DOCSLIB.ORG

Use of National Forest Inventories to Downscale European Forest

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Use of National Forest Inventories to Downscale European Forest Use of National Forest Inventories to downscale European forest diversity spatial information in five test areas, covering different geo-physical and geo- botanical conditions Puletti N. (1), Egberth, M. (2), Estreguil, C. (3), Ginzler, C. (4), Granke, O. (5) , Marchetti, M. (1), Russ,R.(6) , Steinmeier, C. (4) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) EUR24298 EN-2010 The mission of the Institute for Environment and Sustainability is to provide scientific-technical support to the European Union’s Policies for the protection and sustainable development of the European and global environment. European Commission Joint Research Centre Institute for Environment and Sustainability Contact information Address: Via Enrico Fermi,2749 Ispra,Varese- 21020 Italy E-mail: [email protected] Tel.: +39 0332 785422 Fax: +39 0332 786561 http://ies.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ http://www.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ Legal Notice Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use which might be made of this publication. Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union Freephone number (*): 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (*) Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00 800 numbers or these calls may be billed. 2 A great deal of additional information on the European Union is available on the Internet. It can be accessed through the Europa server http://europa.eu/ JRC 57416 EUR 24298 EN ISSN 1018-5593 ISBN 978-92-79-15311-2 DOI 10.2788/7890 Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities © European Union, 2010 Reproduction is authorized provided the source is acknowledged Printed in Italy 3 “ Use of National Forest Inventories to downscale European forest diversity spatial information in five test areas, covering different geo-physical and geo-botanical conditions “ Project Consortium Italian Academy of Forest Sciences, ITALY, coordinator Nicola Puletti, Marco Marchetti, Piermaria Corona, Davide Travaglini, Gherardo Chirici Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SWEDEN Mikael Egberth, Matts Nilsson Institute of Forest Ecosystem Research, CZECH REPUBLIC Radek Russ, Jana Beranova Federal Research Centre for Forestry and Forest Products, Institute for World Forestry , GERMANY Oliver Granke, Richard Fisher Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, SWITZERLAND Christian Ginzler, Charlotte Steinmeier 4 Preface The present study was developed in the context of Regulation (EC) 2152/2003 on the monitoring of forest and environmental interactions, the so-called "Forest Focus" Regulation. The Forest Focus regulation centered specifically on the monitoring of the effects of atmospheric pollution and fires on European forests, previously addressed by Council Regulation (EEC) No 3528/86 of 17 November 1986 on the protection of the Community's forests against atmospheric pollution and Council Regulation (EEC) No 2158/92 of 23 July 1992 on protection of the Community's forests against fire. Furthermore, “Forest Focus” aimed at encouraging the exchange of information on the condition of and harmful influences on forests in the Community and enabling the evaluation of ongoing measures to promote conservation and protection of forests, with particular emphasis on actions taken to reduce impacts negatively affecting forests. In order to promote a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between forests and the environment, the scheme also included the financing of studies and pilot projects aiming at the development of monitoring schemes for other important factors such as biodiversity, carbon sequestration, climate change, soils and the protective function of forests. The EC launched and financed a series of seven studies dealing with the following topics: 1. Climate change impact and carbon sequestration in European forests 2. Development of a simple and efficient method field assessment of forest fire severity 3. Use of National Forest Inventories to downscale European forest diversity spatial information in five test areas, covering different geo-physical and geo-botanical conditions 4. Harmonizing National Forest Inventories in Europe 5. Development of harmonised Indicators and estimation procedures for forests with protective functions against natural hazards in the alpine space 6. Linking and harmonizing the forests spatial pattern analyses at European, National and Regional scales for a better characterization of the forests vulnerability and resilience 7. Evaluation of the set-up of the Level I and Level II forest monitoring under Forest Focus. This study (topic 3 in the above list) aims at addressing and demonstrating the integration of two different data sources i.e. forest biodiversity variables available from National Forest Inventories (NFIs) in European countries and landscape level forest spatial pattern maps easily obtained from remote sensing based forest cover maps. This study addresses the link between the two data sources. It also includes the first concrete harmonization exercise of forest biodiversity variables available from National Forest Inventories (NFIs) in five countries. Ernst Schulte Jesus San-Miguel-Ayanz Directorate General Environment Joint Research Centre 6 Table of contents Executive summary ....................................................................................................10 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................15 1.1. Objectives of the project ................................................................................ 15 1.2. Organization of the project ............................................................................. 