BROAD HABITATS

The Broad Habitats classification is a generalised classification of land cover, developed for the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. It can be used to compare habitats in different parts of the UK. Each Broad Habitat in NI comprises several Primary Habitats, the basic field mapping units of NICS2000.
Summary of Broad Habitats in Northern Ireland
The main Broad Habitats in NI are Improved grassland (42.0%), Neutral grassland (18.7%) and Bog (11.0%). NI has 6% of the land area of the UK but contains 29% of the UK Neutral Grassland and 9% of the UK Fen, Marsh & Swamp (bar chart). NI also contains 13% of the UK Boundaries and Linear Features Broad Habitat.

Click on a Broad Habitat to find out which Primary Habitats it contains.
Broad Habitats Land cover
(1998)
Code Habitats % ha SE CV
BH01 Broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland 3.8 51297 4757 9.3
BH02 Coniferous woodland 4.5 61190 7532 12.3
BH03 Boundaries and linear features        
BH04 Arable and horticulture 4.3 58541 7494 12.8
BH05 Improved grassland 42.0 568192 17651 3.1
BH06 Neutral grassland 18.7 253887 12673 5.0
BH07 Calcareous grassland 0.1 936 234 25.0
BH08 Acid grassland 2.1 28291 3792 13.4
BH09 Bracken (dense) 0.3 4426 836 18.9
BH10 Heath (Dwarf shrub heath) 0.9 12577 2375 18.9
BH11 Wetland (Fen, marsh and swamp) 3.9 53006 4066 7.7
BH12 Bog 11.0 148310 11682 7.9
BH13 Waterbodies (Standing open water and canals)        
BH14 Rivers and streams        
BH15 Montane habitats 0.0 0 0 0.0
BH16 Inland rock        
BH17 Urban 8.2 111444 na na
BH18 Maritime <0.1 528 270 51.0
BH19 Supralittoral sediment 0.1 1571 655 41.7
BH20 Littoral rock        
BH21 Littoral sediment        
Note : Land cover:   % = percentage of land area, na = not available.
                            SE = the Standard Error in ha.
                            CV = Standard Error as a percentage of the estimate.