kosovo* - european environment agency · land cover development in kosovo (under unscr 1244/99). on...

Country fact sheet

September 2017

Photo: © Toni García, My City/EEA

Land cover 2012

*Under UNSCR 1244/99.

Kosovo*

KOSOVO (under UNSCR 1244/99)

1

Land cover 2012 Overview of land cover & change 2006-2012 The overall pace of land cover development in Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244/99) is quite slow, with a mean annual land cover change rate of 0.10%, it is about one half of the European average. Moreover, compared to the previous period 2000-2006, the intensity of the landscape development is getting lower. This slowdown is caused by rapid decrease of intensity of forest creation and management. This decrease concerns both forest internal conversions and afforestation of non-forested land. In the period 2006-2012, the sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures, which occurred with significantly higher intensity than in the period 2000-2006, became the most powerful driver of land cover development in Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244/99). On the other hand, the urban residential sprawl, which was the main driver of artificial development in the previous period, became less intensive in the period 2006-2012. The overall intensity of artificial development in Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244/99) is the highest in Europe – with the mean annual land take rate of 1.38%, which is about two times higher than in the previous period (0.74%). The second most intensive flow in the landscape of the country are agriculture internal conversions, which, however, occur with slightly lower intensity, compared to the previous period. These are represented mostly by conversion from pasture to arable land. There was also observed some amount of forest and shrub fires in the country, in the period 2006-2012, which is included in the flow “Changes due to natural and multiple causes”. Note: The results presented here are based on a change analysis of 44 land cover types mapped consistently on a 1:100.000 scale across Europe over more than decade between 2000-2006-2012 - see Corine land cover (CLC) programme for details. Number of years between CLC2006-CLC2012 data for Kosovo (under UNSC 1244/99): 6

3%

11%

29%48%

7%

2%Wet. 0,1%

Waterb.

0,2%

1.1. Land cover 2012[% of total]

-2000

0

2000

1.2. Net change in land cover 2006-2012 [ha]

-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

1.3. Net change in land cover [% of initial year

2006]

A rtific ial areas A rable land & permanent c rops Pas tures & mosaics Fores ted land

Semi-natural vegetation O pen spaces/ bare soils Wetlands Water bodies

Summary balance table 2006-2012

Art

ific

ial a

rea

s

Ara

ble

lan

d &

pe

rma

ne

nt

cro

ps

Pa

stu

res

& m

osa

ics

Fo

rest

ed

lan

d

Se

mi-

na

tura

l v

eg

eta

tio

n

Op

en

sp

ace

s/ b

are

so

ils

We

tla

nd

s

Wa

ter

bo

die

s

TO

TA

L[h

un

dre

ds

ha

]

Land cover 2006 328 1167 3213 5183 807 181 10 23 10912

Consumption of initial LC 2.8 16.9 20.8 21.1 2.7 2.1 0.0 0.0 66

Formation of new LC 28.6 16.3 1.3 9.8 0.0 10.3 0.0 0.0 66

Net Formation of LC 25.8 -0.5 -19.5 -11.3 -2.7 8.2 0.0 0.0 0

Net formation as % of initial year 7.8 0.0 -0.6 -0.2 -0.3 4.5 0.0 0.0

Total turnover of LC 31.4 33.2 22.2 30.8 2.7 12.4 0.0 0.0 133

Total turnover as % of initial year 9.6 2.8 0.7 0.6 0.3 6.8 0.0 0.0 1.2

Land cover 2012 354 1166 3193 5172 804 189 10 23 10912


2

Land cover trends 2006-2012

0.16%

0.10%

0 1000 2000

2000-2006

2006-2012

2.4. Annual land cover change[ha/year, % of total area]

0 1000 2000

Artificial areas

Arable land& permanent crops

Pastures& mosaics

Forested land

Semi-natural vegetation

Open spaces/ bare soils

Wetlands

Water bodies

2.5. Annual turnover of LC types [ha/year]

2000-2006

2006-2012

-400 -200 0 200 400

Artificial areas

Arable land& permanent crops

Pastures& mosaics

Forested land



Wetlands

Water bodies

2.6. Net annual change of LC types [ha/year]

Summary trend figures 2000-2006

Annual land cover change [ha/year] 1711

Annual land cover change as % of initial year 0.16%Land uptake by artificial development as mean annual change [ha/year] 177

