Country fact sheet Land cover 2012 Romania September 2017 Photo: Toni García, My City/EEA
Land cover 2012 Overview of land cover & change The Romanian landscape is characterised by its low dynamics of land cover change. The current annual change rate (0.05%) is one of the lowest in Europe. The situation was comparable in the previous period, but the pace of the development was significantly higher before, with 0.16% mean annual change rate in the 1990-2000 period. However, this was also significantly lower than the current European average. The development of Romanian landscape is driven mostly by internal forest conversions; however, the intensity of this flow is continuously decreasing since 1990. In the last period, the sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures became the second most significant driver of change in Romania. Although the annual land take rate (0.15% of initial artificial area) is one of the lowest among European countries, it is slowly getting higher between 1990 and 2012. The intensity of the agricultural internal conversions, which were very powerful during the period 1990-2000, rapidly decreased already in the period and is getting even lower in the period. Beside these conversions, there also occurs a conversion of arable land into inland marshes, which was observed along the Danube river in the eastern part of the country. 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 Romania: 6 3% 1.1. Land cover 2012 [% of total] Open sp. 0, 2% 5% 14000 1.2. Net change in land cover [ha] 7000 2.0 1.0 1.3. Net change in land cover [% of initial year 2006] 32% 39% 0 0.0-7000 18% -14000-1.0 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 12649 94117 42199 75650 6643 251 3188 4048 238745 Consumption of initial LC 11.8 165.5 57.4 465.5 4.4 0.6 0.1 6.6 712 Formation of new LC 125.2 46.6 10.5 464.0 0.0 0.0 54.4 11.2 712 Net Formation of LC 113.4-118.9-46.9-1.5-4.4-0.6 54.3 4.6 0 Net formation as % of initial year 0.9-0.1-0.1 0.0-0.1-0.2 1.7 0.1 Total turnover of LC 137.1 212.0 67.9 929.5 4.4 0.6 54.5 17.7 1424 Total turnover as % of initial year 1.1 0.2 0.2 1.2 0.1 0.2 1.7 0.4 0.6 Land cover 2012 12762 93998 42152 75649 6638 250 3242 4053 238745 1
Land cover trends comparison vs. 2.4. Annual land cover change [ha/year, % of total area] 0 5000 10000 0.05% 0.05% Artificial areas Arable land & permanent crops Pastures & mosaics Forested land 2.5. Annual turnover of LC types [ha/year] 0 10000 20000 2.6. Net annual change of LC types [ha/year] Artificial areas Arable land & permanent crops Pastures & mosaics Forested land -3000-1000 1000 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] 12384 11864 Annual land cover change as % of initial year 0.05% 0.05% Land uptake by artificial development as mean annual change [ha/year] 1489 1917 Agricultural land uptake by urban and infrastructures development as mean annual change [ha/year] 1366 1867 Net uptake of forests and semi-natural land by agriculture as mean annual change [ha/year] -11-109 Net conversion from pasture to arable land and permanent crops as mean annual change [ha/year] 618 288 Forest & other woodland net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] -87-25 Dry semi-natural land cover net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] -25-83 Wetlands & water bodies net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] -2 981 2.7. Intensity of main change drivers (LC FLOWS) [ha/year] 9000 6000 3000 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] 2000 0.12% 0.15% 1000 0 Slowdown of residential sprawl, increase of economic sites development The annual land take rate in Romania is one of the lowest among European countries. However, compared to previous period, it shows a slightly increasing tendency. In comparison with the, there is an obvious shift in the structure of the artificial development in the period. The development on new transportation networks and extension of mines, quarries and dump sites are the main drivers of sprawl. The intensity of both these flows, together with the construction, shows increasing tendency. On the other hand, the intensity of residential sprawl significantly decreased, compared to previous period. Concerning the spatial distribution, the sprawl is situated in the surroundings of most Romanian cities; however, there are some differences in this pattern compared to the previous period. The artificial development is significantly lower in the north-eastern region of the country, in contrast to the neighbourhood of the capital city Bucharest, where the sprawl occurs with significantly higher intensity than in. The source for new artificial land is almost exclusively agricultural land, with predominance of arable (66% of total sprawl). 