| Name |
Description |
Code value |
| alpineNorth |
The mountains and uplands of western Scandinavia together with the narrow coastal plain.
-- Description --
The Zone has been heavily glaciated typified not only by deep U-shaped valleys but also by the indented fjord coastline. Much of the land surface is covered by glacial deposits of various types. The climate of the western scarp is oceanic because of the influence of the Gulf Stream and becomes progressively continental further east. The severe temperature regime and terrain constraints restrict modern agriculture to the coastal fringe, but extensive grazing is also present elsewhere, although often in decline. The land cover is dominated by arctic tundra in the north, arctic-alpine grasslands and in the higher mountains and extensive dwarf and low heaths elsewhere. The decline in grazing is leading to widespread colonisation by forest adding to the extensive existing coniferous forests of spruce and pine as well as birch.
|
|
| alpineSouth |
The high, medium and low mountains of Central Europe.
-- Description --
Mostly belonging to the main Alpine orogenic belt as well as minor ranges. Deep U-shaped glaciated valleys dissect the peaks, which are sufficiently high in the Alps to have glaciers but even elsewhere may have long snow cover. Crops are therefore restricted to the valleys where there are also extensive urban areas and fertile pastures. The mountain slopes are covered by coniferous forests of spruce and larch, as well as various types of deciduous forest on the more fertile soils. The former are used for forestry and the latter are mainly for protection. Above the tree line there are extensively managed grasslands and various types of alpine heaths depending on altitude and soil type.
EXAMPLE The Carpathians, Pyrenees, Alps, the Massif Central, Picos de Europa and Tatra.
|
|
| anatolian |
Environmental zone comprising the following regions: 1 West Anatolia (Turkey); 2 Central Anatolia (Turkey).
|
|
| atlanticCentral |
The south west and south of the British Isles, Northern France and the Low countries.
-- Description --
The land consists mainly of lowlands with level or undulating terrain according to geology, but also has some uplands in the west and south. The climate is typically strongly oceanic in the west, with cool wet winters and mild moist summers, but becomes more continental in the east. Arable agriculture dominates through much of the Zone, but there are also fertile and extensive grasslands in the west and in the uplands that have associated grazing systems. Some low heaths are also present in the west, but were originally more widespread. Deciduous forests are present locally on shallow soils as well as some coniferous plantations, mainly pine. Many major conurbations are present throughout the Zone.
|
|
| atlanticNorth |
The uplands and low mountains in central and northern Britain, Northern Ireland, and the west coast of Norway as well as the coastal plains. The lowlands of Denmark and north west Germany are also in the Zone.
-- Description --
There is a contrast between the glaciated landscapes of the north and west of the Zone and the deposition features present in the south and east. The climate is strongly oceanic in the west with typical mild wet winters and moist cool summers, but becomes more continental in the east. Crops can be grown throughout zone except in the north and west where they are restricted to the lowlands. As a result the southern strata of the Zone are dominated by arable land whereas the northern have various types of grassland enterprise such as dairy and sheep. The former strata also have much urban land cover. Low heaths and bogs are widespread in the mountains, but have now largely disappeared in the lowlands. In the British uplands there are extensive plantations of spruce, but otherwise the forest cover is mostly deciduous.
|
|
| boreal |
The eastern slopes of the Scandinavian mountains, as well as the undulating plains and lowlands of the northern and eastern Baltic.
-- Description --
The Zone has been heavily glaciated which resulted in the deposition of many residual features such as moraines and eskers. The climate is continental, with a large annual temperature range. The severe temperature restricts crop production to the extreme south, but fertile grasslands are present further north. The land is dominated by coniferous forests of spruce and pine often mixed with birch and aspen, utilised by a major forest industry. There is also an extensive cover of bog types, as well as dwarf and low heaths at higher altitudes which are often grazed by reindeer. There are many wetlands and lakes, especially in Finland.
|
|
| continental |
The plains and lowlands of Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans as well as some of the lower hills on the margin of ALS.