Agricultural land uptake by urban and infrastructures development as mean annual change [ha/year] 162

Net uptake of forests and semi-natural land by agriculture as mean annual change [ha/year] -17

Net conversion from pasture to arable land and permanent crops as mean annual change [ha/year] 223

Forest & other woodland net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] 137

Dry semi-natural land cover net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] -104

Wetlands & water bodies net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] 0

0

300

600

900

lcf1

Urb

an la

nd m

anag

emen

t

lcf2

Urb

an r

esid

entia

l spr

awl

lcf3

Spr

awl o

f ec

onom

ic s

ites

and

infr

astr

uctu

res

lcf4

Agr

icul

ture

inte

rnal

con

vers

ions

lcf5

Con

vers

ion

from

for

este

d &

natu

ral l

and

to a

gric

ultu

re

lcf6

Withd

raw

al o

f fa

rmin

g

lcf7

For

ests

cre

atio

n an

dm

anag

emen

t

lcf8

Wat

er b

odie

s cr

eatio

n a

ndm

anag

emen

t

lcf9

Cha

nges

due

to

natu

ral a

ndm

ultip

le c

ause

s

2.7. Intensity of main change drivers (LC FLOWS) [ha/year]

2000-2006

2006-2012


3

Artificial surfaces sprawl (2006-2012)

0.55

%

1.38

%

0

200

400

2000-2006 2006-2012

3.8. Artificial land take [ha/year,

% of initial year]

Extremely intensive artificial development in European context

The artificial development in Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244/99) between 2006 and 2012 is very strong, with even doubled intensity than in the previous period. The mean annual land take rate of 1.38% is by far the highest among European countries. Geographically, most of the artificial sprawl is concentrated in the surroundings of capital city of Pristhina and there is also quite visible the construction of a highway, located in the southwest from the capital city, which should connect Pristhina with the Adriatic coast. In contrast to the previous period, during which the artificial development was driven almost exclusively by residential sprawl, in the period 2006-2012, all components of the sprawl are very intensive, including sprawl of residential, commercial/industrial units, mines and dump sites as well as construction and extension of transportation networks.

80%

10%

1%7% 2%

3.9. Artificial surfaces 2012 [% of total area]

0 30 60 90

3.10. Artificial land take 2006-2012 [ha/year]

-100

0

100

200

Con

tinu

ous

urba

n fa

bric

Dis

cont

inuo

us u

rban

fab

ric

Ind

ustr

ial o

r co

mm

erci

al u

nits

Roa

d an

d ra

il ne

twor

ks a

ndas

soci

ated

land

Por

t ar

eas

Airpo

rts

Min

eral

ext

ract

ion

site

s

Dum

p si

tes

Con

stru

ctio

n si

tes

Gre

en u

rban

are

as

Spo

rt a

nd le

isur

e fa

cilit

ies

3.11. Mean annual artificial change by class [ha/year]

2000-2012

2006-2012


4

Agriculture (2006-2012)

Intensive conversion from pasture to arable land

Agricultural development in the county is driven mainly by internal agricultural conversions, with prevailing share of intensive conversion of pasture to arable land. Geographically, this process concentrates mainly in the central part of the country. On the other hand, diffuse conversion from pasture to arable land lost most of its intensity, compared to the previous period. The other significant internal agricultural flow is the conversion from vineyards and orchards to arable land. From external flows, agricultural land - mainly arable and complex cultivation patterns - is consumed by the sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures and also by residential sprawl. As a result of all these processes, arable land shows only a slightly positive net change balance, on the other hand, almost 7% of pasture land has been consumed during the period 2006-2012. The other agricultural land cover class with significant consumption are vineyards, with a consumption rate of about 11% of initial area.

21125%

2211%

2220.3%

2314%

24241%

24329%

4.12. Agricultural areas 2012 [% of total area]

-0.9

5%

-11.

