Key Scottish Environment Statistics 2014

Land

Derelict and Urban Vacant Land^R,[1],[2]: 2007-2013

Area of derelict and urban vacant land (hectares)

Derelict land together with vacant land in urban areas is an unused resource. Every year the Scottish Government conducts a survey of derelict and urban vacant land in each local authority. The main purpose of the survey is to provide a national data source to inform the programming of the rehabilitation, planning and reuse of derelict and urban vacant sites.

Vacant land is land which is unused for the purposes for which it is held and is viewed as an appropriate site for development. This land must either have had prior development on it, or had preparatory work taken place on it in anticipation of future development to be classed as 'vacant land'. Derelict land (and buildings) is land which has been so damaged by development, that it is incapable of development for beneficial use without rehabilitation. In addition, the land must currently not be used for the purpose for which it is held or a use acceptable in the local plan^[3].

The annual Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey^[4] shows that the total area of derelict and urban vacant land has decreased slightly since 2007. In 2013, there were 11,114 hectares compared to 11,379 hectares in 2007. This change in total area is the result of a fall of 128 hectares in the area of urban vacant land and a fall of 137 hectares in the area of derelict land over the same period. The most recent survey (2013) showed a net decrease of 187 hectares since 2012.

Source: Scottish Government / Metadata

Agricultural Land Use^[5]: 1982-2013

Area (thousand hectares)

Agricultural land use has a strong influence on the landscape and environment of Scotland. In particular, changes in agricultural land use have an impact on wildlife habitats, water pollution, and emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.

Between 1982 and 2013, the total land used for agriculture in Scotland decreased by around 3%. There was a small increase in the total land used for agriculture between 2007 and 2008, to 6,240,400 hectares, resulting in the highest figure for the total land used for agriculture since 1988. After the introduction of the Single Application Form data in 2009, the area of land used for agriculture was recorded as 6,176,800 hectares. This increased to 6,187,700 hectares in 2013. Since 2009, the area of woodland and other land has continued to increase to 631,800 hectares in 2013.^[6] There is a step change in the land use data series in 2009, following the switch in data source.^[5] This has led to some substitution between rough grazing and grass, therefore post 2009 data is not comparable to previous years and trends should be treated with caution.

The amount of land set-aside^[7] was recorded separately between 1993 and 2008. Trends have reflected changes in the European Union compulsory set-aside rate. There was a decrease in set-aside land from 90,000 ha in 2003 to 69,000 ha in 2005, before dropping to 18,000 ha in 2008, reflecting a 0 per cent compulsory set-aside rate. Set aside payment entitlements under the Single Farm Payments ceased in 2009.

Source: Scottish Government / Metadata

Nutrients Applied to Crops and Grass: 1986-2013

Total nutrients applied to crops and grass (kg/ha)^[8],[9],[10]

Fertilisers contain nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which improve plant growth and crop yields. The inappropriate or mistimed use of fertilisers may cause nutrient enrichment and eutrophication of waters. Excess nitrates in drinking water are also a danger to human health. The EC Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC)^[11] provides a framework to protect water bodies from agricultural nitrate pollution. This includes the designation of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones, where an action programme controlling fertiliser use is implemented.

Changes in overall application rates are due to changes in either the proportion of crop area treated or average rate of application, or both. Weather and economic factors may also contribute to changes in fertiliser use.

Between 1986 and 2000, overall phosphate and potash application rates remained relatively stable, although both have declined in recent years. Overall nitrogen application rates have declined since 2001, reflecting a longer term reduction in application rates to grassland and a recent reduction for tillage crops, although overall application rates have increased by 10% between 2012 and 2013. In 2013, the application rates of phosphate and potash showed similar percentage increases. However, the application rates for all three nutrients remain below the rates applied before 2008. For nitrogen, the application rate in 2013 is 31% lower than in 2001, at 87 kg/ha.

Source: Defra / Scottish Government / Metadata

Area of Woodland: 1924-2014^P,[12]

Area (thousand hectares)^[13]

The extent of woodland^[14] is of significant environmental importance. Woodland provides wildlife habitats and affects the physical environment, and is valued as a location for recreation and for its contribution to the landscape. It can also contribute to the sustainable production of wood products and paper, and provides a source of renewable energy.

Provisional figures show that, in 2014, the area of woodland in Scotland was 1,419,000 hectares (18.2% of the total land area). This compares with 16.4% in 1995, 11.8% in 1980 and 5.6% in 1924. 74% of this area is made up of conifers, both native and introduced such as Scots pine, Sitka spruce and larch, with the remaining 26% made up of broadleaved species, again both native and introduced.

Forestry Commission Scotland manages the National Forest Estate on behalf of Scottish Ministers, which accounts for around one third of all woodland in Scotland. The remaining two thirds is owned by private owners including environmental Non-Government Organisations and community bodies, as well as by other public bodies.

Planting and management of non-Forestry Commission Scotland woodland is normally carried out with the assistance of government grants. The UK Forestry Standard sets out the standards for the sustainable management of all forests in the UK. Independent certification schemes for sustainable forest management are based on this Standard. The provisional figure for 2014, shows that 58% of Scotland's woodland area is certified as suitably managed. (822,000 hectares)

New planting of woodland peaked in the late 1980s with around 25,000 hectares of new woodland being created annually. New planting has declined steadily over the last two decades to a low of 2,700 hectares in 2009/10 but has since increased and 8,300 hectares were planted in 2013/14.

Source: Forestry Commission / Metadata