Fate of semi-natural grassland in England between 1960 and 2013: A test of national conservation policy

Abstract

It is well documented that significant losses in semi-natural grassland occurred across
\nEurope during the second half of the twentieth century. However, comparatively few
\nstudies have investigated and quantified the fate of large numbers of individual grassland
\nareas. This is important for understanding the causes of decline, and consequently
\nestablishing new policies to conserve and restore lost habitats. This study addresses this
\nproblem; GIS was used to compare historic survey data collected between 1960 and 1981
\nwith two contemporary spatial datasets of habitats in England. The datasets included the
\nPriority Habitats Inventory 2013 and the Land Cover Map 2007 and this was undertaken for
\ndifferent types of semi-natural grassland across England. Considerable decreases occurred
\nacross the different grassland types, with a loss of 47% of studied semi-natural grasslands
\nsites in England over 32–53 years. Of this, the majority of grassland was lost to conversion to
\nagriculturally-improved grassland or arable cultivation, 45% and 43% respectively. Changes
\nto woodland and urban areas were also evident, but on a much smaller scale. Sites receiving
\nstatutory protection as a Site of Special Scientific Interest were found to have retained
\nmore grassland (91%), compared with non-protected sites (27%), thus highlighting the
\neffectiveness of this aspect of current conservation policy in England, and the need for this
\nto continue in the future.