Land cover change

Considerable changes have taken place within Scotland's towns and countryside since the 1940s. Urban expansion, road development and afforestation were among the more striking. Changes in the structure of farmland, or in the extent and condition of moorland, may have been less obvious. Yet they have been no less relevant to the visual appearance of the countryside, to its wildlife, and to the quality of experience for outdoor recreation and enjoyment.

Scottish Natural Heritage has been closely involved in two major studies of land cover change in Scotland.

1947 - 1988: The National Countryside Monitoring scheme

The National Countryside Monitoring Scheme (NCMS) is a sample survey that quantifies land cover change in Scotland from aerial photography captured around 1947, 1973 and 1988.

View a summary of the recorded changes

1990 - 2007: Countryside Survey

Countryside Survey is a major audit of the British countryside. It comprises a sample survey of detailed field observations and a complete land cover census for Great Britain and Northern Ireland based on interpreted satellite imagery. Three surveys have been undertaken to date: one in 1990; one in 1998 (referred to as CS2000) and one in 2007.

Full details of the 1998 survey can be obtained from the Countryside Survey 2000 website  .

Results for the 2007 survey, including a Scottish Summary  , are available on the Countryside Survey 2007 website.