Country fact sheet Land cover 2012 Luxembourg September 2017 Photo: Toni García, My City/EEA
Land cover 2012 Overview of land cover & change The small country of Luxembourg shows significant decrease of the land cover development dynamics, compared to previous period. The overall annual change rate for 0.07% of total area - is one of the lowest among European countries. The pace of the land cover development in the country culminated during the previous period, with an annual change rate of 0.23%. The main reason for this decrease is a rapid slowdown of the internal conversions of forested and also agricultural land, which can be observed when comparing the periods 2000-2006 and. The intensity of both these flows culminated during the period. The internal forest conversions, which were the most powerful driver of land cover change in the country in the period, lost most of their intensity and there were no registered internal agricultural conversions during the period. The position of the main driver of the land cover change in the country has been overtaken by the artificial development in the last period, with prevailing sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures. The annual rate of the artificial land take is slightly below the European average, which means it s a little bit higher compared to the period ; however, still more than twice lower than in the period 1990-2000. 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 -2012 - see Corine land cover (CLC) programme for details. Number of years between CLC2006-CLC2012 data for Luxembourg: 6 1.1. Land cover 2012 [% of total] Wet. Water. 0,01% 0,4% 10% 1.2. Net change in land cover [ha] 2.0 1.3. Net change in land cover [% of initial year 2006] 36% 13% 300 1.0 0 0.0 41% -300-1.0 A rtificial areas A rable land & permanent crops Pastures & mosaics Forested land Semi-natural vegetation Open spaces/ bare soils Wetlands Water bodies Summary balance table Artificial areas Arable land & permanent crops Pastures & mosaics Forested land Semi-natural vegetation Open spaces/ bare soils Wetlands Water bodies TOTAL [hundreds ha] Land cover 2006 233 313 1034 902 0 0 0 5 2487 Consumption of initial LC 1.5 0.9 2.8 3.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 9 Formation of new LC 5.4 0.0 0.6 3.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 9 Net Formation of LC 3.9-0.9-2.3-0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 Net formation as % of initial year 1.7-0.3-0.2-0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Total turnover of LC 6.8 1.0 3.4 7.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 18 Total turnover as % of initial year 2.9 0.3 0.3 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 Land cover 2012 237 312 1032 901 0 0 0 5 2487 1
Land cover trends comparison vs. 2.4. Annual land cover change [ha/year, % of total area] 0 200 400 600 0.23% 0.06% Artificial areas Arable land & permanent crops Pastures & mosaics Forested land 2.5. Annual turnover of LC types [ha/year] 0 300 600 2.6. Net annual change of LC types [ha/year] Artificial areas Arable land & permanent crops Pastures & mosaics Forested land -80-40 0 40 80 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] 563 152 Annual land cover change as % of initial year 0.23% 0.06% Land uptake by artificial development as mean annual change [ha/year] 64 75 Agricultural land uptake by urban and infrastructures development as mean annual change [ha/year] 58 63 Net uptake of forests and semi-natural land by agriculture as mean annual change [ha/year] 0 0 Net conversion from pasture to arable land and permanent crops as mean annual change [ha/year] 20 0 Forest & other woodland net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] 28-12 Dry semi-natural land cover net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] 0 0 Wetlands & water bodies net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] 0 0 2.7. Intensity of main change drivers (LC FLOWS) [ha/year] 400 200 0 lcf1 Urban land management lcf2 Urban residential sprawl lcf3 Sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures lcf4 Agriculture internal conversions lcf5 Conversion from forested & 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] 90 60 0.28% 0.32% 30 0 Artificial development became the most intensive flow in the country Although its increase compared to the previous period is rather small, due to significant slowdown of the internal forest and agricultural conversions, the artificial development became the main driver of the land cover exchange in Luxembourg in the period. The artificial land take rate of 0.34% of initial artificial area per year is just below the European average. The land take is driven almost exclusively by construction. There also occurs certain amount of urban land management in the country. Geographically, the artificial development in Luxembourg is situated mostly in the southern half of the country, in the surroundings of major cities. The formation of construction sites consumes mainly agricultural land, with prevailing share of pastures. 