Country fact sheet Land cover 2012 Sweden September 2017 Photo: Toni García, My City/EEA
Land cover 2012 Overview of land cover & change Landscape development in Sweden is very intensive in the 2006-2012 period, characterized by the highest mean annual land cover change rate in Europe (1,25%). Comparing with previous period, this is about twice and a half higher pace of development. Not surprisingly, this extremely high land cover change rate is caused by increased management and creation considering the huge extent of coverage in Sweden, it is obvious that the intensity of land cover exchange in the country has to be very high. All this development is almost exclusively driven by internal conversions, with prevailing share of conversion from transitional woodland to, which is the opposite situation as in the previous period. Comparing with these internal flows, the rest of the landscape development is rather insignificant. However, the intensity of artificial development is still below the European average, with a mean annual land take rate of 0.3, which is slightly lower than in the previous period. The sprawl is driven mainly by residential development, construction and extension of quarries and mining areas, which is a bit different situation as in the period, during which the sprawl had two major drivers: the sprawl of sport and leisure facilities and construction. Both of them occur with lower intensity in the period. The intensity of agricultural development in the country is very low, with internal agricultural flows much lower than consumption of agricultural land by the artificial sprawl. 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- - see Corine land cover (CLC) programme for details. Number of years between CLC2006-CLC2012 data for Sweden: 6 6% 1.1. Land cover 2012 [% of total] 8% 12000 8000 4000 0-4000 1.2. Net change in land cover [ha] 2.0 1.0 0.0 1.3. Net change in land cover [% of initial year 2006] 66% -8000-1.0 A rtificial areas A rable land & permanent crops & mosaics Forested land Semi-natural vegetation Open spaces/ bare soils Wetlands Water bodies Summary balance table Artificial areas Arable land & permanent crops & mosaics Forested land Semi-natural vegetation Open spaces/ bare soils Wetlands Water bodies TOTAL [hundreds ha] Land cover 2006 6423 29966 9460 296624 29436 11028 28981 37761 449680 Consumption of initial LC 47.6 50.3 13.3 33259.4 1.5 12.8 12.2 2.1 33399 Formation of new LC 162.1 11.6 14.3 33194.8 0.4 8.9 6.5 0.4 33399 Net Formation of LC 114.6-38.7 1.0-64.5-1.1-3.9-5.7-1.8 0 Net formation as % of initial year 1.8-0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Total turnover of LC 209.7 61.9 27.7 66454.2 1.8 21.7 18.7 2.5 66798 Total turnover as % of initial year 3.3 0.2 0.3 22.4 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.0 14.9 1 Land cover 2012 6537 29928 9461 296560 29435 11024 28975 37759 449680
Land cover trends comparison vs. 2.4. Annual land cover change [ha/year, % of total area] 0 100000 200000 300000 400000 500000 0.4 1.24% Artificial areas Arable land & permanent crops & mosaics Forested land 2.5. Annual turnover of LC types [ha/year] 0 500000 1000000 2.6. Net annual change of LC types [ha/year] Artificial areas Arable land & permanent crops & mosaics Forested land -3000-1500 0 1500 3000 Semi-natural vegetation Open spaces / bare soils Wetlands Water bodies Semi-natural vegetation Open spaces / bare soils Wetlands Water bodies Summary trend figures Annual land cover change [ha/year] 213041 556652 Annual land cover change as % of initial year 0.4 1.24% Land uptake by artificial development as mean annual change [ha/year] 2891 2328 Agricultural land uptake by urban and infrastructures development as mean annual change [ha/year] 1142 706 Net uptake of s and semi-natural land by agriculture as mean annual change [ha/year] 0 29 Net conversion from pasture to arable land and permanent crops as mean annual change [ha/year] -199-80 Forest & other woodland net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] -2082-1075 Dry semi-natural land cover net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] 313-82 Wetlands & water bodies net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] 23-124 2.7. Intensity of main change drivers (LC FLOWS) [ha/year] 500000 400000 300000 200000 100000 0 lcf1 Urban land management lcf2 Urban residential sprawl lcf3 Sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures lcf4 Agriculture internal conversions lcf5 Conversion from ed & natural land to agriculture lcf6 Withdrawal of farming lcf7 Forests creation and management lcf8 Water bodies creation and management lcf9 Changes due to natural and multiple causes 2