17 1.3. Related projects............................................................................................ 17 1.4. From the proposal to the operative work .......................................................... 18 2. Bibliographic review..........................................................................................20 2.1. Definition of biodiversity ................................................................................ 20 2.1.1. What scale / level is of our concern ........................................................... 20 2.2. International projects and programmes devoted to biodiversity ........................... 24 2.2.1. (BioAssess) Biodiversity Assessment Tools ................................................. 24 2.2.2. BEAR (Biodiversiry Evaluation Tools for European forests) ............................ 25 2.2.3. ForestBiota (Forest Biodiversity Test Phase Assessments) ............................ 26 2.2.4. ALTER-Net (A Long-Term Biodiversity, Ecosystem and Research Network) ...... 26 2.2.5. SEBI 2010 (Streamlining European 2010 Biodiversity Indicators) .................. 26 2.2.6. DIVERSITAS .......................................................................................... 27 2.2.7. JRC activities ......................................................................................... 28 2.3. Biodiversity assessment ................................................................................. 28 2.3.1. Key factors ............................................................................................ 29 2.3.2. Indicators.............................................................................................. 29 2.3.3. Categorisation of indicators...................................................................... 30 2.3.4. Compositional indicators.......................................................................... 30 2.3.5. Structural indicators ............................................................................... 37 2.3.6. Functional indicators ............................................................................... 44 2.3.7. Pros and contras of indicators .................................................................. 44 2.3.8. Biodiversity indices (species level) ............................................................ 46 2.3.9. Pros and contras of indices ...................................................................... 50 2.4. Data sources and method used in biodiversity assessment .................................. 51 2.4.1. National Forest Inventories (NFI).............................................................. 51 2.4.2. Specific monitoring programmes............................................................... 52 2.4.3. Remote sensing ..................................................................................... 53 2.4.4. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) ..................................................... 55 2.4.5. Combination of different data sources........................................................ 55 2.4.6. Downscaling .......................................................................................... 59 2.4.7. Conclusion to bibliographic review............................................................. 63 3. Test areas .......................................................................................................64 7 3.1. Test data for the Mediterranean test site (Italy)................................................. 65 3.2. Test data for the Continental test site (Czech Republic) ...................................... 67 3.3. Test data for the Altantic Test Site (Germany)................................................... 69 3.4. Test data for the Alpine Test Site (Switzerland) ................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Young People & Brexit
    YOUNG PEOPLE & BREXIT by Flavia Williams, Dominic Brind, and Thomas Peto Published by Our Future, Our Choice Our Future, Our Choice is a youth movement campaigning for a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal. Our Future, Our Choice Millbank Tower, Millbank, Westminster, London SW1P 4QP www.ofoc.co.uk The authors would like to extend their thanks to all those who have helped with this report. As well as those who would prefer not to be named, we would like to thank Dr. Manmit Bhambra for her kind advice and guidance, and the policy team at Open Britain. !2 CONTENTS Foreword 4 The RT Hon Sir John Major KG CH .……………………………………………….……………………………………………………….. Executive Summary 7 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… An Outward Looking Generation 11 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… The Price of Brexit 14 Tommy Peto ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Youth Opportunity: Education and Employment 24 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Children and Brexit 27 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Securing Data after Brexit 31 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Protecting Young Workers 35 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… The Environmental Cost 38 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Bibliography 40 !3 FOREWORD The RT Hon Sir John Major KG CH Our decision to leave the EU is one of the most divisive policies in British history. Our Future, Our Choice sets out with great clarity the implications for young people, and I commend it warmly. Brexit has divided the component parts of the UK, placing England and Wales (as “Leavers”), in opposition to Scotland and Northern Ireland. It has divided our mainstream political parties; business and commerce; communities; friends — and even families. In many cases, these scars run deep. People who voted for Brexit did so with high hopes — most of which will be unrealised. We were told that we would keep the advantages of the Single Market.
