Europe has experienced a high rate of land consumption, with artificial land cover increasing by 3.4% between 2000 and 2006. While artificial land makes up only 4% of the EU's total area, urban development and infrastructure have affected over a quarter of EU territory. As more people live in urban areas, urban sprawl has become an issue as cities and towns expand in a scattered way across the countryside. Land is a finite resource that is critical for food production and ecosystem health, so sustainable land use and management of competing demands is important for environmental objectives.