fao agri-environmental indicators - escap...

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS

Statistics

Division

Robert Mayo

UNECE/FAO/Eurostat Workshop on Environment Statistics

(Budva, Montenegro, May 2013)

Agri-Environmental statistics and

indicators within FAOSTAT


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Data for:

Agricultural production;

Forestry;

Fisheries;

Land use;

Fertilizers, pesticides, water, etc;

Emissions – agriculture and Land use;

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FAOSTAT (http://faostat.fao.org)


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World’s central repository of national agricultural

statistics data and key in:

• The development of environmental indicators;

• Assessing environmental costs and benefits;

• National accounts: with respect to environmental

expenditures, environmental taxes and subsidies;

• Production and trade in environmental goods and

services and hazardous substances, and resource

productivity.

FAOSTAT


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• Problems of scale: environmental phenomena are site

specific; statistics at the country level may be not very

significant in some cases (e.g. “big countries” like Russia,

with a variety of landscapes).

• Different data sources: questionnaires, surveys, remote

sensing, modeling, field measurements.

• Different data types: statistical data, geo-referenced

maps, etc.

Characteristics of Agri-Environmental

data


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Data source Pros Cons Issues Examples

Questionnaires Official dataLimited coverage;

Different compilers.

Methodologies,

reliabilityFAOSTAT

Surveys Standard methodologies

Different compilers,

Big projects: updates

quite rare

GLASOD

Remote sensing

Continuous monitoring,

Standard methodologies,

Global coverage at the

pixel scale.

Indirect

measurements

(inverse problem)

Methodologies,

Spatial resolution

issues, Quality

assessment

Vegetation

monitoring,

LC maps.

Modelling

Standard methodologies,

Global coverage at the

pixel scale (if spatial

modelling)

Dependence on

model limitations

Model reliability

Input data quality

(“garbage in,

garbage out”)

GAEZ land

suitability,

GLADIS

MeasurementsDirect measurements,

Input for geostatistical

processing.

Quality assessment,

Not uniform,

coverage, Point

measurements.,Vary

ing reliability

Meteo data

from stations

(CLIMPAG)

Agri-Environmental data


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Tables• Generally data at country level

• Usually from questionnaires

Geo-referenced datasets• Varying spatial resolutions

• Vector or raster formats

• Possible extraction of statistics according

to different subdivisions

Agri-Environmental data types


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Thematic area Database Examples of data

Climate CLIMPAG/ FAOCLIM-NetPrecipitation, ET, Temperature, Vap.Pressure, Wind

speed

Water AQUASTATAverage precip., Tot.Renew.Water Res.,

Agr.withdrawals.

Land &Water Land and Water Digital Media Series

Global map of Irrigated Areas, Soil and Terrain

Database for Southern Africa, Digital Soil Map of

the World and derived soil properites

Agriculture Agro-MAPSProduction, harvested area, Yield for different crops

(1981-2001). Large data gaps.

Environment, land

productivity,

population.

FGGD (Food Insecurity, Poverty and

Environment Global GIS Database)

Length of growing period (LGP) zones of the world,

Coefficient of variation (CV) of length of growing

period (LGP), 1901-1996

Environment,

population.GEONETWORK Catalogue

Global Change In Net Primary Productivity (1981-

2003); Global map of irrigated areas

Livestock GLW (Gridded Livestock of the World) Livestock density, Livestock production systems

Agricultural statistics FAOSTATStatistics on: production, trade, prices, land,

forestry, population, fertilizers, pesticides.

Forests FRA (Forest resource assessment)Forested areas, characteristics, policy, trends,

management.

Thematic area Database Examples of data

Climate CLIMPAG/ FAOCLIM-NetPrecipitation, ET, Temperature, Vap.Pressure, Wind

speed

Water AQUASTATAverage precip., Tot.Renew.Water Res.,

Agr.withdrawals.

Land &Water Land and Water Digital Media Series

Global map of Irrigated Areas, Soil and Terrain

Database for Southern Africa, Digital Soil Map of the

World and derived soil properites

Agriculture Agro-MAPSProduction, harvested area, Yield for different crops

(1981-2001). Large data gaps.