3.9. Artificial surfaces 2012 [% of total area] 3.10. Artificial land take [ha/year] 8% 3% 0.2% const. 0 200 400 600 88% 800 600 400 200 0 3.11. Mean annual artificial change by class [ha/year] -200 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 exchange between arable and pasture slows down The intensity of the agricultural land internal exchange significantly decreased compared to the previous period. The conversion from pasture to arable or crop land continues with significantly lower intensity, while the opposite conversion from arable land to pasture almost disappeared from the Romanian landscape. This decrease is most obvious in the north-eastern region of the country, where the conversions from pasture to arable were most frequent during the previous period. On the other hand, there occurs higher amount of conversion from arable land to vineyards and orchards and also conversion from vineyards and orchards into agricultural land with natural vegetation, which were rather insignificant during. Concerning the external exchange, the agriculture land, with prevailing share of arable (66% of total sprawl) has been consumed mostly by the sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures and also, to a lesser extent, by residential sprawl. The other reason of arable land consumption was its conversion into inland marches, which was observed in eastern Romania, along the Danube river. 231 18% 222 3% 221 2% 4.12. Agricultural areas 2012 [% of total area] 242 6% 213 0.2% 212 0.0 243 7% 211 64% 5000 0-5000 -10000-15000 -20000 0.03% -0.17% Non-irrigated arable land 4.13. Development of agricultural areas detailed balance [ha] Permanently irrigated land Rice fields 0.03% -0.16% Vineyards 0.6-0.28% Fruit trees and berry plantations Olive groves 0.0-0.18% Consumption of initial land cover Formation of new land cover Pastures Annual/ permanent crops 0.02% -0.08% Complex cult. patterns 0.06% -0.07% Agriculture with nat. veg. Agro-forestry areas 211 Non-irrigated arable land 212 Permanently irrigated land 213 Rice fields 221 Vineyards 222 Fruit trees and berry plantations 0-1000 -2000 4.14. Mean annual agricultural change by class [ha/year] 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 -3000 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 () 5.15. Forest & nature areas 2012 [% of total area] 4% Open sp. 0,3% 5% 7% 84% Forest Semi-natural vegetation Open spaces/ bare soils Wetlands Water bodies Forest and nature land development Despite their decreasing intensity, the internal forested conversions remain by far the main driver of landscape development in Romania. Recent felling and transition strongly prevails over opposite flow of forest creation. As a result of these flows, all forest types show negative net change balance, in contrast to transitional woodland, with prevailing formation of area (about 10% of initial area). The other significant conversion in Romanian natural landscape was the formation of new wetlands, represented by inland marshes creation over former arable land, which was observed in the eastern part of the country, along the Danube river. 5.16. Development of forest & nature areas detailed balance [ha] Consumption of initial land cover 30000 0.10% 0.06% 0.02% 11.52% 1.74% Formation of new land cover 0.00% 0.70% 0-30000 Broad-leaved forest -0.25% Coniferous forest -1.9 Mixed forest -0.4-0.07% -1.63% -0.42% 0.00% -0.33% -0.05% 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 9000 6000 3000 0-3000 5.17. Mean annual forest & nature change by class [ha/year] -6000 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] Open sp. Seminat. 