • Not applicable
Relation:
Parent data set:  EUNIS habitat classification
Parent data set:  Copernicus Land Monitoring Service - High Resolution Layers - Imperviousness
Parent data set:  Copernicus Land Monitoring Service - High Resolution Layers - Forests
Parent data set:  Copernicus Land Monitoring Service - Urban Atlas
Parent data set:  Copernicus Land Monitoring Service - Riparian Zones
Parent data set:  Copernicus Land Monitoring Service - Natura 2000
Parent data set:  Conservation status of habitat types and species (Article 17, Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC)
information.png Temporal coverage:
information.png Last upload:
27 Feb 2019
information.png Geographic coverage:
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information.png Tags:
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information.png Scale of the data set:
1:100000
information.png Rights:
EEA standard re-use policy: unless otherwise indicated, re-use of content on the EEA website for commercial or non-commercial purposes is permitted free of charge, provided that the source is acknowledged (https://www.eea.europa.eu/legal/copyright). Copyright holder: European Environment Agency (EEA).
information.png Disclaimer:
The data set aims to contribute to a better biological characterization of terrestrial and marine ecosystems across Europe. It represents probabilities of EUNIS (European Nature Information System) habitat presence in terrestrial and marine ecosystems, including information on permanent and seasonal sea ice coverage. Input information and methods are documented in the technical paper provided by the European Topic Centres on Biological Diversity (ETC/BD) and Urban Land and Soil (ULS). Geometric and thematic accuracy of the habitat mapping is documented in section 6.5 of the technical paper.
information.png Coordinate reference system:
EPSG:3035
information.png Data sources

CORINE Land Cover 2012 accounting layer 
HRL Forests 2012 (Forest Type, Tree Cover Density)
HRL Imperviousness 2012 
OpenStreetMap (OSM) data 2015 
Urban Atlas 2012 
Riparian Zones 2012
Natura 2000 (N2k) 2012
HRL Grassland 2012
HRL Permanent Water Bodies 2012
Emodnet bathymetry
Emodnet seabed-habitats

information.png Owners:
European Environment Agency (EEA)
information.png Processors:
European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity (ETC/BD)
European Topic Centre on Urban, Land and Soil Systems (ETC-ULS)

Additional information

The data set aims to contribute to a better biological characterization of terrestrial and marine ecosystems across Europe (EEA-39). It represents probabilities of EUNIS (European Nature Information System) habitat presence in terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. The work supports the Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES), Action 5 of Target 2 the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, established to achieve the Aichi targets of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD).

Compared to the previous version v2.1 the current map represents an enhanced version making full use of the Copernicus land service portfolio, combined with most recent marine bathymetry, seabed and ice cover information. Input information and methods are documented in the technical paper provided by the European Topic Centres on Biological Diversity (ETC/BD) and Urban Land and Soil (ULS). Geometric and thematic accuracy of the habitat mapping is documented in section 6.5 of the technical paper.

 

