Land is a term widely used throughout the world but definitions are not frequently given. The interdepartmental working group on land use planning (IDWG-LUP) at FAO proposed in 1994 the following definition: "A delineable area of the earth's terrestrial surface, embracing all attributes of the biosphere immediately above or below this surface, including those of the near surface climate, the soil and terrain forms, the surface hydrology including shallow lakes, rivers, marshes and swamps, the near-surface sedimentary layers and associated groundwater and geohydrological reserves, the plant and animal populations, the human settlement pattern and physical results of past and present human activity (terracing, water storage or drainage structures, roads, buildings, etc.)". The question of the area to be taken into consideration is also introduced through the former definition: "all attributes of the biosphere immediately above or below the surface". For land cover, the question is easily solved: the reference area for land is above the surface (see definitions next chapter). For land use, the situation is more complex: from a pragmatic point of view and considering the importance and the significance in terms of economic value of multiple-use aspects for "urban" areas, the understanding of land should also embrace uses above and below ground level. Particular problems may be found with mine deposits, subways beneath urban areas, water resources, mushroom beds, etc. For example: areas used for oil extraction; is it the whole field of extraction (and to a certain extent the whole oil concession), or is it limited to the oil well itself? In order to limit potential problems it is proposed to restrict its application to reasonable cases. It is suggested to allow "urban" uses above and below ground level (case of buildings with shops at ground level, flats and offices above, car parks below). The most important problem remains in fact with extraction activities of natural resources (including water resources). Considering this difficulty (and also the difficult task to collect appropriate data) it is suggested to restrict the extension of such uses to their physical impact at ground level (oil well, entrance of mushroom beds etc.). This principle may be generalised for any kind of uses. Given the context of global information systems of land cover and land use and the difficulty to establish clear thresholds between land and water (particularly for wetlands), it is recommended to extend the concept of land to inland water areas and tidal flats. This approach and proposal of definition is to be clearly separated from the concepts utilised by statisticians for the determination of land area used for statistical purposes. Eurostat has recently proposed the concept of Land area to be used for statistical purposes, therefore excluding lakes, rivers and coastal areas. This is easily understood in the context for example of calculation of population densities where 17% of a country such as Netherlands is covered by water areas. The Eurostat approach is driven by the necessity to provide harmonised statistical data, the best example being the calculation of densities of population (figures for the Netherlands are changing dramatically if water areas are included within the total area of the country.

Eurostat, 2001, Manual of concepts on land cover and land use information systems (2000 Edition), European Commission, ISBN 92-894-0432-9.

Source category: EC Technical Documents