Artificial surfaces sprawl () 3.8. Artificial land take [ha/year, % of initial year] 3000 0.46% 2000 0.36% 1000 0 Residential development takes the lead The overall pace of artificial development in Sweden is just below the European average in. The overall mean annual land take rate is slightly lower, compared with the previous period. Residential sprawl is the most intensive driver of artificial development recently, with a bit higher intensity than in the previous period. Also the sprawl of mines and quarries has strengthened a bit and became the second most powerful artificial driver. On the other hand, both sprawl of sport and leisure facilities and construction, which were two major drivers of artificial development in the period, became significantly weaker in the period. In general, artificial development in Sweden is quite diversified, as also the sprawl of industrial and commercial sites and of dump site are significant. The sprawl is compensated a bit through afation of former construction sites. Also the recycling of developed urban land is present in Sweden, represented mostly by conversion of construction sites into developed urban fabric, transportation and industrial or commercial units. 3.9. Artificial surfaces 2012 [% of total area] 3.10. Artificial land take [ha/year] 4% Const. 0,4% 0 300 600 1 78% 3.11. Mean annual artificial change by class [ha/year] 800 400 2000-2012 0-400 Continuous urban fabric Discontinuous urban fabric Industrial or commercial units Road and rail networks and associated land Port areas Airports Mineral extraction sites Dump sites Construction sites Green urban areas Sport and leisure facilities 3
Agriculture () Slowdown of agricultural development The overall intensity of agricultural development in Sweden is rather low, which is not surprising taking into account that agricultural land covers only 9% of the total area of the country. Moreover, both internal agricultural conversions and consumption of agricultural land became less intensive, compared to the previous period. The most frequent consumption of agriculture by sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures and by residential sprawl is much lower, in the period, which is caused mainly by decrease of intensity of the sprawl of sport and leisure facilities and of construction. Mostly arable land (80%) and agriculture with natural vegetation (13%) were consumed by the sprawl. Regarding the internal agricultural development, the extension of pasture and fallow land is still the prevailing direction, which is the same balance of power as in the previous period. However, the intensity of both conversions between pasture and arable is more than twice lower than in the period and there were no other types of internal agricultural flows observed in the Swedish agriculture. 242 3% 231 222 0.05% 213 0.001 % 4.12. Agricultural areas 2012 [% of total area] 243 14% 211 76% 3000 0-3000 -6000 0.04% -0.1 Non-irrigated arable land 4.13. Development of agricultural areas detailed balance [ha] Permanently irrigated land 100.00% 0.39% Consumption of initial land cover Formation of new land cover Rice fields Vineyards Fruit trees and berry plantations Olive groves 0.43% -0.20% Annual/ permanent crops 0.09% -0.09% Complex cult. patterns 0.03% -0.13% Agriculture with nat. veg. Agro-ry areas 211 Non-irrigated arable land 212 Permanently irrigated land 0 4.14. Mean annual agricultural change by class [ha/year] 213 Rice fields 221 Vineyards 222 Fruit trees and berry plantations -500-1000 223 Olive groves 231 241 Annual crops associated with permanent crops 242 Complex cultivation patterns 243 Agriculture land with significant areas of natural vegetation 244 Agro-ry areas -1500 Non-irrigated arable land Permanently irrigated land Rice fields Vineyards Fruit trees and berry plantations Olive groves Annual/ permanent crops Complex cult. patterns Agriculture with nat. veg. Agro-ry areas 4
