Country fact sheet Land cover 2012 Spain September 2017 Photo: Toni García, My City/EEA
Land cover 2012 Overview of land cover & change The overall annual land cover change rate in Spain is 0,2, which is just around the European average. The pace of landscape development has significantly decreased, compared with the previous period, which was characterized by a mean annual change rate of 0,3. This decrease is distributed equally among all main land cover flows in the country all of them showing significant decrease of intensity. The structure of land cover change is very similar to the previous period, with creation and management, agriculture internal conversions and sprawl of economic site infrastructures remaining the major drivers of change. Spain is a typical case for very intensive artificial sprawl, in particular extension of economic sites and infrastructures. Despite its significant decrease (caused by finalization of highway construction), compared to previous period, the annual land take rate - 1,47% - is still the highest in Europe. Also geographically, the pattern of change in Spain is very similar to the previous period with major concentrations of sprawl around all major cities and also along the eastern coastline. Forest conversions are located mostly in the northern, northwest and southwest parts of Spain. There are three major differences first, highway construction, which was very intensive in the Spanish inland in the period, has been finished. Second, there occurred a huge concentration of internal agricultural conversions located southeast from Madrid, which, to some extent, substituted the scattered internal agriculture conversions, which were observed in the period in southern Spain. Thirdly, the conversions from ed and natural land to agriculture, which were very frequent in the southwest part of the country in the previous period, have almost disappeared. 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. The accounts for Azores and Madeira are not included into this analysis. Number of years between CLC2006-CLC2012 data for Spain: 6 2 1.1. Land cover 2012 [% of total] Wet. 0, 100000 50000 1.2. Net change in land cover [ha] 9.0 6.0 1.3. Net change in land cover [% of initial year 2006] 3 0 3.0-50000 0.0 26% 1-100000 -3.0 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 12414 171859 66074 132140 108064 11095 993 3049 505687 Consumption of initial LC 515.9 2320.7 439.7 1824.9 859.2 608.0 1.7 12.6 6583 Formation of new LC 1512.1 1394.7 638.4 1948.1 503.3 355.4 9.3 221.3 6583 Net Formation of LC 996.3-926.1 198.7 123.2-355.9-252.5 7.6 208.7 0 Net formation as % of initial year 8.0-0.5 0.3 0.1-0.3-2.3 0.8 6.8 Total turnover of LC 2028.0 3715.4 1078.2 3773.0 1362.5 963.4 11.0 233.9 13165 Total turnover as % of initial year 16.3 2.2 1.6 2.9 1.3 8.7 1.1 7.7 2.6 Land cover 2012 13410 170933 66272 132263 107708 10843 1001 3257 505687 1
Land cover trends comparison vs. 2.4. Annual land cover change [ha/year, % of total area] 0 50000 100000 150000 0.3 0.2 Artificial areas Arable land & permanent crops Pastures & mosaics Forested land 2.5. Annual turnover of LC types [ha/year] 0 30000 60000 90000 2.6. Net annual change of LC types [ha/year] Artificial areas Arable land & permanent crops Pastures & mosaics Forested land -20000 0 20000 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] 169397 109710 Annual land cover change as % of initial year 0.3 0.2 Land uptake by artificial development as mean annual change [ha/year] 26643 18298 Agricultural land uptake by urban and infrastructures development as mean annual change [ha/year] 19802 15570 Net uptake of s and semi-natural land by agriculture as mean annual change [ha/year] 14827 2179 Net conversion from pasture to arable land and permanent crops as mean annual change [ha/year] 1147-687 Forest & other woodland net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] -506 2053 Dry semi-natural land cover net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] -13833-8988 Wetlands & water bodies net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] 749 3606 60000 2.7. Intensity of main change drivers (LC FLOWS) [ha/year] 40000 20000 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] 30000 20000 1.47% 2.39% 10000 0 Highway construction finished; sprawl driven by extension of commercial and industrial sites As already highlighted, the artificial land take rate of Spain is the highest in Europe. It is still valid despite its significant decrease, compared to previous period from 2,39% to 1,47% annually. This decrease is caused mostly by finalization of construction of highway networks inland, but also by significant decrease of the intensity of residential sprawl. On the other hand, the sprawl of commercial and industrial sites became significantly stronger in 2006-2012, comparing with the period. There is also significant amount of recycling of developed urban land in Spain, represented by the conversion of construction sites into residential or industrial and commercial areas. The spatial pattern of the artificial development is similar to the previous period, although the highway construction disappeared from the inland landscape. The major core of the artificial development is the capital city of Madrid the surrounding areas are intensively consumed by sprawl mainly arable land is taken by this development. The other major concentrations of sprawl are situated around Barcelona, Murcia, Valencia and Sevilla. 