Landscape fragmentation Effective Mesh Density time-series, 2009: major and medium anthropogenic fragmenting elements (FGA2-S) - version 1.0, Nov. 2019

This dataset is the new version of the Effective Mesh Density (seff) 2016 dataset with improved input data, for the year 2009. This new dataset uses the Copernicus Imperviousness and the TomTom TeleAtlas datasets as fragmenting geometries. The Effective Mesh Density (seff) is a measure of the degree to which movement between different parts of the landscape is interrupted by a Fragmentation Geometry (FG). FGs are defined as the presence of impervious surfaces and traffic infrastructure, including medium sized roads. The more FGs fragment the landscape, the higher the effective mesh density hence the higher the fragmentation. The geographic coverage of the dataset is EEA39 except these countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Iceland, Kosovo (UNSCR 1244/99), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Türkiye. An important consequence of landscape fragmentation is the increased isolation of ecosystem patches that breaks the structural connections and decreases resilience and ability of habitats to provide various ecosystem services. Fragmentation also influences human communities, agriculture, recreation and overall quality of life. Monitoring how fragmentation decreases landscape quality and changes the visual perception of landscapes provides information for policy measures that aim at improving ecosystem condition and restoration as well as maintaining the attractiveness of landscapes for recreational activities.