Environment, land

productivity, population.

FGGD (Food Insecurity, Poverty and

Environment Global GIS Database)

Length of growing period (LGP) zones of the world,

Coefficient of variation (CV) of length of growing period

(LGP), 1901-1996

Environment,

population.GEONETWORK Catalogue

Global Change In Net Primary Productivity (1981-

2003); Global map of irrigated areas

Livestock GLW (Gridded Livestock of the World) Livestock density, Livestock production systems

Agricultural statistics FAOSTATStatistics on: production, trade, prices, land, forestry,

population, fertilizers, pesticides.

Forests FRA (Forest resource assessment)Forested areas, characteristics, policy, trends,

management.

Fishery

FI Stat Statistics on : fish production, trade, fleet

FIRMS (Fishery Resources Monitoring

System)

Status and trends of fishery resources, characteristics

of resources and fisheries, management measures

Agri-Environmental databases at FAO


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Natural

ecosystems:Natural fluxes, high

biodiversity, highly

differentiated productivity.

Agroecosystems:low biodiversity and high

productivity (only for the

selected species)

maintained through

massive artificial inputs

(fertilizers, work,

pesticides).

Controlled natural

ecosystems

Fisheries and

forestry:Human intervention on

natural fluxes via harvest

control and enhancement

(planting, stocking,

fertilization, engineering,

pest/predator control),

med biodiversity, med

productivity.

Agri-Environmental characteristics


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Market ResponsesPrices-inputs,crops-

Organizational set-up

Environmental OutcomesDegradation of ecosystem

functions - productivity,

diversity, Natural resource

status

External FactorsFood demand

Preference, Trade,

Technology

AGRICULTURAL POLICY

Land Use and Management1.Land use choices

2. Crop Choice

3. Management practices (fertilizers,

pesticides, rotations)

Linking Policy and Environment

Natural Factors

Climate change,

Productivities,

Natural hazards, Bio-

security

Urbanization

Pollution, Wastages,

Degradation of

natural ecosystems

Fish & Forest Management

1. Harvest control

2. Enhancement (stocking,

plantation, pest control,

engineering)

ECONOMIC

POLICY


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An agri-environmental indicator is a summary

measure, combining raw data, used to describe the

state of the environment, a risk to the environment, a

change in the environment, or a driving force behind

such a change, that can be attributed wholly or in part

to an agricultural activity or activities.

from OECD 2000

Agri-environmental Indicators


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Policy relevance: need to monitor the impacts of agriculture

on the environment and the environmental performance of

the agricultural sector.

Eurostat 2011

Example: European directives requiring Agri-Environmental Indicators.

Agri-environmental Indicators: Policy relevance


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International activities on Agri-environmental indicators

in the last 15 years

Institution AreaN. of indicators

ReferencesFirst set Latest set

OECDOECD

countries37 18

Environmental

performance of

Agric. At a glance

Eurostat/EE

A/JRCEU-27 40 28

EEA. 1999.

Environmental

indicators:

typology and

overview.

European

Commission.

2006.

Communication

from the

Commission.

Agri-environmental Indicators


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– Dataset developed following as much as possible the

EUROSTAT and OECD frameworks.

– At the moment 25 indicators are available, plus a complete

new domain on Greenhouse Gases (GHG) Emissions.

– Data are from FAO databases and from external sources

(e.g. IEA, IFOAM).

FAOSTAT Agri-Env Indicators


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• UN/UNECE, World Bank, OECD, EUROSTAT and

other agencies in carrying on this work;

• Framework of the Development of Environment

Statistics(FDES);

• System of National Accounts (SNA);

• The Central Framework for System of

Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA).