Related content

Based on data

Copernicus Land Monitoring Service - High Resolution Layers - Forests The high resolution forest product consists of three types of (status) products and additional change products. The status products are available for the 2012 and 2015 reference years: 1. Tree cover density providing level of tree cover density in a range from 0-100% 2. Dominant leaf type providing information on the dominant leaf type: broadleaved or coniferous 3. A Forest type product. The forest type product allows to get as close as possible to the FAO forest definition. In its original (20m) resolution it consists of two products: 1) a dominant leaf type product that has a MMU of 0.5 ha, as well as a 10% tree cover density threshold applied, and 2) a support layer that maps, based on the dominant leaf type product, trees under agricultural use and in urban context (derived from CLC and high resolution imperviousness 2009 data). For the final 100m product trees under agricultural use and urban context from the support layer are removed. The high resolution forest change products comprise a simple tree cover density change product for 2012-2015 (% increase or decrease of real tree cover density changes).
Copernicus Land Monitoring Service - Urban Atlas The European Urban Atlas provides reliable, inter-comparable, high-resolution land use maps for over 300 Large Urban Zones and their surroundings (more than 100.000 inhabitants as defined by the Urban Audit) for the 2006 reference year in EU member states and for over 800 Functional Urban Area (FUA) and their surroundings (more than 50.000 inhabitants) for the 2012 reference year in EEA39. Two additional layers were produced for the 2012 reference year: 1) Street Tree Layer within selected FUAs (depending on availability and suitability of satellite imagery) and 2) Building Heights for core urban areas of selected cities. Change layers were produced in 2012 and only for all FUAs covered both in 2006 and 2012 reference years.
Copernicus Land Monitoring Service - High Resolution Layers - Imperviousness The high resolution imperviousness products capture the percentage and change of soil sealing. Built-up areas are characterized by the substitution of the original (semi-) natural land cover or water surface with an artificial, often impervious cover. These artificial surfaces are usually maintained over long periods of time. A series of high resolution imperviousness datasets (for the 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015 reference years) with all artificially sealed areas was produced using automatic derivation based on calibrated Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). This series of imperviousness layers constitutes the main status layers. They are per-pixel estimates of impermeable cover of soil (soil sealing) and are mapped as the degree of imperviousness (0-100%). Imperviousness change layers were produced as a difference between the reference years (2006-2009, 2009-2012, 2012-2015 and additionally 2006-2012, to fully match the CORINE Land Cover production cycle) and are presented 1) as degree of imperviousness change (-100% -- +100%), in 20m and 100m pixel size, and 2) a classified (categorical) 20m change product.
EUNIS habitat classification The EUNIS habitat classification is a comprehensive pan-European system to facilitate the harmonised description and collection of data across Europe through the use of criteria for habitat identification. The classification is hierarchical and covers all types of habitats from natural to artificial, from terrestrial to freshwater and marine.
Copernicus Land Monitoring Service - Natura 2000 Natura 2000 (an EU-wide network of nature protection areas established under the 1992 Habitats Directive) is the centrepiece of EU nature & biodiversity policy. The aim of the network is to assure the long-term survival of Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats. A selection of Natura 2000 grassland-rich sites (5 grassland habitats types 6210, 6240, 6250, 6510 and 6520, including a 2km buffer and covering approx. 160.000 km2) sites was mapped in order to assess their actual area, their condition and their development over time. The sites were analysed for the 2006 and 2012 reference years and a change analysis was performed. The mapping also included a 2 km buffer zone where an analysis of pressures and threats was conducted.
Copernicus Land Monitoring Service - Riparian Zones Riparian zones represent transitional areas occurring between land and freshwater ecosystems, characterised by distinctive hydrology, soil and biotic conditions and strongly influenced by the stream water. They provide a wide range of riparian functions (e.g. chemical filtration, flood control, bank stabilization, aquatic life and riparian wildlife support, etc.) and ecosystem services. Three complementary product groups provide detailed information on the state and characteristics of riparian zones across the EEA member and cooperating countries: Land Cover / Land Use (LCLU), Delineation of Riparian Zones (DRZ), Green Linear Elements (GLE).
Conservation status of habitat types and species (Article 17, Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC) All Member States are requested by the Habitats Directive (1992) to monitor habitat types and species considered to be of Community interest.

Figures produced

News and articles

Related briefings

Mapping Europe's ecosystems The EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 calls on Member States to carry out a mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services (MAES, Maes et al., 2013). As such, an EU-wide ecosystem assessment was launched to provide harmonised information on the condition of ecosystems and biodiversity, and their capacity to provide ecosystem services. The assessment will provide data for the final evaluation of the EU biodiversity strategy in 2020. This briefing presents recent progress in mapping broad ecosystem types and their associated habitats at European level. This mapping uses spatially explicit land cover information, mostly based on the Copernicus service portfolios, the habitat classification of the European Nature Information System EUNIS (EEA, 2017) and other spatially referenced data sets. The work is also an essential input to the EU-level mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services following the MAES analytical framework (Maes et al., 2018).

Related publications

Mapping and assessing the condition of Europe's ecosystems: progress and challenges We depend on healthy and resilient ecosystems to continue to deliver services, such as food, water, clean air and stable climate, which are essential for our well-being. This report provides an overview about the current condition of ecosystems in Europe and the human pressures they are exposed to. A ecosystem map for Europe reveals that many ecosystems are highly concentrated in a small number of countries, which could increase their vulnerability to environmental change, and a substantial proportion of the most vulnerable ecosystems are not protected within Natura 2000 sites, Marine Protected Areas or equivalent zones.
European ecosystem assessment — concept, data, and implementation Contribution to Target 2 Action 5 Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES) of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020

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