The aim of the Native Woodland Survey of Scotland (NWSS) was
to undertake a baseline survey of all native woodlands, nearly native woodlands
and PAWS sites in Scotland in order to create a woodland map linked to a
dataset showing type, extent and condition of those woods.
The objectives were to:
Identify the location, type, extent and condition of all native and nearly native woodlands and Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS - as identified from the Ancient Woodland Inventory) in Scotland.Produce a baseline survey map of all native woodland, nearly native woodland and PAWS in Scotland.Collect baseline information to enable future monitoring of the extent and condition of the total Scottish native woodland resource.Provide information to support policy development and the
delivery of social, environmental and development forestry.
The following NWSS datasets are available from Scottish
Forestry.
Native Woodland Survey of Scotland (base map and polygon level attributes)NWSS Canopy StructureNWSS Habitat ComponentsNWSS Herbivore ImpactNWSS InvasivesNWSS Other TraitsNWSS Species Structures
The following describes the layers available from Scottish
Forestry and also gives an indication of the nature of the spatial data and the
related component non-spatial data. (N.B. Every table contains a SCPTDATA_I
field. This is a unique field which is used to link all other component
tables). If you wish to carry out complex analysis, particularly involving
elements of the components tables, e.g. species selection, you should do so
using GIS software.
NWSS Map:
This is a straightforward view of the data which describes
the type of NWSS polygon based on the following categories:
Native woodland: >50% native species in the canopyNearly-native woodland: >=40% and <=50% native species in the canopyOpen land habitat: <20% canopy cover, usually 100% surrounded by woodland and adjoining a native woodlandPAWS: A woodland area wholly or partially identified in the
Ancient Semi-natural Woodland Inventory as ancient semi-natural but currently
not semi-natural.
NWSS Nativeness:
Displays the percentage share of native species in the total
canopy. This ranges from 0% to 100% in 5% classes.
NWSS Habitat:
This view of the data shows the priority woodland type and
National Vegetation Classification (NVC) woodland community. Open land habitat
is defined by UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) type.
A dominant habitat is recorded for each polygon, however
some polygons have habitats of equal dominance. In this case only one of the
habitats is recorded in the top level spatial data. To identify all of the
habitats in a particular polygon please refer to the NWSS Habitat Components
table.
Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) may not display
in the Habitat layer if a surveyor has not recorded a native priority habitat
type for the site. This will happen when a site is non-native.
NWSS Canopy Cover:
Displays as a percentage, an assessment of the area covered
by trees/shrubs. Values range from 0% to 100% in 10% classes. A minimum of 20%
canopy cover is required to define woodland, so the 10% and 20% bands are
skewed to allow for this.
NWSS Canopy
Structures:
This displays the number of different structures recorded in
a polygon (ranging from 0 to 6). The types of recorded structures are veteran,
mature, pole immature, shrub, established regeneration or visible regeneration.
A dominant structure is recorded for each polygon, however
some polygons have structures of equal dominance. In this case only one of the
structures is recorded in the top level spatial data. To identify all of the
structures in a particular polygon please refer to the NWSS Canopy Structures.
Information on the species identified in each polygon is
also in the NWSS Canopy Structures layer and table.
NWSS Semi-naturalness:
This view of the data shows the percentage of the polygon
that is semi-natural. Values range from 0% to 100% in 10% bands.
NWSS Maturity:
This indicates the approximate stage of woodland development
as either: mature, young, regenerating, mixed or shrub. The value is based on
the dominance of the structures recorded; a mixed maturity means that none of
the others values are dominant.
NWSS Other Traits:
This layer records whether or not there are any other
attributes which have been recorded in the polygon. The details of any other
traits that have been found can be accessed by viewing the related information
attached to a polygon.
NWSS Herbivore Impact:
This view of the data shows the overall impact that
herbivores have had on a polygon.
Summary of Attributes
SCPTDATA_I Polygon ID (Unique identifier)PAWS_SURVY Surveyed as PAWSTYPE TypeCANOPY_PCT Canopy cover percentageNATIVE_PCT Native species percentageDOM_HABITA Dominant habitat typeDOM_HB_PCT Dominant habitat type percentageSEMINT_PCT Semi-natural percentageSTRUCT_NUM Number of structuresMATURITY MaturityDOM_STRUCT Dominant structureHERBIVORE Herbivore impactER_NAT_PCT Percentage of establish regeneration of native speciesINVASV_PCT Invasive species percentageINVASV_NUM Number of invasive speciesOTHR_TRAIT Other traits recordedHECTARES Area in hectaresFor more detailed information please see the metadata record on
Scotland's SpatialData.gov.scot Metadata Portal