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Education – the Path to Sustainable Development Contents
    Environmental Education – the path to Sustainable Development Contents Promoting a sense of responsibility through environmental education Page 05 The United Nations has designated the period 2005 to 2014 as the decade of “Education for Sustainable Development”. The objective is to integrate the concept of sustainable develop- ment in education processes around the world. Environmental education is an integral aspect of this concept. It is a process of action-orient- ed, political learning. The European Green Dot programme is making a significant con- tribution to making people promote sustain- able development. Green Dot – promoting environmental awareness and motivating people Page 12 The Green Dot and partner organisations have contributed in creating routine attitudes, values and actions, and establishing a Euro- pean platform for environmental awareness. They promote active citizenship through diverse local, regional and national education pro- grammes for the entire education chain. Many of the activities are realised in partnership programmes with manufacturing and retail enterprises, authorities and recycling companies. 02 03 Environmental education as a means of promoting European integration Page 22 No other political objective is more dependent on successful cooperation than sustainability. The Green Dot environmental education pro- gramme’s internationally networked projects are therefore focused towards European in- tegration. Young people in various countries learn to share responsibilities as well as prac- tise democracy by working on solutions to- gether as a group. Two prominent examples are the 1st European Youth Eco-Parliament and the Baltic Sea Project. Sustainability needs networked thinking and action Page 29 Global environmental issues, such as the greenhouse effect, the decimation of bio- logical diversity and the consumption of finite resources can only be solved on the basis of more intensive international cooper- ation.
    [Show full text]
  • Food and Health in Europe: Europe: in Health and Food WHO Regional Publications
    Food and health in Europe: Food and health WHO Regional Publications European Series, No. 96 a new basis for action Food and health in Europe: a new basis for action 96 The World Health Organization was established in 1948 as a specialized agency of the United Nations serving as the directing and coordinating authority for international health matters and public health. One of WHO’s constitutional functions is to provide objective and reliable information and advice in the field of human health, a responsibility that it fulfils in part through its publications programmes. Through its publications, the Organization seeks to support national health strategies and address the most pressing public health concerns. The WHO Regional Office for Europe is one of six regional offices throughout the world, each with its own programme geared to the particular health problems of the countries it serves. The European Region embraces some 870 million people living in an area stretching from Greenland in the north and the Mediterranean in the south to the Pacific shores of the Russian Federation. The European programme of WHO therefore concentrates both on the problems associated with industrial and post-industrial society and on those faced by the emerging democracies of central and eastern Europe and the former USSR. To ensure the widest possible availability of authoritative information and guidance on health matters, WHO secures broad international distribution of its publications and encourages their translation and adaptation. By helping to promote and protect health and prevent and control disease, WHO’s books contribute to achieving the Organization’s principal objective – the attainment by all people of the highest possible level of health.
    [Show full text]
  • Why This Brexit Deal Will Settle Nothing
    No Clarity, No Closure Why this Brexit deal will settle nothing A report by the People’s Vote campaign Foreword The 2016 referendum, which What is equally, if not more, resulted in a narrow win for problematic, however, is that those campaigning to leave while our terms of departure the European Union, has have been negotiated, our posed perhaps the most destination has not. We have complex set of questions ever been told repeatedly that by faced by a peacetime the end of the Article 50 government. process we would have clarity about our future relationship Unravelling decades of with the EU. These assurances cooperation and are not being met. interconnectivity with our closest neighbours is a A proper understanding about breathtakingly difficult task. To the direction of our trade do so while also seeking to policy, future customs establish a new trading and arrangements and the rules security relationship with our businesses will follow is Europe, as well as avoiding not just important for lasting harm to the economy, economic stability and would have tested any planning investment – it is government. I do not envy essential for the proper those who have been charged functioning of government. with it and I never cease in my admiration at the tireless, Issues about how we will dedicated work of the civil regulate air travel and drugs, service in seeking to achieve share data and criminal the best possible deal. records, or whether we will continue to cooperate with Any neutral observer, however, our neighbours on towering would have to concede that international challenges like the proposed deal is climate change are not mere significantly less than what details to be filled in at a later was promised for Brexit and date, they are matters of worse than the arrangements fundamental importance to we already have inside the EU.
