Indicator Specification

Proportional and absolute change in extent and turnover of land cover categories aggregated to relate to main ecosystem types in Europe from 2000 to 2006. The 12 ecosystem types discussed represent (1) urban, (2) cropland, (3) agricultural mosaics, (4) woodland and forest, (5) grassland and tall forb, (6) heathland, shrub and tundra, (7) transitional woodland, (8) sparsely vegetated land, (9) inland wetlands, (10) coastal, (11) rivers and lakes and (12) marine areas. This indicator is based on photo-interpretation of satellite imagery, and gives a 'wall to wall' picture of the changes and dynamics in Europe with respect to ecosystems. Additional indicators can be used to further highlight trends in extent and state of each of the ecosystem types mentioned above using computations from other data sources.

Read more

This indicator shows the volume of standing and lying deadwood in forest and other wooded land, classified by forest type (Forest Europe - Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE)). In national forest inventories, countries generally classify according to type (standing, snags, lying, species and state of decay).

Read more

The term 'contaminated site' (CS) refers to a well-defined area where the presence of soil contamination has been confirmed and this presents a potential risk to humans, water, ecosystems or other receptors. Risk management measures, e.g. remediation, may be needed depending on the severity of the risk of adverse impacts to receptors under the current or planned use of the site. The term 'potentially contaminated site' (PCS) refers to sites where unacceptable soil contamination is suspected but not verified, and where detailed investigations need to be carried out to verify whether there is an unacceptable risk of adverse impacts on receptors. Both of these parameters were introduced for the first time in the 2011 data request. The scale of soil contamination was also assessed in previous data requests but results were derived from other parameters (in particular the four key management steps); an approach that was abandoned in the 2011 data request. Management of contaminated sites aims to assess and, where necessary, reduce the risk of adverse impacts on receptors to an acceptable level. This management process starts with a basic desk study or historical investigation, which may lead to more detailed site investigations and, depending on the outcome of these, remediation measures. The indicator shows progress in four key management steps: preliminary study/site identification, preliminary investigation, main site investigation, and implementation of risk reduction measures. Under each management step, two stages can be distinguished: estimation of the number of sites in need of this specific step, and actual counting or completion of this specific management step. In addition, the indicator reports the costs to society of site management, the main activities responsible for soil contamination and the outcomes of managing contaminated sites.

Read more

The indicator tracks trends since 1990 in anthropogenic emissions of the following fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases), differentiated by HFCs, PFCs and SF 6 . HFCs PFCs SF6 HFC-23 CF4   HFC-32 C2F6   HFC-41 C3F8   HFC-43-10mee C4F10   HFC-125 c-C4F8   HFC-134 C5F12   HFC-134a C6F14   HFC-152a     HFC-143     HFC-143a     HFC-227ea     HFC-236fa     HFC-245ca     The indicator also tracks trends since 2007 in the aggregated production, bulk imports, bulk exports and consumption of F-gases, differentiated, where available by HFCs, PFCs and SF 6 ; additional F-gases compared to the emissions list are marked in bold. HFCs PFCs SF6 HFC-23 CF4   HFC-32 C2F6   HFC-41 C3F8   HFC-43-10mee C4F10   HFC-125 c-C4F8   HFC-134 C5F12   HFC-134a C6F14   HFC-152a     HFC-143     HFC-143a     HFC-227ea     HFC-236cb     HFC-236ea     HFC-236fa     HFC-245ca     HFC-245fa     HFC-365mfc     ‘Net supply’ is a parameter derived from company reporting under the F-Gas Regulation that provides information on the actual use of (bulk) F-gases by EU industries. Net supply is calculated by firstly adding reported amounts for: production imports (bulk imports only, imports contained in products or equipment are not considered in the reporting under the F-Gas Regulation) stocks held on 1 January of the reporting year ‘other amounts collected for reclamation or destruction from within the EU’, and then subtracting the following reported amounts: exports (bulk exports only, exports contained in products or equipment are not considered in the reporting under the F-Gas Regulation) destruction (on-site by reporting companies and off-site within the EU on reporting companies’ behalf) amounts used as feedstock by reporting companies stocks held on 31 December of the reporting year.   Furthermore, the shares of intended applications of F-gas net supply in the latest available reporting year are given, differentiating between refrigeration and air-conditioning fire protection aerosols foams electrical equipment other, unknown or no information reported.

Read more

Variations in topsoil organic carbon content across Europe

Read more