Country fact sheet Land cover 2012 Finland September 2017 Photo: Toni García, My City/EEA
Land cover 2012 Overview of land cover & change The land cover development in Finland has similar intensity and structure as in the previous period, with only slightly lower overall change rate. With a mean annual change rate of 0.35% of total area, the dynamics of development in the Finish landscape is rather high, compared to other European countries. The extent of conversions in the country is huge, which is caused by extensive coverage itself. These conversions will always be the most powerful driver of development of the Finish landscape. The intensity of these internal flows is comparable to the previous period. On the other hand, conversions from ed and natural land to agriculture, which were remarkable during the period 2000-2006, lost most of it intensity in the period. The speed of urban sprawl in Finland remains stable, with an annual artificial land take rate of about 0.4%, which is slightly above the European average. Sprawl is driven by the extension of mines and quarrying areas, as well as dump, construction and industrial or commercial sites. On the other hand, the extensions of residential and sport and leisure areas, which were major sprawl drivers in the period 2000-2006, show significant decline. 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 Finland: 6 1.1. Land cover 2012 [% of total] 12000 1.2. Net change in land cover [ha] 1.3. Net change in land cover [% of initial year 2006] 6% 9% 5% 4% 8000 4000 0 2.0-4000 0.0-8000 7-12000 -2.0 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 4544 15633 13384 242269 7079 2006 21691 32054 338662 Consumption of initial LC 14.3 73.9 56.2 6272.3 0.0 1.8 32.2 2.5 6453 Formation of new LC 120.4 56.0 23.0 6156.1 0.0 5.7 92.1 0.0 6453 Net Formation of LC 106.1-17.9-33.3-116.2 0.0 3.9 59.9-2.5 0 Net formation as % of initial year 2.3-0.1-0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.3 0.0 Total turnover of LC 134.7 129.9 79.2 12428.4 0.0 7.5 124.3 2.5 12906 Total turnover as % of initial year 3.0 0.8 0.6 5.1 0.0 0.4 0.6 0.0 3.8 Land cover 2012 4650 15615 13351 242153 7079 2010 21751 32052 338662 1
Land cover trends comparison vs. 2.4. Annual land cover change [ha/year, % of total area] 0 30000 60000 90000 120000 0.33% 0.3 Artificial areas Arable land & permanent crops & mosaics Forested land 2.5. Annual turnover of LC types [ha/year] 0 100000 200000 2.6. Net annual change of LC types [ha/year] Artificial areas Arable land & permanent crops & mosaics Forested land -8000-4000 0 4000 8000 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] 112389 107554 Annual land cover change as % of initial year 0.33% 0.3 Land uptake by artificial development as mean annual change [ha/year] 1803 1851 Agricultural land uptake by urban and infrastructures development as mean annual change [ha/year] 333 223 Net uptake of s and semi-natural land by agriculture as mean annual change [ha/year] 7474-88 Net conversion from pasture to arable land and permanent crops as mean annual change [ha/year] 0 0 Forest & other woodland net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] -6347-1936 Dry semi-natural land cover net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] -1 83 Wetlands & water bodies net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] -2602 957 2.7. Intensity of main change drivers (LC FLOWS) [ha/year] 90000 60000 30000 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] 2000 0.4 0.4 1000 0 Slowdown of residential and sport and leisure sprawl The urban sprawl rate in Finland is slightly above average, compared to other European countries, and stable in time, as it was almost identical in the as in. Geographically, it is situated not only on the south, but around all major Finish cities, with the highest concentration in the surroundings of capital city of Helsinki. The largest area has been taken by mines, quarries and waste dumpsites with much more intensive formation than in previous period. Also the area of construction sites and industrial and commercial units grows much faster, compared to. In contrast, the sprawl of discontinuous urban fabric and sport and leisure facilities, which was the main driver of the artificial land development in the, continues with significantly lower intensity during the period. The main source for these newly built urban areas is former ed land. 3.9. Artificial surfaces 2012 [% of total area] 3.10. Artificial land take [ha/year] 3% 7% const. 