    [Show full text]
  • An Open Letter to CUSU and All Cambridge Students Time Has Run
    An Open Letter to CUSU and all Cambridge Students Time has run out. The United Kingdom is staring down the barrel of a ‘no deal’ Brexit as the contradictions that should have been evident from the start transform into a constitutional crisis. Theresa May’s Chequers deal is unworkable. Any deal that could plausibly be agreed between May and Brussels will be rejected by the hard-line Brexiters in the Conservative party. A border in the Irish Sea is unacceptable to the DUP. A border on the Irish mainland is unacceptable to the UK and EU governments. And, despite what Jacob Rees-Mogg says, having no border at all is impossible if we wish to leave the Customs Union and Single Market. The much-rumoured technological solution does not exist. There is not a majority for any individual kind of Brexit deal. The dangerous prospect of a No Deal Brexit is now the most likely outcome. Young people cared about this issue in 2016 – now is the time to act. CUSU must join the dozens of unions around the country, including their own international committee, who have endorsed a People’s Vote. Last year, CUSU promised that this issue would be determined after a consultation of the student body. A consultation has not yet been forthcoming, so CUSU must act immediately through the elected representatives of college JCRs, given the urgency of the ​ ​ situation. We understand that CUSU is concerned about student consultation – we believe that the best form of consultation available is to give the 1.5 million young people who have turned 18 since June 2016 a say in their future.
    [Show full text]
  • Sustainable Riparian Zones. a Management Guide
    2 3 4 SUSTAINABLE RIPARIAN ZONES A Management Guide Edited By Daniel Arizpe Centre per a la Investigació i l’Experimentació Forestal (CIEF) Conselleria de Medi Ambient, Aigua, Urbanisme i Habitatge, Generalitat Valenciana Comarques del Pais Valencià 114-6, 46930 Quart de Poblet, Spain Ana Mendes Instituto Superior de Agronomia - Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Departamento de Engenharia Florestal Tapada da Ajuda 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal João. E. Rabaça LabOr - Laboratório de Ornitologia, Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas ICAM, Universidade de Évora, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal 5 © 2008 Generalitat Valenciana © Texts, drawings and photographs: The respective authors, artists and photographers. ISBN: 978-84-482-4967-0 Legal Deposit no.: V-3315-2009 Design and Layout Development: Essência - ROFFdesign (http://essencia.roff.pt) Printing: Gràfiques Vimar (http://www.vimar.es) English edition: copy editing by Mary Georgina Hardinge with additional collaboration of Carlos Tortosa and Dylan Cox. Front cover and separator page photographs: António Luis de Campos: Front cover, introduction, part 2, part 3 and part 5; Jean Roché: Part 1; Daniel Arizpe: Part 4; Ana Mendes: Appendices. 6 Foreword It is a great satisfaction to see the publication of environmental dimension of water, of the integrated the Manual “SUSTAINABLE RIPARIAN ZONES – A management of water and related terrestrial MANAGEMENT GUIDE”, a book that assembles an ecosystems, the precautionary principle and the important set of technical and scientific contributions source prevention and correction principle. to the sustainable management of riparian zones. Among the considered instruments, water resource This is certainly an issue of great opportunity and protection and improvement measures integrated timeliness.
    [Show full text]
  • Their Future Their Choice
    INFOS A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAINS Their future their choice ■■ par Stephen Platt, diplômé de UCL Institute of Education, fondateur de The Academic Translator, expert associé au sein du cabinet Headway People et Quality & Accreditation Manager pour le Business Science Institute au Luxembourg. Il a également dirigé le groupe ESC Pau où il a évolué pendant une vingtaine d’années. According to a recent report published by You might have seen images of both our interviewees on Our Future, Our Choice (OFOC), a British youth the TV recently either blowtorching Theresa May’s EU movement campaigning for a People’s Vote on ‘deal’ report in Brussels (Femi) or singing dressed up as the final Brexit deal, YouGov polls in September super woman in front of the European Parliament (Made- 2018 show that an amazing 84% of 18 to 20- leina), but what does it take to do this and what is it like year olds now back remain. We take a closer to be in the public eye at such a young age voicing your look at two remarkable millennials who have concerns on what has turned about to be one of the most been fighting for their generation’s right to a divisive issues in the last 60 years for the UK since the brighter future. Suez Canal Crisis back in 1956? “Nigel Farage hates me!” What is interesting about Femi and Madeleina is that they have both literally put their lives on hold to fight for the Remain cause. In 2016, Madeleina was a student at Sheffield University and Femi, a law graduate, was already working at the European Court of Human Rights.
