The development and potential application of a land use monitoring programme for high nature value farmland and forest quality and quantity in the Republic of Ireland

Abstract

Conserving natural resources and halting biodiversity loss are key environmental objectives of the European Union. High Nature Value farmland and forest (HNVFF) areas are associated with high biodiversity and other public goods. Currently, there are few dedicated HNV farmland and no HNV forest quality and quantity monitoring systems implemented in Europe, and none are in use in the Republic of Ireland. This study presents a conceptual framework to monitor quality, quantity, and change of HNVFF areas in the Republic of Ireland. The methods were tested using a set of monad sampling cells distributed across a range of representative landscapes. High resolution sampling cell habitat cover maps were developed using a national spatial database and recent orthoimagery, and a subsequent revision of the cell maps was performed using historical orthoimagery. This enabled a simulation of a 13-year monitoring cycle to compare trends in HNV farmland and forest quality, quantity, connectivity, and habitat categorical change. A contrasting trend of decreasing HNV farmland and increasing HNV forest quantity was observed over the monitoring period.Categorical habitat change detection identified a range of HNV habitat loss and gain, driven predominantly by land use intensification, but also by ecological succession and technogenic pressures. To upscale the monitoring to national scale, a sampling strategy using a recent landscape classification is proposed. The national monitoring approach aims to meet the needs of evolving policy requirements. This provides a useful example for countries seeking to establish their HNVFF and other land cover monitoring systems.