44%

-7.5

8%

-0.4

6%

-0.0

3%

1.34

%

0.66

%

9.85

%

0.67

%

0.01

%

-1500

-1000

-500

0

500

1000

1500

Non

-irr

igat

ed a

rabl

e la

nd

Per

man

ently

irriga

ted

land

Ric

e fie

lds

Vin

eyar

ds

Fru

it t

rees

and

ber

ry p

lant

atio

ns

Oliv

e gr

oves

Pas

ture

s

Ann

ual/

pe

rman

ent

crop

s

Com

plex

cul

t. p

atte

rns

Agr

icul

ture

with

nat

. ve

g.

Agr

o-fo

rest

ry a

reas

4.13. Development of agricultural areas 2006-2012– detailed balance [ha]

Consumption of initial land cover

Formation of new land cover

211 Non-irrigated arable land

212 Permanently irrigated land

213 Rice fields

221 Vineyards

222 Fruit trees and berry plantations

223 Olive groves

231 Pastures

241 Annual crops associated with permanent crops242 Complex cultivation patterns

243 Agriculture land with significant areas of natural vegetation244 Agro-forestry areas

-300

-200

-100

0

100

Non

-irr

igat

ed a

rabl

e la

nd

Per

man

ently

irriga

ted

land R

ice

field

s

Vin

eyar

ds

Fru

it t

rees

and

ber

ry p

lant

atio

ns

Oliv

e gr

oves

Pas

ture

s

Ann

ual/

per

man

ent

crop

s

Com

plex

cul

t. p

atte

rns

Agr

icul

ture

with

nat

. ve

g.

Agr

o-fo

rest

ry a

reas

4.14. Mean annual agricultural change by class [ha/year]

2000-2006

2006-2012


5

Forest & nature (2006-2012)

84%

13%

3%

Wet. 0,2%

Wat. 0,4%

5.15. Forest & nature areas 2012

[% of total area]

Forest



Wetlands

Water bodies

Slowdown of forest internal conversions, forest fires

The exchange of natural landscape in Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244/99) lost most of its intensity, compared to the previous period, mainly due to significant slowdown of internal forest conversions, in particular of conversion from transitional woodland to forest. In the period 2006-2012, the main processes which occurred in the country landscape were forest and shrub fires. These consumed more than 1000 hectares of natural land, mainly of broad-leaved forest. Such fires were also present in the previous period 2000-2006, however, with slightly lower incidence and recently some of areas burnt between 2000 and 2006 are going through afforestation processes. Beside these processes, natural land (in particular transitional woodland/shrub, natural grassland and broad-leaved forest) is being consumed by the extension of mineral extraction and construction sites, which is a similar situation as in the previous period 2000-2006.

-0.3

1%

-1.5

5%

-0.8

4%

-0.3

6%

-0.4

7%

-0.2

5%

-20.

17%

0.04

%

0.14

%

0.86

%

122.

18%

-1500

-1000

-500

0

500

1000

Bro

ad-l

eave

d fo

rest

Con

ifero

us for

est

Mix

ed for

est

Nat

ural

gra

ssla

nd

Moo

rs a

nd h

eath

land

Scl

erop

hyllo

us v

eget

atio

n

Tra

nsitio

nal w

oodl

and

shr

ub

Bea

ches

, du

nes,

san

d

Bar

e ro

ck

Spa

rsel

y ve

geta

ted

area

s

Bur

nt a

reas

Gla

cier

s/pe

rp.