Forest & nature () 5.15. Forest & nature areas 2012 [% of total area] 9% 74% 3% Forest Semi-natural vegetation Open spaces/ bare soils Wetlands Water bodies Conversion from transitional woodland to increased rapidly In Sweden, the natural land covers about 90% of the total country area, 74% of it is covered by s. Therefore, it is not surprising that natural land cover flows, in particular internal conversions, are the major drivers of landscape exchange in the country. Compared to the previous period, the conversion from transitional woodland to increased rapidly and became the prevailing direction of internal development, with opposite recent felling and transition having comparable intensity as in the period. The increase of conversion from transitional woodland to is also the main reason of the increase of the overall intensity of the land cover development in the country. Mainly coniferous and mixed s are created through this conversion. Beside these internal flows, new ed areas were also created through afation of former construction sites, peatbogs or burnt areas. Forest fires were much less frequent, than during the period. The other flows observed in the Swedish natural landscape are decrease of permanent snow and glaciers cover and consumption of mainly coniferous by the sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures. 5.16. Development of & nature areas detailed balance [ha] 1500000 500000 0.3 8.95% 25.15% 0.0 100.00% 19.83% 0.10% 0.0 21.85% 0.03% 0.0 0.0 0.00% -500000-1500000 -0.26% -4.85% -1.2-0.0-44.2 0.00% 0.00% -40.29% -1.76% -0.0-0.04% -0.0 0.00% -100.00% -2500000 Broad-leaved Coniferous Mixed Natural grassland Moors and heathland Sclerophyllous vegetation Transitional woodland shrub Beaches, dunes, sand Bare rock Sparsely vegetated areas Burnt areas Glaciers/perp. snow Inland marshes Peatbogs Salt marshes Salines Intertidal flats Water courses Water bodies Coastal lagoons Consumption of initial land cover Formation of new land cover Estuaries Sea and ocean 150000 50000 5.17. Mean annual & nature change by class [ha/year] -50000-150000 -250000 Broad-leaved Coniferous Mixed Natural grassland Moors and heathland Sclerophyllous vegetation Transitional woodland shrub Beaches, dunes, sand Bare rock Sparsely vegetated areas Burnt areas Glaciers and perpetual snow Inland marshes Peatbogs Salt marshes Salines Intertidal flats Water courses Water bodies Coastal lagoons Estuaries Sea and ocean 5
Annex: Land cover flows and trends Land cover flows 6.18. Consumption of land cover [% of total change Water b. 0,0 Seminat. v. 0,004% Open s. 0,04% area] Artificial 0,04% 0, Arable l. Wet. 0, 0,04% 6.19. Formation of land cover [% of total change Wet. 0,0 S.-n.v. 0,00 Water 0,00 area] Artificial 0,5% Open s. 0,03% Arable l. 0,03% 0,04% Forested land 99.6% Forested land 99.39% A rtificial areas A rable land & permanent crops & mosaics Forested land Semi-natural vegetation Open spaces/ bare soils Wetlands Water bodies 6.20. Drivers of change (LC FLOWS) [% of total change area] lcf6 0.03% lcf5 0.05% lcf8 0.00 lcf9 0.05% lcf1 0. lcf2 0. lcf3 0.3% lcf4 0.03% lcf1 Urban land management lcf2 Urban residential sprawl lcf3 Sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures lcf4 A griculture internal conversions lcf5 C onversion from ed & natural land to agriculture lcf6 Withdrawal of farming lcf7 Forests creation and management lcf7 99.4% lcf8 Water bodies creation and management lcf9 C hanges due to natural and multiple causes 6
Artificial areas 7.21. Consumption by artificial land take [% of total] 7.22. Formation by artificial land take [% of total] Open spaces / Seminatural 0. bare soils vegetation 0. Wetlands 3% Water bodies Arable land & permanent crops 26% Construct. 1 Green urban Sport/ leisure 8% Disc. urban fabric 23% Forested land 66% & mosaics 4% Dump sites 1 Industrial/ commerc. 13% Road/rail network 6% Mineral extraction 19% Airports Port areas 0. 7.23. Net formation of artificial area [ha/year, % of initial year] 7.24. Artificial development by change drivers (LC FLOWS) [ha/year] 0 1000 2000 3000 0.30% 0.46% lcf11urban development/ infilling (cons.) lcf11urban development/ infilling (form.) lcf12 Recycling of developed urban land (cons.) lcf12 Recycling of developed urban land (form.) lcf13 Development of green urban areas (cons.) lcf13 Development of green urban areas (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 quarrying areas lcf36 Sprawl of dumpsites lcf37 Construction lcf38 Sprawl of sport and leisure facilities (cons.) lcf38 Sprawl of sport and leisure facilities (form.) lcf54 Conversion from developed areas to agriculture lcf72 Forest creation, afation 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.) -500-250 0 250 500 750 7