3.9. Artificial surfaces 2012 [% of total area] 3.10. Artificial land take [ha/year] 9% 0 3000 6000 9000 6% 1 59% 3.11. Mean annual artificial change by class [ha/year] 8000 5000 2000-2012 2000-1000 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 () Intensive conversions between arable and vineyards, orchards, olive grows and permanent crops Despite their decreasing intensity, internal agriculture conversions are still the second major driver of change in the Spanish landscape. The most frequent internal agriculture flow is the conversion from arable land to vineyards and orchards. Beside it, arable land is also often converted to olive groves. However, both these flows are showing decreasing tendency, comparing with. Conversions from arable to permanent irrigation perimeters, which were very frequent in the previous period, almost disappeared from the landscape. On the other hand, there newly occurred frequent conversions to arable - from permanent crops or vineyards and orchards. These flows were almost not observed at all during the previous period. From the exchange between arable and pasture land which, however, is not so frequent in Spain as the above mentioned flows - extension of pasture set aside and fallow land occurs more often than the conversion from pasture to arable and permanent crops, which is the opposite trend comparing with previous period. From external flows, the consumption of land by urban sprawl is most frequent on the other hand, conversions from natural land to agriculture lost most of their intensity in. 242 241 0. 231 223 10% 222 5% 4.12. Agricultural areas 2012 [% of total area] 243 6% 244 10% 221 213 212 10% 211 4 60000 0-60000 -120000 0.3-1.1 Non-irrigated arable land 4.13. Development of agricultural areas detailed balance [ha] 0.8-1.70% Permanently irrigated land 0.5-0.47% Rice fields 2.1-4.45% Vineyards 2.77% -1.60% Fruit trees and berry plantations 1.2-0.3 Olive groves 1.9-2.85% 1.35% -0.65% 2.1-0.4 Consumption of initial land cover Formation of new land cover Pastures Annual/ permanent crops Complex cult. patterns 0.3-0.3 Agriculture with nat. veg. 0.1-0.2 Agro-ry areas 211 Non-irrigated arable land 4.14. Mean annual agricultural change by class [ha/year] 212 Permanently irrigated land 20000 213 Rice fields 0 221 Vineyards 222 Fruit trees and berry plantations -20000 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-ry areas -40000 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-ry areas 4
Forest & nature () 5.15. Forest & nature areas 2012 [% of total area] 5 4 Forest Semi-natural vegetation Open spaces/ bare soils Wetlands Water bodies Afation still very frequent in Spain Although the intensity of these conversions decreased rapidly, compared with the previous period, creation and management remains the main driver of landscape change in Spain. The exchange is driven mostly by internal changes - prevailing recent felling and transition and opposite conversion from transitional woodland to, which has significantly lower intensity. Forest creation became much less frequent, compared to period, however, it is still a very powerful driver of change in Spain. This flow occurs mostly in the northwest part of the country and there is also big concentration of this type of changes in the southwest. The diffuse conversion from to agriculture, which was frequent in the previous period, almost disappeared from the Spanish landscape in the period. Waterbodies creation and management occurs quite often in the last period; these processes have been observed in the central and southern part of the country. 130000 5.16. Development of & nature areas detailed balance [ha] 65000 0.6 0.25% 0.26% 0.5 0.7 0.3 7.10% 0.5 0.09% 2.49% 22.45% 2.0 0.1 0.07% 0.3 9.2 0.07% 0-65000 -1.1-1.30% -0.7-0.76% -1.1-0.69% -2.6-4.07% -0.0-0.7-70.0-0.19% -1.09% -0.2-0.29% -0.0-0.3-100.00% 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 20000 10000 5.17. Mean annual & nature change by class [ha/year] 0-10000 -20000 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 area] 1 9% Wetl. 0,0 Water b. 0, 6.19. Formation of land cover [% of total change area] Wet. 0, 5% 2 35% 2 30% 2 7% 10% 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 1 lcf1 6% lcf2 0.5% lcf3 16% 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 lcf7 30% lcf6 lcf5 5% lcf4 26% lcf6 Withdrawal of farming 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] Seminatural vegetation 15% Forested land 6% Open spaces / bare soils 0. Wetlands 0.0 Water bodies Green urban Sport/ leisure Cont. urban fabric 0. Disc. urban fabric Industrial/ commer. 2 Pastures & mosaics 19% Arable land & permanent crops 59% Construct. 47% Dump sites Mineral extraction 1 Road/rail network 5% Port areas 0. Airports 7.23. Net formation of artificial area [ha/year, % of initial year] 7.24. Artificial development by change drivers (LC FLOWS) [ha/year] 0 10000 20000 30000 1.3 2.2 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.) -6000 0 6000 12000 7