snow

Inl

and

mar

shes

Pea

tbog

s

Sal

t m

arsh

es

Sal

ines

Int

ertida

l fla

ts

Wat

er c

ours

es

Wat

er b

odie

s

Coa

stal

lago

ons

Est

uaries

Sea

and

oce

an

5.16. Development of forest & nature areas 2006-2012 – detailed balance [ha]

Consumption of initial land cover

Formation of new land cover

-200

0

200

Bro

ad-l

eave

d fo

rest

Con

ifero

us for

est

Mix

ed for

est

Nat

ural

gra

ssla

nd

Moo

rs a

nd h

eath

land

Scl

erop

hyllo

us v

eget

atio

n

Tra

nsitio

nal w

oodl

and

shr

ub

Bea

ches

, du

nes,

san

d

Bar

e ro

ck

Spa

rsel

y ve

geta

ted

are

as

Bur

nt a

reas

Gla

cier

s an

d pe

rpet

ual

snow

Inl

and

mar

shes

Pea

tbog

s

Sal

t m

arsh

es

Sal

ines

Int

ertida

l fla

ts

Wat

er c

ours

es

Wat

er b

odie

s

Coa

stal

lago

ons

Est

uaries

Sea

and

oce

an

5.17. Mean annual forest & nature change by class [ha/year]

2000-2006

2006-2012


6

Annex: Land cover flows and trends Land cover flows 2006-2012

4%

25%

32%

32%

4% 3%

6.18. Consumption of land cover2006-2012 [% of total change

area]

43%

25%

2%

15%

15%

6.19. Formation of land cover 2006-2012 [% of total change

area]

A rtific ial areas A rable land & permanent c rops Pas tures & mosaics Fores ted land

Semi-natural vegetation O pen spaces/ bare soils Wetlands Water bodies

lcf12% lcf2

9%

lcf332%

lcf424%

lcf53%

lcf60.3%

lcf714%

lcf916%

6.20. Drivers of change (LC FLOWS)2006-2012 [% of total change area]

lc f1 U rban land management

lc f2 U rban res idential sprawl

lc f3 Sprawl of economic s ites and infras truc tures

lc f4 A griculture internal convers ions

lc f5 C onvers ion from fores ted & natural land to agriculture

lc f6 Withdrawal of farming

lc f7 Fores ts c reation and management

lc f8 Water bodies c reation and management

lc f9 C hanges due to natural and multiple causes


7

Artificial areas

Arable land &

permanent crops43%

Pastures & mosaics

36%

Forested land12%

Semi-natural

vegetation8%

Open spaces / bare soils

1%

7.21. Consumption by artificial land take2006-2012 [% of total]

Disc. urban fabric23%

Industrial/commerc.

22%

Road/rail network

3%

Airports9%

Mineral extraction

21%

Dump sites1%

Construct.20%

Green urban0.2%

Sport/leisure0.3%

7.22. Formation by artificial land take2006-2012 [% of total]

0.41%

1.31%

0 200 400

2000-2006

2006-2012

7.23. Net formation of artificial area [ha/year, % of initial year]

-100 0 100 200

lcf11Urban development/ infilling(cons.)

lcf11Urban development/ infilling(form.)

lcf12 Recycling of developed urbanland (cons.)

lcf12 Recycling of developed urbanland (form.)

lcf13 Development of green urbanareas (cons.)

lcf13 Development of green urbanareas (form.)

lcf21 Urban dense residential sprawl

lcf22 Urban diffuse residential sprawl

lcf31 Sprawl of industrial &commercial sites

lcf32 Sprawl of transport networks

lcf33 Sprawl of harbours

lcf34 Sprawl of airports

lcf35 Sprawl of mines and quarryingareas

lcf36 Sprawl of dumpsites

lcf37 Construction

lcf38 Sprawl of sport and leisurefacilities (cons.)

lcf38 Sprawl of sport and leisurefacilities (form.)

lcf54 Conversion from developedareas to agriculture

lcf72 Forest creation, afforestation

lcf81 Water bodies creation

lcf911 Semi-natural creation

lcf913 Extension of water courses

lcf92 Forests and shrubs fires

lcf93 Coastal erosion

lcf99 Other changes and unknown(cons.)

lcf99 Other changes and unknown(form.)

7.24. Artificial development by change drivers(LC FLOWS) [ha/year]

2000-2006

2006-2012


8

Agriculture

Industrial/commercial

6%

Mineral extraction

53%

Broad-leaved forest6%

Natural grassland

31%

8.25. LC consumed by agriculture 2006-2012 [% of total]

Non-irrigated arable37%

Pastures63%

8.26. Formation of agricultural land from non-agriculture 2006-2012 [% of total]


Vineyards12%

Pastures6%

Complex cultivation patterns

37%

Agriculture with

natural veg.1%

8.27. Consumption of agricultural landby non-agriculture 2006-2012 [% of total]


Industrial/commercial

28%Road/rail network

3%

Airports11%

Mineral extraction

6%

Dump sites1%

Construct.19%

Green urban0.2%

Sport/leisure0.4%

Transit. woodland/s

hrub1%

Burnt areas0.3%

8.28. Formation of non-agricultural landfrom agriculture 2006-2012 [% of total]

-10 0 10 20

Conversion from forest toagriculture

Conversion from dry semi-natural& natural land to agriculture

Conversion from wetlands toagriculture

Withdrawal of farming withwoodland creation

Withdrawal of farming withoutsignificant woodland creation

8.29. Main annual conversions between agriculture and forests & semi-natural land

2006-2012 [ha/year]