-- Description --
The geology and soils are variable and cause much of the variation in land cover. The climate is continental, with large annual temperature ranges and precipitation concentrated the summer months. The continental character is more pronounced in the east than in the extreme west of the Zone. Crops and fertile grassland and associated agricultural enterprises are dominant in much of the Zone. Extensive forests are present locally on shallow and poor soils, with beech and planted spruce and pine widespread and most areas being managed for timber production. Major urban areas are present throughout the Zone, which also has major river systems.
|
|
| lusitanian |
The coastal plain and low hills of west and south west France, as well as northern Spain and Portugal.
-- Description --
The climate is warm and wet, with precipitation concentrated in the winter months. The long growing seasons and high water availability means that the widespread fertile grasslands can be cut several times in the year. Crops are locally important on better soils, and vineyards are also important throughout the Zone. There is a major pine forest in the Landes in France, with further extensive pine and Eucalypt plantations on former heathlands. Native woodlands are restricted in cover and the heathlands are now fragmented. The coastal plain is heavily urbanised.
|
|
| mediterraneanMountains |
The low- and medium high mountains in the northern Mediterranean.
-- Description --
Around the margins of the main mountain ranges such as the Pyrenees and Alps as well as includes the low- and medium height mountains in the northern Mediterranean around the margins of the main ranges such as the Pyrenees and Alps as well as high mountains in the south. The climate is Mediterranean, with warm summers and precipitation concentrated in the winter months, with more precipitation than elsewhere in the Mediterranean. Poor soils and difficult terrain restrict crop production over much of the Zone, but together with vineyards, these are still locally important. Extensive grasslands are still widespread and used for cattle and sheep grazing, but overall these are in decline, with subsequent scrub invasion, especially of broom and <i>Cistus</i> species. There are some alpine grassland on the highest mountains and locally extensive deciduous and coniferous forests, sometimes planted.
|
|
| mediterraneanNorth |
The lowlands of the northern and central Mediterranean, but also hills and low mountains further south.
-- Description --
The topography is diverse and includes coastal plains, plateaus with isolated mountains, foothills and mountain valleys. The climate is Mediterranean, with warm and dry summers and precipitation concentrated in the winter months. Crop production is constrained by water availability, and permanent irrigation is locally important to increase productivity. Vineyards are important throughout the Zone and olives are also grown in the south. Orchards are also locally important as are grasslands in agricultural use, although these are often in decline. Various scrub formations are therefore widespread and increasing in cover, as well as evergreen and pine forests. There are many major conurbations in the Zone and the coastal belt especially is highly urbanised.
|
|
| mediterraneanSouth |
Plains and uplands in the southern Mediterranean and some lowlands in northern Spain and the Rhone delta in France.
-- Description --
The topography is diverse and includes coastal plains, plateaus with isolated mountains, foothills and mountain valleys. The climate is Mediterranean, with hot and dry summer and maximum of precipitations in winter. Water availability restricts crop production, but arable land is still widespread and yields often increased by permanent irrigation and plastic greenhouses. Vineyards and olive groves are an important land cover throughout the Zone. Grazing of extensive grasslands is in decline with widespread scrub invasion adding to the existing extensive cover. Dehesas and Montados are also important, especially in Spain and Portugal. Otherwise forest cover is restricted because of long over-exploitation, but pine forests are important locally. The coastal belt is highly urbanised.
|
|
| nemoral |
The lowlands and undulating plains of the southern and eastern Baltic to a variable extent inland and extending in the west to the North Sea coast.
-- Description --
The Zone has been heavily glaciated which has resulted in the deposition of many surface features such as moraines and eskers. The climate is continental and cool, but suitable for crop production on the better soils, although abandonment is taking place in marginal regions. Whilst managed grasslands are widespread, the land is mainly covered by coniferous forest of pine and spruce often mixed with birch and aspen, utilised by a major forest industry. Bogs and large floodplain marshes are present throughout the Zone, but especially in the east.
|
|
| pannonian |
The plains, valleys and mountain fringes in the middle and the lower Danube basin, the Black Sea lowlands and a small outlier in the central Rhine valley.
-- Description --
The warm continental climate has a steppic character and the concentration of precipitation in early summer can lead to water shortages. Much of the land is relatively flat, but there are some low hills and differences in geology causing regional variations. Arable agriculture dominates throughout the Zone and is converted from the original steppic grasslands, which now only remain usually in small patches. Forest cover, although locally important, is restricted in extent. There are some large lakes and major river systems. |
|