Agriculture Sparsely veg. a. Beaches, d.,s.p. 0, Transit. w./s. 7% Sclerophyll ous veg. 2 8.25. LC consumed by agriculture Moors and heathland Fruit trees/berry plantations 5% Vineyards Salt m. 0, Burnt a. Complex cultivation patterns Annual crops/perm anent crops 0. Pastures 1 Olive groves Rice fields 0. [% of total] Inland m. 0,0 Natural grassland 2 Agriculture with natural veg. Water b. 0, Agrory areas Perm. irrigated land 1 Mixed Ind./com. 0, Road/r.n. 0, Port a. 0,0 Mineral extract. 1 Dump sites Construct. 10% Broadleaved 6% Coniferous 5% 8.27. Consumption of agricultural land by non-agriculture [% of total] Nonirrigated arable 4 Agriculture with natural veg. 5% Complex cultivation patterns Annual crops/perm anent crops 0.0 8.26. Formation of agricultural land from non-agriculture [% of total] Pastures 3 Trans. w./s. Scler.v. M. and h. 0,0 Nat. g. Mixed f. 0,0 Conif. f. 0, Broad-l. f. Sp./leis. Green u. Agrory areas 1 Olive groves 6% Nonirrigated arable 2 Perm. irrigated land 6% Rice fields 0.0 Vineyards Fruit trees/berry plantations 1 8.28. Formation of non-agricultural land from agriculture [% of total] Burnt a. Spar. v. a. Salines 0, 0, 0.0 Beaches 0, Inland m. Salt m. Water b. 0,0 7% Cont. u. f. 0,0 Disc. u. f. Ind./com. 2 Construct. 40% Road/rail network 5% Port areas 0.0 Airports Mineral extract. Dump 7% sites 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] -2000 0 2000 4000-5000 -2500 0 2500 5000 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 lcf13 Development of green urban areas lcf412 Diffuse extension of set aside fallow land and pasture lcf2 Urban residential sprawl lcf421 Conversion from arable land to permanent irrigation perimeters lcf3 Sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures lcf422 Other internal conversions of arable land lcf511 Intensive conversion from to agriculture lcf431 Conversion from olives groves to vineyards and orchards lcf512 Diffuse conversion from 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 lcf461 Conversion from pasture to permanent irrigation perimeters lcf462 Intensive conversion from pasture to nonirrigated arable land and permanent crops lcf463 Diffuse conversion from pasture to arable and permanent crops 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 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 3000 6000 9000 12000-17000 -7000 3000 9
Forest & nature Complex cultivation patterns Annual crops/perm anent crops 0.05% Pastures 1 Fruit trees/berry plantations Sparsely veget. a. 10.33. LC consumed by & nature [% of total] Agriculture with natural veg. Olive groves Vineyards Agrory areas 17% Ind./com. 0, Perm. irrigated Rice fields land 9% Mineral extract. Dump sites Constr. 5% Nonirrigated arable 3 10.35. Consumption of & nature land by non-/nature [% of total] Salt m. Inland m. 0, Water c. 0,0 0, Sclerophyll ous veg. 27% Burnt a. Beaches, d., s.p. 0, Bare rock 0.0 Transit. woodland/ shrub Moors and heathland 10% Water b. 0, Estuaries 0.0 Sea and Broadleaved 9% Coniferous Mixed Natural grassland 3 ocean Water bodies 50% 10.34. Formation of & nature land from non- /nature [% of total] Broadleaved Water courses 0. Salines 0. Complex cultivation patterns Annual crops/ perm. crops 0,0 Olive groves Fruit trees/berry plantations 7% Vineyards Perm. irrigated land Nonirrigated arable 1 Coniferous Salt m. 0, Mixed 0. Burnt Inland m. areas Cont. urban fabric 0.0 Sport/ leisure Disc. urban fabric Green urban Natural grassland 1 Moors and heathland Scleroph. veg. Transit. woodland /shrub 17% Beaches, dunes, sand plains Sparsely vegetated areas 10.36. Formation of non-/nature land from & nature [% of total] Pastures Agriculture with natural veg. Agrory areas Ind./com. 7% Road/rail network Port areas Airports 0. Mineral e. 1 Dump sites Constr. 2 10.37. Forested land 2012 [% of total area] Transit. woodland shrub 16% 10.38. Main trends in woodland & s consumption/formation [ha/year] Consumption of land by urban sprawl 0 10000 20000 Mixed 1 Broadleaved 3 Conversion from to agriculture Recent fellings and transitions Withdrawal of farming with woodland creation Conifer. 35% Forest creation, afation Conversion from transitional woodland to s Forest creation over wetlands 10
Beaches, dunes and sand plains 0. 11.39. Dry semi-natural areas 2012 [% of total area] Bare rock Sparsely vegetate d areas 6% Burnt areas 0. Glaciers and perpetual snow 0.00 Natural grassland 3 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 3000 6000 Forest creation, afation over dry semi-natural land Scleroph. veget. 4 Moors and heathl. 16% Withdrawal of farming without woodland creation Decrease of permanent snow and glaciers Coastal lagoons Water bodies 6 11.41. Wetlands & water 2012 [% of total area] Estuaries Inland marshes 1 Peatbogs 0, Salt marshes Salines Intertidal flats 0, Water courses 1 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 Withdrawal of farming without woodland creation Net water bodies creation Net wetlands creation -1000 1000 3000 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.) -30000-10000 10000 30000 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.) -21000-14000 -7000 0 7000 14000 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.) -1000 1000 3000 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