0, Wet. 0,02% 2% 6.19. Formation of land cover [% of total change area] 8% 2% 18% 23% 6% 65% 8% 65% 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] lcf8 lcf9 8% lcf1 lcf2 3% lcf3 14% lcf4 7% lcf1 Urban land management lcf2 Urban residential sprawl lcf3 Sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures lcf4 A griculture internal conversions lcf5 0.2% lcf5 C onversion from forested & natural land to agriculture lcf6 lcf6 Withdrawal of farming lcf7 Forests creation and management lcf7 65% 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 5% Seminatural vegetation Open spaces / bare soils 0.2% Wetlands 0. Dump sites 0. Construct. 14% Sport/ leisure Disc. urban fabric 15% Pastures & mosaics 28% Mineral extraction 27% Industrial/ commer. 28% Arable land & permanent crops 66% Airports Port areas 0.2% Road/rail network 14% 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 0.12% 0.15% 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.) -200 0 200 400 600 800 7
Agriculture 8.25. LC consumed by agriculture [% of total] 8.26. Formation of agricultural land from non-agriculture [% of total] Dump sites 24% Nonirrigated arable 14% Water bodies 57% Construct. 7% Broadleaved forest 14% Pastures 86% 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 3% Pastures 15% Fruit trees/berry plantations Vineyards 0.3% Agriculture with natural veg. 4% Nonirrigated arable 77% Transition. woodland/ shrub 0,2% Inland marshes 33% Coniferous forest 0. Sport/ leisure 0,04% Construct. 10% Water courses 0.02% Dump sites 0. Water bodies 2% Mineral extraction 16% Disc. urban fabric 10% Industrial/ commer. 19% Road/rail network 9% Port areas 0.2% Airports 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] -200-100 0 100-900 -600-300 0 300 Conversion from forest 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 2000-2006 2006-2012 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 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 lcf512 Diffuse conversion from forest 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 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.) 0 300 600 900-1800 -1400-1000 -600-200 9
Forest & nature 10.33. LC consumed by forest & nature [% of total] Fruit trees/berry plantations 0. Pastures 8% Agriculture with natural veg. 0,4% Mineral extraction 2% Construct. 10.34. Formation of forest & nature land from non-forest /nature [% of total] Water courses 0. Water bodies 7% Coniferous forest 0.3% Transition. woodland/ shrub Nonirrigated arable 90% 10.35. Consumption of forest & nature land by non-forest/nature [% of total] Inland marshes 9 10.36. Formation of non-forest/nature land from forest & nature [% of total] Beaches, dunes, sand plains 3% Transition. woodland/ shrub 8% Natural grassland 10% Coniferous forest 6% Inland marshes Water bodies 10% Broadleaved forest 62% Nonirrigated arable 2% Sport/ leisure 8% Construct 5% Pastures 10% Disc. urban fabric 3% Road/rail network 12% Mineral extraction 59% 10.37. Forested land 2012 [% of total area] Mixed forest 13% Transit. woodland shrub 5% 10.38. Main trends in woodland & forests consumption/formation [ha/year] Consumption of forest land by urban sprawl 0 3000 6000 Conversion from forest to agriculture Conifer. forest 17% Broadleaved forest 65% Recent fellings and transitions Withdrawal of farming with woodland creation Forest creation, afforestation Conversion from transitional woodland to forests Forest creation over wetlands 10
Moors and heath. 1 11.39. Dry semi-natural areas 2012 [% of total area] Beaches, dunes and sand plains 2% Bare rock Burnt areas 0.00 Sparsely vegetat. areas 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, afforestation over dry semi-natural land 0 30 60 Natural grassland 85% Withdrawal of farming without woodland creation Decrease of permanent snow and glaciers 11.41. Wetlands & water 2012 [% of total area] Coastal lagoons 10% 11.42. Main trends in wetlands & water consumption/formation [ha/year] Consumption of wetlands by urban sprawl -200 0 200 400 600 800 Water bodies 22% Inland marshes 43% Conversion of wetlands to agriculture Forest creation and afforestation over wetlands Withdrawal of farming without woodland creation Water courses 24% Salt marshes Net water bodies creation 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.) -10000-5000 0 5000 10000 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.) -80-70 -60-50 -40-30 -20-10 0 10 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.) -200 0 200 400 600 800 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