3.9. Artificial surfaces 2012 [% of total area] 3.10. Artificial land take [ha/year] 4% 2% 2% 0 30 60 12% 80% 3.11. Mean annual artificial change by class [ha/year] 60 30 0-30 -60 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 () Internal agricultural conversions disappeared During the previous period, the internal agricultural conversions (with prevailing share of conversion from pasture to arable or crop land) were quite frequent in Luxembourg, and they represented the second major driver of the land cover development in the country. However, these flows do not occur anymore between 2006 and 2012. The main process in agricultural development in this period is the consumption of agricultural land by the artificial sprawl, mostly by extension of construction sites. As a result, all agricultural land cover classes show negative balance of net change, with prevailing consumption of land. The main sources for the artificial land take in Luxembourg are pastures (40%) and complex cultivation patterns (31%). 242 34% 4.12. Agricultural areas 2012 [% of total area] 243 16% 241 0.1% 211 22% 231 27% 221 1% 222 0.1% 100 0-100 -200-0.28% Non-irrigated arable land 4.13. Development of agricultural areas detailed balance [ha] Permanently irrigated land Rice fields 0.47% -0.70% Vineyards Consumption of initial land cover Formation of new land cover Fruit trees and berry plantations Olive groves 0.16% -0.38% Pastures Annual/ permanent crops -0.28% Complex cult. patterns -0.09% Agriculture with nat. veg. Agro-forestry areas 211 Non-irrigated arable land 212 Permanently irrigated land 20 4.14. Mean annual agricultural change by class [ha/year] 213 Rice fields 0 221 Vineyards -20 222 Fruit trees and berry plantations 223 Olive groves 231 Pastures 241 Annual crops associated with permanent crops 242 Complex cultivation patterns 243 Agriculture land with significant areas of natural vegetation 244 Agro-forestry areas -40-60 -80 Non-irrigated arable land Permanently irrigated land Rice fields Vineyards Fruit trees and berry plantations Olive groves Pastures Annual/ permanent crops Complex cult. patterns Agriculture with nat. veg. Agro-forestry areas 4
Forest & nature () Wet. 0,03 % 5.15. Forest & nature areas 2012 [% of total area] 1% 99% Forest Semi-natural vegetation Open spaces/ bare soils Wetlands Water bodies Forest and nature land development The overall dynamics of the forested land development significantly decreased, compared to the previous period. The conversion from transitional woodland to forest, which was the major driver of the land cover exchange during the period, completely disappeared from the landscape and there only occurs certain amount of the opposite recent felling and transition. Some amount of forested land has been also consumed by the artificial land take, namely by the sprawl of construction and sport and leisure facilities. All broad-leaved, coniferous and mixed forest have negative change balance with prevailing consumption, in contrast to transitional woodland, with 50% formation of initial area. This balance represents a completely opposite trend, compared to the previous period. 300 5.16. Development of forest & nature areas detailed balance [ha] 0.06% -0.07% -2.29% -0.23% -6.80% 0.04% 51.70% Consumption of initial land cover Formation of new land cover 0-300 Broad-leaved forest Coniferous forest Mixed forest 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 Estuaries Sea and ocean 200 5.17. Mean annual forest & nature change by class [ha/year] 0-200 -400 Broad-leaved forest Coniferous forest Mixed forest 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 area] 6.19. Formation of land cover [% of total change area] 16% 35% 43% 10% 59% 31% 6% Arable land 1% A rtificial areas A rable land & permanent crops Pastures & mosaics Forested land Semi-natural vegetation Open spaces/ bare soils Wetlands Water bodies 6.20. Drivers of change (LC FLOWS) [% of total change area] lcf1 Urban land management lcf7 35% lcf1 9% lcf2 4% lcf2 Urban residential sprawl lcf3 Sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures lcf4 A griculture internal conversions lcf5 C onversion from forested & natural land to agriculture lcf6 Withdrawal of farming lcf5 7% lcf3 45% lcf7 Forests creation and management 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] Forested land 17% Arable land & permanent crops 20% Sport/ leisure 5% Disc. urban fabric 8% Industrial/ commer. 