Agriculture 8.25. LC consumed by agriculture [% of total] 8.26. Formation of agricultural land from non-agriculture [% of total] Transition. woodland/ shrub 20% Dump sites Construct. 16% Sport/ leisure 4% Complex cultivation patterns Agriculture with natural veg. 1 Moors and heathland 8% Broadleaved 25% Nonirrigated arable 54% Coniferous 48% Fruit trees/berry plantations Rice fields 8.27. Consumption of agricultural land by non-agriculture [% of total] 8.28. Formation of non-agricultural land from agriculture [% of total] Complex cultivation patterns 5% Agriculture with natural veg. 1 Nonirrigated arable 8 Mixed 0. Coniferous Broadleaved 0. Sport/ leisure 14% Green urban Construct. 16% Transition. woodland/ shrub 18% Dump sites Water bodies 0.4% Mineral extraction Disc. urban fabric 29% Industrial/ commercial 1 Road/rail network Airports 8.29. Main annual conversions between agriculture and s & semi-natural land [ha/year] 8.30. Mean annual conversion between arable land and pasture [ha/year] -200-100 0 100 200-200 0 200 400 Conversion from to agriculture Conversion from dry semi-natural & natural land to agriculture Extension of pasture, set aside and fallow land Conversion from wetlands to agriculture Withdrawal of farming with woodland creation Conversion from pasture to arable and permanent crops Withdrawal of farming without significant woodland creation 8
9.31. Mean annual agriculture internal conversions [ha/year] 9.32. Mean annual conversions between agriculture and other LC types [ha/year] lcf411 Uniform extension of set aside fallow land and pasture lcf13 Development of green urban areas lcf412 Diffuse extension of set aside fallow land and pasture lcf421 Conversion from arable land to permanent irrigation perimeters lcf422 Other internal conversions of arable land lcf2 Urban residential sprawl lcf3 Sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures lcf511 Intensive conversion from to agriculture lcf431 Conversion from olives groves to vineyards and orchards lcf432 Conversion from vineyards and orchards to olive groves lcf433 Other conversions between vineyards and orchards lcf441 Conversion from permanent crops to permanent irrigation perimeters lcf442 Conversion from vineyards and orchards to non-irrigated arable land lcf443 Conversion from olive groves to non-irrigated arable land lcf444 Diffuse conversion from permanent crops to arable land lcf451 Conversion from arable land to vineyards and orchards lcf452 Conversion from arable land to olive groves lcf453 Diffuse conversion from arable land to permanent crops lcf461 Conversion from pasture to permanent irrigation perimeters lcf462 Intensive conversion from pasture to non-irrigated arable land and permanent crops lcf463 Diffuse conversion from pasture to arable and permanent crops lcf512 Diffuse conversion from to agriculture lcf521 Intensive conversion from seminatural land to agriculture lcf522 Diffuse conversion from seminatural land to agriculture lcf523 Conversions from agriculturenature mosaics to continuous agriculture (cont. agri. cons.) lcf523 Conversions from agriculturenature mosaics to continuous agriculture (cont. agri. form.) lcf53 Conversion from wetlands to agriculture lcf54 Conversion from developed areas to agriculture lcf61 Withdrawal of farming with woodland creation lcf62 Withdrawal of farming without significant woodland creation lcf81 Water bodies creation lcf913 Extension of water courses lcf92 Forests and shrubs fires lcf93 Coastal erosion lcf99 Other changes and unknown (agri. cons.) lcf47 Extension of agrory lcf99 Other changes and unknown (agri. form.) 0 200 400-900 -600-300 0 9
