Scotland's Wildlife – an assessment of biodiversity in 20

Improved grassland broad habitat
Land under improved grassland covered 11.2% of Scotland in 2007. The extent of
improved grassland increased by 9.1% between 1998 and 2007, from 831,000ha to
907,000ha. Much of the 2007 extent had been improved grassland in 1998 (78%). The
net increase within the cycle of crop rotation was due to the conversion of arable (14%)
and neutral grass (7%), and several other habitats (1%) to improved grassland. The
interchange of gains and losses between habitats is illustrated in Figure 6.2.
Figure 6.2
Change in extent of improved grassland broad habitat between 1998 and 2007
Source: Countryside Survey 2007
Note: negative changes (losses) are scaled differently from positive changes (gains)
losses
78% unchanged
gains
1% other
7% neutral grass
14% arable
800000
700000
600000
500000
400000
300000
200000
100000
0
-100000
-200000
area (ha)
Species richness decreased (total number of vascular plants present, at the level of
genus) as did the abundance of plants that tolerate or cast shade.
Neutral grassland broad habitat
Neutral grassland covered 5.8% of Scotland in 2007. The extent of neutral grassland
remained essentially unchanged between 1998 and 2007 (an apparent increase of
7.2%, from 430,000ha to 461,000ha was not statistically significant). Some 70% of the
2007 extent had been neutral grassland in 1998. Short-term interchanges associated
with the crop rotation cycle are evident, as well as conversion to coniferous woodland
(6%). The interchange of gains and losses between habitats is illustrated in Figure 6.3.
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