Experimental statistics

Ecosystem condition indicators

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The project “Compilation of ecosystem condition indicators according to the proposal for amending Regulation (EU) 691/2011” introduces a set of 8 ecosystem variables, which represents the state of different ecosystem types: settlements and other artificial areas; cropland; grassland; cropland and grassland together; forest and woodland; coastal beaches, dunes and wetlands. Opening values, closing values and change of ecosystem condition variables were calculated and aggregated to national, municipality and ward levels. Opening of the accounting period was 2018, closing – 2021.

Table 1. Ecosystem condition indicators according to the proposal for amending Regulation (EU) 691/2011

Ecosystem

Indicator

Settlements and other artificial areas

1. Green areas in cities and adjacent towns and suburbs (shall be reported in % of total area, calculated for the entire area of the cities and adjacent towns and suburbs, including all ecosystem types in that area)

2. Concentration of particulate matter, with a diameter up to 2.5 μm in cities (shall be reported in μg/m³ as a national average for the reporting period)

Cropland

3. Soil organic carbon stock in topsoil (shall be reported in tonne/ha, as a national average for the reporting period)

Grassland

4. Soil organic carbon stock in topsoil (shall be reported in tonne/ha, as a national average for the reporting period)

Cropland and grassland together

5. Common farmland bird index (shall be reported as a national aggregate index for the reporting period)

Forest and woodland

6. Dead wood (shall be reported in m³/ha, as a national average for the reporting period)

7. Tree cover density (shall be reported in %, as a national average for the reporting period)

Coastal beaches, dunes and wetlands

8. The share of artificial impervious area cover, present in coastal area that includes ecosystem type coastal beaches, dunes and wetlands (shall be reported in % as a national average for the reporting period)


During the Project, the reference levels of the ecosystem condition indicators indicated in Table 1 were determined (at the national level and separately for the 10 counties of Lithuania), i.e. the value of each indicator in the ideal case (natural) and in the worst case (collapse). Common farmland bird index for the reporting period, as well as reference levels of this variable, were estimated at national level. Due to lack of data, average annual concentrations of particulate matter, with a diameter up to 2.5 μm in cities, were calculated in several Lithuanian cities; reference levels of this variable are reported at national level.

The variable values of the base set of statistical variables were converted to indicator values on the scale [0;1] using a linear transformation.

An indicator is a transformed statistical variable. During the transformation, the indicators were set on the same measurement scale, considering the established reference levels – the ideal value of the reference level is equated to one, the worst – to zero.

Table 2. Ecosystem condition variables and reference levels

Ecosystem

Indicator

Indicator value

Reference level value

Description

Opening value (2018)

Closing value (2021)

Low level

Upper level (ideal)

Settlements and other artificial areas

1. Green areas in cities and adjacent towns and suburbs

42.32

42.02

19.03

76.63

2. Concentration of particulate matter, with a diameter up to 2.5 μm in cities

***

***

55.77

0.25

Cropland

3. Soil organic carbon stock in topsoil

83.2

83.44

62.72

106.92

Grassland

4. Soil organic carbon stock in topsoil

89.1

89.38

62

180.95

Cropland and grassland together

5. Common farmland bird index

58.5

46.36

42.76

150.49

Forest and woodland

6. Dead wood

0.35

0.37

0.23

0.72

7. Tree cover density

77.76

76.03

67.65

89.19

Coastal beaches, dunes and wetlands

8. The share of artificial impervious area cover, present in coastal area that includes ecosystem type coastal beaches, dunes and wetlands

0.26

0.37

38.8

0


More:

Ecosystem condition index

Green areas in cities and adjacent towns and suburbs

Concentration of particulate matter, with a diameter up to 2.5 μm in cities

Common farmland bird index

Statistical indicators of the state of ecosystems (arcgis.com)

 

EU logo

This project was funded by the European Union.

The content of this project represents the views of the author only and is his/her sole responsibility. The European Commission does not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.