-300 -200 -100 0

Extension of pasture, set asideand fallow land

Conversion from pasture toarable and permanent crops

8.30. Mean annual conversion between arable land and pasture [ha/year]

2000-2006

2006-2012


9

0 100 200

lcf411 Uniform extension ofset aside fallow land and

pasture

lcf412 Diffuse extension of setaside fallow land and pasture

lcf421 Conversion from arableland to permanent irrigation

perimeters

lcf422 Other internalconversions of arable land

lcf431 Conversion from olivesgroves to vineyards and

orchards

lcf432 Conversion fromvineyards and orchards to

olive groves

lcf433 Other conversionsbetween vineyards and

orchards

lcf441 Conversion frompermanent crops topermanent irrigation

perimeters

lcf442 Conversion fromvineyards and orchards tonon-irrigated arable land

lcf443 Conversion from olivegroves to non-irrigated arable

land

lcf444 Diffuse conversion frompermanent crops to arable

land

lcf451 Conversion from arableland to vineyards and orchards

lcf452 Conversion from arableland to olive groves

lcf453 Diffuse conversion fromarable land to permanent

crops

lcf461 Conversion frompasture to permanentirrigation perimeters

lcf462 Intensive conversionfrom pasture to non-irrigatedarable land and permanent

crops

lcf463 Diffuse conversion frompasture to arable and

permanent crops

lcf47 Extension of agro-forestry

9.31. Mean annual agriculture internalconversions [ha/year]

2000-2006

2006-2012

-300 -200 -100 0

lcf13 Development of green urbanareas

lcf2 Urban residential sprawl

lcf3 Sprawl of economic sites andinfrastructures

lcf511 Intensive conversion from forestto agriculture

lcf512 Diffuse conversion from forest toagriculture

lcf521 Intensive conversion from semi-natural land to agriculture

lcf522 Diffuse conversion from semi-natural land to agriculture

lcf523 Conversions from agriculture-nature mosaics to continuousagriculture (cont. agri. cons.)

lcf523 Conversions from agriculture-nature mosaics to continuousagriculture (cont. agri. form.)

lcf53 Conversion from wetlands toagriculture

lcf54 Conversion from developed areasto agriculture

lcf61 Withdrawal of farming withwoodland creation

lcf62 Withdrawal of farming withoutsignificant woodland creation


lcf913 Extension of water courses

lcf92 Forests and shrubs fires

lcf93 Coastal erosion

lcf99 Other changes and unknown(agri. cons.)

lcf99 Other changes and unknown(agri. form.)

9.32. Mean annual conversions between agricultureand other LC types [ha/year]

2000-2006

2006-2012


10

Forest & nature

Mineral extraction

49%


Agriculture with

natural veg.13%

10.33. LC consumed by forest & nature2006-2012 [% of total]

Transition. woodland/

shrub60%

Burnt areas13%

10.34. Formation of forest & nature land from non-forest /nature 2006-2012

[% of total]


Natural grassland

43%

Transition,woodland/

shrub29%

Sparsely vegetated

areas5%

10.35. Consumption of forest & nature landby non-forest/nature 2006-2012 [% of

total]


Mineral extraction

72%

Construct.16%


10.36. Formation of non-forest/nature landfrom forest & nature 2006-2012 [% of total]


Conifer. forest4%

Mixed forest2%

Transit. woodland

shrub17%

10.37. Forested land 2012 [% of total area]

0 30 60 90

Consumption of forest land byurban sprawl

Conversion from forest toagriculture

Recent fellings and transitions

Withdrawal of farming withwoodland creation

Forest creation, afforestation

Conversion from transitionalwoodland to forests

Forest creation over wetlands

10.38. Main trends in woodland & forests consumption/formation 2006-2012

[ha/year]