FAO collaboration and international

methodology


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Environmental Commitments Protected area as % on total area

Organic Agriculture Organic Agriculture (% of total agricultural land)

N Fertilizers consumption/Arable land&Permanent Crops

P Fertilizers consumption/Arable land&Permanent Crops

N+P (total nutrients) consumption/Arable land&Permanent Crops

Pesticide Consumption Pesticide use by Ha Arable land&Permanent Crops

Area equipped for irrigation Area equipped for irrigation/Arable Land and Permanent Crops

Energy Energy use Share of agricultural energy consumption on the total energy consumption

Agricultural land use change Agricultural land use change compared to the previous year

Share agricultural land Agricultural Area/Land Area

Share Perm.Crops on AgrLand

Share Perm.Pasture on AgrLand

Share arable land on AgrLand

Conservation agriculture Conservation agriculture area as % of cultivated area

Cattle, Pigs, Sheep, Poultry total density

Pigs share on total livestock

Cattle share on total livestock

Poultry share on total livestock

Sheep share on total livestock

Air & Climate Change Ammonia emissions Share of agricultural ammonia emissions on total ammonia emissions

Water Water use in Agriculture Agricultural water withdrawal as % of total water withdrawal

Average Soil Erosion

Average Soil Degradation

Energy Bioenergy Share of bioenergy on total renewable energy production

State Soil Soil Quality Average carbon content in the Topsoil

Pressures

Land

Fertilizers

Driving Forces

Pesticides

Land

Livestock

Soil

Livestock patterns

Cropping patterns

Soil Erosion

Mineral Fertilizers Consumption

Domain Subdomain Indicator title Indicator definition

Responses

FAOSTAT Agri-Env Indicators


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Division FAOSTAT GHG emissions database


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Some Domains within FAOSTAT


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• Run off the land due to heavy

rainfall/erosion;

• Leaching into groundwater;

• Escape in the form of gas into

atmosphere.

Fertilizers use issues


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Fertilizers consumption: patterns per region

FERTILIZER CONSUMPTION TO ARABLE LAND RATIO

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Worl

d

De

velo

pe

d

Eco

no

mie

s in

tra

nsiti

on

Develo

pin

g

La

tin A

m &

the

Ca

rib

b.

Ne

ar

Ea

st &

Nort

h A

fric

a

Su

b-S

ah

ara

n A

fric

a

E. A

sia

, S

outh

E. A

sia

& C

hin

a

So

uth

Asia

Afr

ica

La

tin A

me

rica

Ca

rib

be

an

Asia

Oce

an

ia

Austr

alia

and

Ne

w Z

ea

l.

kh/ha

1980/81 1990/91 2002 2005


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Pesticides use issues

• Overuse and abuse of pesticides at many places E.g.: cotton, vegetables, rice;

• Highly toxic products: Some countries are lagging behind in phasing out high incidence of accidental and self poisoning;

• Food safety and other public health risks (residues);

• Environmental risks ;

• Market access Pesticide residue requirements are increasingly important in trade;

• Pesticide quality (Illegal trade in pesticides; counterfeit products; some countries lack sufficient quality control);

• Obligations under international instruments.


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Pesticides consumption (hundreds of tonnes, 2008)


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Indicator: Pesticides average usage (tonnes /Ha agricultural area, 2008 )

As seen in the previous

slide, China is the biggest

consumer of pesticides.

However, to evaluate the

environmental impact it is

important to consider the

actual average usage (an

AgriEnv Indicator).


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4,000,000,000 ha

31%OF TOTAL LAND AREA

The world’s forests


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1990-2000: -8.3 million ha/year

2000-2010: -5.2 million ha/year

Net change = Σ(gain) - Σ(loss)


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and aquaculture production in the world


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Status of world marine stocks

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1974 1979 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009

%

Non-fully exploited

Fully exploited

Overexploited


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Agri-Environmental statistics at FAO: the ESS website


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Further information and acknowledgements

Further information available at:

FAO Statistics Division: http://www.fao.org/economic/ess/ess-agri/ess-resource-meth/en/

FAOSTAT : Land, Fertilizers and Pesticides: http://faostat.fao.org/site/575/default.aspx#ancor

FAOSTAT : Emissions - Agriculture: http://faostat3.fao.org/home/index.html#DOWNLOAD

Acknowledgements:

The input of Dominic Ballayan, Giorgia De Santis and Simona

Mosco is very much appreciated in preparing this presentation.

fao agri-environmental indicators - escap...

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