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Changes in the spatial patterns of human appropriation of net primary production (HANPP) in Europe 1990–2006

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Abstract

Understanding patterns, dynamics, and drivers of land use is crucial for improving our ability to cope with sustainability challenges. The human appropriation of net primary production (HANPP) framework provides a set of integrated socio-ecological indicators that quantify how land use alters energy flows in ecosystems via land conversions and biomass harvest. Thus, HANPP enables researchers to systematically and consistently assess the outcome of changes in land cover and land-use intensity across spatio-temporal scales. Yet, fine-scale HANPP assessments are so far missing, an information important to address site-specific ecological implications of land use. Here, we provide such an assessment for Europe at a 1-km scale for the years 1990, 2000, and 2006. The assessment was based on a consistent land-use/biomass flow dataset derived from statistical data, remote sensing maps, and a dynamic global vegetation model. We find that HANPP in Europe amounted to ~43 % of potential productivity, well above the global average of ~25 %, with little variation in the European average since 1990. HANPP was highest in Central Europe and lower in Northern and Southern Europe. At the regional level, distinct changes in land-use intensity were observed, most importantly the decline of cropland areas and yields following the breakdown of socialism in Eastern Europe and the subsequent recovery after 2000, or strong dynamics related to storm events that resulted in massive salvage loggings. In sum, however, these local dynamics cancelled each other out at the aggregate level. We conclude that this finding warrants further research into aspects of the scale-dependency of dynamics and stability of land use.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge support by the European Commission (Project VOLANTE FP7-ENV-2010-265104), the European Research Council (ERC-2010-Stg-263522 LUISE), and the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), Project P20812-G11. This article contributes to the Global Land Project (http://www.globallandproject.org). Spatial data presented in this study will be made available at http://www.uni-klu.ac.at/socec/inhalt/1088.htm.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Social Ecology Vienna, Alpen-Adria Universität Klagenfurt, Wien, Graz, Schottenfeldgasse 29, 1070, Vienna, Austria

    Christoph Plutzar, Christine Kroisleitner, Helmut Haberl, Tamara Fetzel, Thomas Kastner, Christian Lauk, Maria Niedertscheider & Karl-Heinz Erb

  2. Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, TP 266, Via E. Fermi, 21027, Ispra, VA, Italy

    Claudia Bulgheroni & Maria Luisa Paracchini

  3. Earth System Analysis, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Telegraphenberg A 31, 14473, Potsdam, Germany

    Tim Beringer & Sibyll Schaphoff

  4. Department of Geography, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099, Berlin, Germany

    Patrick Hostert, Tobias Kuemmerle, Christian Levers & Daniel Müller

  5. Integrative Research Institute on Transformations in Human Environment Systems, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Quartier Stadtmitte, Friedrichstraße 191, 10117, Berlin, Germany

    Helmut Haberl, Patrick Hostert, Tobias Kuemmerle & Daniel Müller

  6. Sustainability and Climate Change Programme, European Forest Institute, Yliopistokatu 6, 80100, Joensuu, Finland

    Marcus Lindner & Pieter J. Verkerk

  7. Department of Conservation Biology, Vegetation- and Landscape Ecology, Faculty Centre of Biodiversity, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, 1030, Vienna, Austria

    Dietmar Moser

  8. Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO), Theodor-Lieser-Str. 2, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany

    Daniel Müller

  9. Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Peter H. Verburg

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  1. Christoph Plutzar
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  2. Christine Kroisleitner
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  3. Helmut Haberl
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Correspondence to Karl-Heinz Erb.

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Plutzar, C., Kroisleitner, C., Haberl, H. et al. Changes in the spatial patterns of human appropriation of net primary production (HANPP) in Europe 1990–2006. Reg Environ Change 16, 1225–1238 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-015-0820-3

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