0 300 600 900 14% 75% 3.11. Mean annual artificial change by class [ha/year] 500 400 300 200 100 0-100 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 () Decrease of conversion from natural land to agriculture In the long term, the development of the finish agricultural land is driven exclusively by external exchanges with another land cover types internal conversions of agricultural land are not observed in the country. During the previous period, the conversions from and wetlands to agriculture were frequent in Finland and caused significant formation of arable land. However, in the, these conversions lost most of their intensity, which means both arable and pasture land have negative net change balance, with prevailing consumption of land. There still remains some amount of conversion from transitional woodland to agriculture, which, together with opposite withdrawal of farming with transitional woodland creation, are the main drivers of the agricultural land development in Finland in the period. 4.12. Agricultural areas 2012 [% of total area] 8000 4.13. Development of agricultural areas detailed balance [ha] 4000 0.36% Consumption of initial land cover Formation of new land cover 16.96% 0.04% 0 243 46% 242 0.03% 231 0.3% 222 0.003 % 211 54% -4000-8000 -0.47% Non-irrigated arable land Permanently irrigated land Rice fields Vineyards -6.67% Fruit trees and berry plantations Olive groves -30.96% Annual/ permanent crops Complex cult. patterns -0.17% Agriculture with nat. veg. Agro-ry areas 211 Non-irrigated arable land 212 Permanently irrigated land 213 Rice fields 221 Vineyards 7000 5000 3000 4.14. Mean annual agricultural change by class [ha/year] 222 Fruit trees and berry plantations 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 -1000 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] 1 7% 79% Forest Semi-natural vegetation Open spaces/ bare soils Wetlands Water bodies Extensive internal flows About 7 of the landscape in Finland is covered by s and therefore, changes in ed land are the main drivers of land cover development in the country, mostly represented by internal conversions. The intensity of these flows is comparable with the previous period, with slightly prevailing recent felling and transition over creation from transitional woodland, which also shows the same trend as in the. Net change of ed land is characterized by the consumption of coniferous and formation of mixed, broad-leaved and transitional woodland and shrub, the last one significantly higher compared with previous period. Concerning external exchange of natural land, the conversion from wetlands to agriculture, which was frequent in the period, almost disappeared from the Finish landscape and the conversion from to agriculture occurs with significantly lower intensity. Another interesting trend in the frame of natural land development in Finland is the creation of wetlands (in particular peatbogs), mostly through the conversion from coniferous and arable land. This trend of peatbogs creation had been observed already during the previous period, but not through the conversion from arable land. 400000 5.16. Development of & nature areas detailed balance [ha] 300000 200000 100000 1.84% 0.8 1.87% 11.30% 0.37% 0.19% 0.4 1.28% Consumption of initial land cover Formation of new land cover 0-100000 -200000-300000 -0.19% -2.53% -0.26% -7.4-5.24% -0.07% -0.53% -0.13% -1.29% 0.00% -100.00% -400000 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 Peatbogs Salt Salines Intertidal flats Water courses Water bodies Coastal lagoons Estuaries Sea and ocean 30000 5.17. Mean annual & nature change by class [ha/year] 0-30000 -60000 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 Peatbogs Salt 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 Wet. area] Artif. areas 0, Arable land 6.19. Formation of land cover [% of total change area] Open sp.0, Wet. Artif. areas Arable land 0,3% 97% 95% 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] lcf9 lcf1 0. lcf2 0.3% lcf3 lcf5 lcf6 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 94% 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] Wetlands 5% Open spaces / bare soils 0.3% Water bodies Arable land & permanent crops 1 & mosaics Construct. 17% Sport/ leisure 5% Disc. urban fabric 16% Industrial/ commer. 15% Forested land 8 Dump sites 18% Mineral extraction 27% Airports 0. Road/rail network 0.3% Port areas 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 0.4 0.39% 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.) -200 0 200 400 600 7