Forest & nature Complex cultivation patterns 10.33. LC consumed by & nature [% of total] Agriculture with natural veg. 1 Industrial/ commercial 0, Mineral extraction 3% Dump sites 0. 10.34. Formation of & nature land from non- /nature [% of total] Water bodies Broadleaved Nonirrigated arable 20% Construct. 6 Transition. woodland/ shrub 50% Coniferous 48% Mixed 0.4% Sparsely vegetated areas 0. Bare rock 0.05% Transition. woodland/ shrub 14% Moors and heathland Mixed 10.35. Consumption of & nature land by non-/nature [% of total] Inland marshes 0. Peatbogs 3% Water c. 0,04% Water bodies Sea and ocean Broadleaved 0.4% 6% Coniferous 6 Sport/ leisure 3% Construct. 14% 10.36. Formation of non-/nature land from & nature [% of total] Fruit trees/berry plantations 0. Rice fields 0.3% Nonirrigated arable 5% Dump sites 13% 4% Complex cultivation patterns Mineral extraction 23% Airports Agriculture with natural veg. Disc. urb. fab. 16% Industrial/ commerc. 10% Road/rail network Port areas 0.3% Mixed 10.37. Forested land 2012 [% of total area] Transit. woodland shrub 1 Broadleaved 10.38. Main trends in woodland & s consumption/formation [ha/year] Consumption of land by urban sprawl Conversion from to agriculture Recent fellings and transitions 0 100000 200000 300000 Withdrawal of farming with woodland creation Conifer. 74% Forest creation, afation Conversion from transitional woodland to s Forest creation over wetlands 10
Bare rock 9% Scleroph. veget. 0,0003% Beaches, dunes and sand plains 0. 11.39. Dry semi-natural areas 2012 [% of total area] Sparsely veget. areas 1 Glaciers and perp. snow Burnt areas 0.04% Natural grassland 5% Moors and heathl. 68% 11.40. Main trends in dry semi-natural land consumption/formation [ha/year] Consumption of dry semi-natural land cover by urban sprawl Conversion of semi-natural land cover to agriculture Forest creation, afation over dry semi-natural land Withdrawal of farming without woodland creation Decrease of permanent snow and glaciers 0 50 100 Coastal lagoons 0. 11.41. Wetlands & water 2012 [% of total area] Estuaries Sea and ocean 0.00001 % Inland marshes 11.42. Main trends in wetlands & water consumption/formation [ha/year] Consumption of wetlands by urban sprawl -200 0 200 Water bodies 54% Peatbogs 4 Conversion of wetlands to agriculture Forest creation and afation over wetlands Withdrawal of farming without woodland creation Net water bodies creation Water courses Net wetlands creation 11.43. Mean annual conversions of & other woodland [ha/year] lcf13 Development of green urban areas lcf2 Urban residential sprawl lcf3 Sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures lcf511 Intensive conversion from to agriculture lcf512 Diffuse conversion from to agriculture lcf61 Withdrawal of farming with woodland creation lcf71 Conversion from transitional woodland to (cons.) lcf71 Conversion from transitional woodland to (form.) lcf72 Forest creation, afation 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.) -400000-300000 -200000-100000 0 100000 200000 300000 400000 11
12.44. Mean annual conversions of dry semi-natural LC [ha/year] lcf13 Development of green urban areas lcf2 Urban residential sprawl lcf3 Sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures 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 lcf72 Forest creation, afation 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.) -200-100 0 100 200 300 12.45. Mean annual conversions of wetlands and water LC [ha/year] lcf13 Development of green urban areas lcf2 Urban residential sprawl lcf3 Sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures lcf53 Conversion from wetlands to agriculture lcf62 Withdrawal of farming without significant woodland creation lcf72 Forest creation, afation lcf8 Water bodies creation and management (cons.) lcf81 Water bodies creation lcf9 Changes of land cover due to natural and multiple causes (other than LCF91) lcf9 Changes of land cover due to natural and multiple causes (other than LCF912) lcf911 Semi-natural creation (form.) lcf912 Semi-natural rotation (cons.) lcf912 Semi-natural rotation (form.) lcf913 Extension of water courses (form.) -200-100 0 100 12
CLC Changes CLC Changes 13
Drivers of change Drivers of change 14
Artificial sprawl Artificial sprawl 15
Agriculture Agriculture 16
Forest and nature Forest and nature 17