    [Show full text]
  • Understanding Citizen Science and Environmental Monitoring
    BeforeUK Environmental you start Observation Framework UnderstandingIs citizen science the best approach? Citizen Science and EnvironmentalAque entempore vel molut ra estis doluption eni Monitoringalic tem ut aditaque ma ped qui alitat quatend andebis dellupta quuntem iur andam ellendis aut asperci andeleste que verroreratem eatatecae. venis eates ab im hiliquunt. esequi as sandae volest fuga. Untotatem hit ipient, sedio. Odigenda volore net ut at quid Nam con re, ipsante cuptatur SequatFinal isReport mi, que culpaon behalf erro qui of etUK est Environmental laborup tatemolupiet Observation maio conescium Framework ipsunt officium by: inciRoy, cupicae H.E., Pocock, senimet velicM.J.O., tem Preston,invende C.D., corem Roy, des D.B. ipide & Savage, net, J.dolore odiciam, quia dolesequis autNERC alitas Centre quam forautem Ecology idellique & Hydrologyquidi id maiore consecto id mi, serioris iur, odipid quat ex Tweddle,eiciis eate posaJ.C. &sitatusa Robinson, L.D. moluptat quo idem ipsunt ea derupie nisciis es pro temos Naturalesectiores History esequunt, Museum con et ea litiis ea inihil et ligent officilis sum adionempor as sunt quia volupta tecatquia conse verum dolestrum sinciumenda verro es untur, ad magnimp quam culpa volorest, suscipsa inusame exerit, sin escilig erferum consendus et mint Novemberidesti de re mo 2012 excerovid nimeni cullate ndante dest, quiataquiate vitia volupta molorum que nihitis res denitat suntiis archiciet re, quias tionsequis simporum qui simint empore re, unt. reiuntur, is sitatur rem dit offici arum ut est eliatum imus Onem que aceaqui coratem. quam aut vit, utatiae ne nem pero maxim ipsuntis et atibusc Nequatu recture henimagnis renit prae magnatem seque ipsapiet optur sit ma nam sim apit ad quae sitibus.
    [Show full text]
  • EIB Statement of Environmental and Social Principles and Standards
    EEEuuurrrooopppeeeaaannn IIInnnvvveeessstttmmmeeennnttt BBBaaannnkkk TTThhheee EEEIIIBBB SSStttaaattteeemmmeeennnttt ooofff EEEnnnvvviiirrrooonnnmmmeeennntttaaalll aaannnddd SSSoooccciiiaaalll PPPrrriiinnnccciiipppllleeesss aaannnddd SSStttaaannndddaaarrrdddsss111 222000000999 1 This document is divided into three parts. The first describes the general Background to the Statement, and refers to other documents that should be read in conjunction with the Statement in order for the reader to have a comprehensive understanding of the approach of the EIB towards environmental and social matters. The core of the document is the Statement itself, describing the environmental and social principles and standards of the Bank. This is designed as a stand-alone document, and has been the subject of public consultation. Finally, there are End Notes and a Glossary of terms, according to their use in the Bank. 1 CONTENT ACRONYMS ...........................................................................................................................................3 BACKGROUND.......................................................................................................................................5 THE STATEMENT ..............................................................................................................................10 PREAMBLE .......................................................................................................................................10 Environmental and Social Acceptability: Managing Opportunities
    [Show full text]
  • Brazen Nose Vol 53, 2018-19
    The Brazen Nose Volume 53 2018-2019 The Brazen Nose 2018–2019 BRA-27025 Brazen Nose Vol 53 TEXT.indd 1 10/03/2020 08:19 Printed by: The Holywell Press Limited, www.holywellpress.com BRA-27025 Brazen Nose Vol 53 TEXT.indd 2 10/03/2020 08:19 CONTENTS Records The Ashmole Society .................. 102 Editor’s Notes .................................5 The Addington Society .............. 103 Senior Members .............................. 8 The Arts Society ......................... 104 Non-academic Staff ...................... 18 Articles Class Lists ...................................... 23 Sir William Golding: Brasenose Graduate Degrees.......................... 28 Man by John Bowers QC .............. 108 Matriculations ............................... 