Agriculture Salt Inland Bare rock Beaches, dunes, sand plains 8.25. LC consumed by agriculture [% of total] Water bodies 0. Peatbogs 1 Sea and ocean Industr./ Disc. comm. urban 0,03% fabric Dump 0. sites Sport/ 0.3% leisure 0. Coniferous 0. 8.26. Formation of agricultural land from non-agriculture [% of total] 23% Agriculture with natural veg. 6% Transition. woodland/ shrub 8 Nonirrigated arable 7 8.27. Consumption of agricultural land by non-agriculture [% of total] 8.28. Formation of non-agricultural land from agriculture [% of total] Agriculture with natural veg. 18% Disc. urban fabric 4% Salt Industr/ comm. Road/rail Mineral network extraction 0. Airports 0. Dump 0. sites 0. Construct. 3% 25% Fruit trees/berry plantations 0. Nonirrigated arable 57% Peatbogs 29% Inland 0.3% Bare rock 4% Sport/ leisure Broadleaved 0. Transition. woodland/ shrub 56% 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] -1400-700 0 700 1400-1 0 1 Conversion from to agriculture Conversion from dry seminatural & 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 lcf412 Diffuse extension of set aside fallow land and pasture 2000-2006 2006-2012 lcf13 Development of green urban areas lcf2 Urban residential sprawl lcf421 Conversion from arable land to permanent irrigation perimeters lcf422 Other internal conversions of arable land 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 lcf512 Diffuse conversion from to agriculture lcf521 Intensive conversion from semi-natural 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 agrory 0 1-2000 0 2000 4000 6000 lcf99 Other changes and unknown (agri. form.) 9
Forest & nature 10.33. LC consumed by & nature [% of total] Agriculture with natural veg. 19% Disc. urban fabric 0.05% Road/rail network 0.03% Dump sites 4% Sport/leisu re 0.0 10.34. Formation of & nature land from non- /nature [% of total] Salt Broadleaved 0. Coniferous 0, Mixed Peatbogs 3 27% Fruit trees/berry plantations 0. Nonirrigated arable 5 Inland 0.4% Bare rock 5% Transition. woodland/ shrub 63% 10.35. Consumption of & nature land by non-/nature [% of total] 10.36. Formation of non-/nature land from & nature [% of total] Bare rock 0.5% Peatbogs 8% Inland Beaches, dunes, sand plains 0.3% Transition. woodland/ shrub 54% Salt Water bodies 0. Sea and ocean Broadleaved 0.3% Coniferous 29% Mixed 5% 10% Nonirrigated arable 3 Sport/ leisure Agriculture with natural veg. 3% Construct. 9% Disc. urban fabric 8% Industrial/ commer. 8% Dump sites 1 Road/rail network 0. Port areas Mineral extraction 17% 10.37. Forested land 2012 [% of total area] Transit. woodland shrub 14% Broadleaved 3% 10.38. Main trends in woodland & s consumption/formation [ha/year] Consumption of land by urban sprawl Conversion from to agriculture 0 30000 60000 Recent fellings and transitions Mixed 25% Conifer. 58% Withdrawal of farming with woodland creation Forest creation, afation Conversion from transitional woodland to s Forest creation over wetlands 10
11.39. Dry semi-natural areas 2012 [% of total area] Bare rock 17% Sparsely vegetate d areas 5% Natural grass. 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 0 20 40 60 80 100 Beaches, dunes and sand plains 0, Moors and heath. 76% Forest creation, afation 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] Estuaries 0.00 Inland Peatbogs 40% 11.42. Main trends in wetlands & water consumption/formation [ha/year] Consumption of wetlands by urban sprawl Conversion of wetlands to agriculture Forest creation and afation over wetlands -200 0 200 400 600 800 1000 Water bodies 58% Salt 0.3% Water courses Withdrawal of farming without woodland creation Net water bodies creation 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.) -80000-40000 0 40000 80000 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.) -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 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.) -3600-3000 -2400-1800 -1200-600 0 600 1200 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