11

Natural grassland

75%

Moors and

heathl.6%

Scleroph. veg.1%

Bare rock1%

Sparsely veget. areas17%

Burnt areas2%

11.39. Dry semi-natural areas 2012 [% of total area]

0 20 40

Consumption of dry semi-naturalland cover by urban sprawl

Conversion of semi-natural landcover to agriculture

Forest creation, afforestation overdry semi-natural land

Withdrawal of farming withoutwoodland creation

Decrease of permanent snow andglaciers

11.40. Main trends in dry semi-natural land consumption/formation 2006-2012

[ha/year]

Inland marshes

29%

Peatbogs1%

Water courses

4%

Water bodies66%

11.41. Wetlands & water 2012[% of total area]

0 0

Consumption of wetlands by urbansprawl

Conversion of wetlands toagriculture

Forest creation and afforestationover wetlands

Withdrawal of farming withoutwoodland creation

Net water bodies creation

Net wetlands creation

11.42. Main trends in wetlands & water consumption/formation 2006-2012

[ha/year]

-600 -300 0 300 600

lcf13 Development of green urban areas


lcf3 Sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures

lcf511 Intensive conversion from forest to agriculture

lcf512 Diffuse conversion from forest to agriculture

lcf61 Withdrawal of farming with woodland creation

lcf71 Conversion from transitional woodland to forest (cons.)

lcf71 Conversion from transitional woodland to forest (form.)


lcf73 Forests internal conversions (cons.)

lcf73 Forests internal conversions (form.)

lcf74 Recent felling and transition (cons.)

lcf74 Recent felling and transition (form.)

lcf8 Water bodies creation and management

lcf9 Changes of land cover due to natural and multiple causes (cons.)

lcf9 Changes of land cover due to natural and multiple causes (form.)

11.43. Mean annual conversions of forest & other woodland[ha/year]

2000-2006

2006-2012


12

-300 -200 -100 0 100




lcf521 Intensive conversion from semi-natural land to agriculture

lcf522 Diffuse conversion from semi-natural land to agriculture

lcf523 Conversions from agriculture-nature mosaics to continuous…

lcf62 Withdrawal of farming without significant woodland creation


lcf74 Recent felling and transition

lcf8 Water bodies creation and management

lcf82 Water bodies management

lcf911 Semi-natural creation (form.)

lcf912 Semi-natural rotation (cons.)

lcf912 Semi-natural rotation (form.)

lcf913 Extension of water courses (cons.)

lcf92 Forests and shrubs fires (cons.)

lcf92 Forests and shrubs fires (form.)

lcf93 Coastal erosion (cons.)

lcf94 Decrease in permanent snow and glaciers cover (cons.)

lcf94 Decrease in permanent snow and glaciers cover (form.)

lcf99 Other changes and unknown (cons.)

lcf99 Other changes and unknown (form.)

12.44. Mean annual conversions of dry semi-natural LC [ha/year]

2000-2006

2006-2012

0 0




lcf53 Conversion from wetlands to agriculture

lcf62 Withdrawal of farming without significant woodland creation


lcf8 Water bodies creation and management (cons.)


lcf9 Changes of land cover due to natural and multiple causes (other thanLCF91)

lcf9 Changes of land cover due to natural and multiple causes (other thanLCF912)

lcf911 Semi-natural creation (form.)

lcf912 Semi-natural rotation (cons.)

lcf912 Semi-natural rotation (form.)

lcf913 Extension of water courses (form.)

12.45. Mean annual conversions of wetlands and water LC [ha/year]

2000-2006

2006-2012


13

CLC Changes 2006-2012

CLC Changes 2000-2006


14

Drivers of change 2006-2012

Drivers of change 2000-2006


15

Artificial sprawl 2006-2012

Artificial sprawl 2000-2006


16

Agriculture 2006-2012

Agriculture 2000-2006


17

Forest and nature 2006-2012

Forest and nature 2000-2006

kosovo* - european environment agency · land cover development in kosovo (under unscr 1244/99). on...

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