33 Joy in Numbers College Prizes ............................... 37 by Dr Llewelyn Morgan ..................113 Elections to Scholarships Two Alums Called William and Exhibitions ............................. 40 by Dr Simon Smith ........................116 Blues and Half Blues ..................... 45 An American in the SCR Reports by Dr Simon Shogry .......................118 JCR Report .................................. 47 The Runcie Sermon, HCR Report ................................ 49 3rd February, 2019 Careers Report ............................. 52 by Canon Dr Angela Tilby ............. 122 Ale Verses ..................................... 53 How the Navy Won the War Library and Archives Report ........ 54 by Jim Ring: Review Presentations to the Library .......... 59 by Dr Bernard Richards
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluating the Application of Eu Environmental Standards in European Public Banks’ Investment Projects in Third Countries
    EVALUATING THE APPLICATION OF EU ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC BANKS’ INVESTMENT PROJECTS IN THIRD COUNTRIES: TOWARDS LEGAL ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS This work is part of the Mozaïek research programme, financed by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). © Daria Ratsiborinskaya, 2016 ISBN/EAN: 978‐90‐6464‐978‐3 Print: GVO drukkers & vormgevers B.V. All rights reserved. No part of the thesis may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any from or by any means, without the permission in writing of the author, or, when appropriate, of the publishers of the publication. Evaluating the Application of EU Environmental Standards in European Public Banks’ Investment Projects in Third Countries: Towards legal environmental indicators Het evalueren van de toepassing van EU milieu-standaarden in investeringsprojecten van Europese publieke banken in derde landen: Op weg naar juridische milieu-indicatoren Thesis to obtain the degree of Doctor from the Erasmus University Rotterdam by command of the rector magnificus Prof.dr. H.A.P. Pols and in accordance with the decision of the Doctorate Board The public defense shall be held on Thursday 10 March 2016 at 11:30 hours by Daria Nikolaevna Ratsiborinskaya born in Moscow, Soviet Union DOCTORAL COMMITTEE Supervisor: Prof.dr. F. Amtenbrink Other members: Prof.dr. J.W. de Zwaan Prof.mr.dr. H.H.B. Vedder Prof.dr. M.G. Faure Copromotor: Dr. W.Th. Douma TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1 1. Legal environmental standards 2 2. Research question: towards legal environmental indicators 5 3. Research scope 7 4. Methodological approach 9 5. Outline 12 CHAPTER II 15 1.
    [Show full text]
  • The Young People Betrayed by Brexit in the Vote for Europe
    La Repubblica, 24 March 2019 The young people betrayed by Brexit in the vote for Europe Two young people from Edinburgh wrapped in the European Union flag (AGF) From global London to the Leave capital Stoke-on-Trent, via Oxford, Manchester and Newcastle. The voices of young people who feel abandoned, betrayed or excluded from politics but went to vote for their Union by Francesca De Benedetti STOKE-ON-TRENT, THE ISLAND OF LOST YOUNG PEOPLE The capital of all the gaps (as well as being the Leave capital, which received 70 per cent of the vote here) is in the North. It is a town of 250 thousand inhabitants, and it’s called Stoke-on-Trent. Once upon a time this periphery had a centre: the mines and potteries, production of some of the world's most famous ceramics, blast furnaces shaped like huge red-brick cones. They can still be seen today, like fossils from a prosperous past, a couple of metres from a bench on which a jobless man passes his time, a few metres from the town's bingo hall, on the same city block as the Potteries Museum. Post-industrial archaeology: today, in place of the quarries and factories, it's the large YMCA building (the same Young Men's Christian Association that inspired and gave a title to a song by the Village People) that brings crowds of people together in Stoke; there is a sign pointing to it on every corner. It is a reception centre for young jobless people who have no dinner and no home, no family or prospects, and no motivation.
    [Show full text]