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The configuration of land use, i.e., the distribution within a landscape section, can be described by the size and shape of the land use units or by the indices of connectivity or fragmentation derived from these for a reference area. The effective mesh size (meff) serves as a measure of landscape fragmentation; it quantifies the spatial heterogeneity of fields based on the size distribution of field parcels. It indicates the probability that two randomly selected points in a region lie within the same patch. With uniform reference units (area sections of equal size), values from different regions can be directly compared. Low meff values indicate a smaller average field size and thus greater spatial heterogeneity; high values are an indication of extensive, open agricultural landscapes. The indicator is based on a 7-year time series (currently 2017–2023) with national spatial coverage.
Last updated: 2026 (Based on Indicator Sheet v2025_1)