13% Mineral extraction 1% Construct. 70% Dump sites 2% Pastures & mosaics 63% 7.23. Net formation of artificial area [ha/year, % of initial year] 7.24. Artificial development by change drivers (LC FLOWS) [ha/year] 0 30 60 0.12% 0.28% 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, 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.) -40-20 0 20 40 60 7
Agriculture 8.25. LC consumed by agriculture [% of total] 8.26. Formation of agricultural land from non-agriculture [% of total] Construct. 8% Mineral extraction 26% Vineyards 7% Dump sites 66% Pastures 93% 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 34% Agriculture with natural veg. 5% Nonirrigated arable 23% Vineyards 1% Disc. urban fabric 9% Industrial/ commercial 15% Pastures 37% Construct. 74% 8.29. Main annual conversions between agriculture and forests & semi-natural land [ha/year] 8.30. Mean annual conversion between arable land and pasture [ha/year] 0 0-50 -30-10 10 30 Conversion from forest to agriculture Conversion from dry semi-natural & natural land to agriculture Conversion from wetlands to agriculture Withdrawal of farming with woodland creation Extension of pasture, set aside and fallow land 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 forest to agriculture lcf431 Conversion from olives groves to vineyards and orchards lcf512 Diffuse conversion from forest to agriculture 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 2000-2006 2006-2012 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 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 lcf92 Forests and shrubs fires lcf93 Coastal erosion lcf99 Other changes and unknown (agri. cons.) lcf47 Extension of agroforestry lcf99 Other changes and unknown (agri. form.) 0 20 40-80 -60-40 -20 0 20 9
Forest & nature 10.33. LC consumed by forest & nature [% of total] 10.34. Formation of forest & nature land from non-forest /nature [% of total] 10.35. Consumption of forest & nature land by non-forest/nature [% of total] 10.36. Formation of non-forest/nature land from forest & nature [% of total] Transition. woodland/ shrub 35% Broadleaved forest 39% Sport/ leisure 35% Mineral extraction 8% Dump sites 9% Mixed forest 26% Construct. 48% Mixed forest 19% 10.37. Forested land 2012 [% of total area] Transit. woodland shrub 1% 10.38. Main trends in woodland & forests consumption/formation [ha/year] Consumption of forest land by urban sprawl 0 20 40 60 Conversion from forest to agriculture Conifer. forest 12% Broadleaved forest 67% Recent fellings and transitions Withdrawal of farming with woodland creation Forest creation, afforestation Conversion from transitional woodland to forests Forest creation over wetlands 10
11.39. Dry semi-natural areas 2012 [% of total area] 11.40. Main trends in dry semi-natural land consumption/formation [ha/year] 0 0 Consumption of dry semi-natural land cover by urban sprawl Conversion of semi-natural land cover to agriculture Forest creation, afforestation over dry semi-natural land Withdrawal of farming without woodland creation Decrease of permanent snow and glaciers 11.41. Wetlands & water 2012 [% of total area] Inland marshes 5% Water courses 1% 11.42. Main trends in wetlands & water consumption/formation [ha/year] Consumption of wetlands by urban sprawl 0 0 Conversion of wetlands to agriculture Forest creation and afforestation over wetlands Withdrawal of farming without woodland creation Net water bodies creation Water bodies 94% Net wetlands creation 11.43. Mean annual conversions of forest & 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 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.) lcf72 Forest creation, afforestation 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.) -400-200 0 200 400 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, afforestation 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.) 0 0 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, afforestation 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.) 0 0 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