Country fact sheet Land cover 2012 Switzerland September 2017 Photo: Toni García, My City/EEA
Land cover 2012 Overview of land cover & change In the long term, the Swiss landscape shows very low intensity of land cover development. The annual land cover change rate in the period (0.02% of total area) is one of the lowest among European countries. Changes due to natural and multiple causes are the major drivers of landscape development in Switzerland, represented almost exclusively by decrease of glaciers cover. The intensity of this flow is significantly higher, compared to the previous period, which shows opposite trend than in neighbouring Austria, where this process slowed down in the latest period. As a result of melting, total glaciers area in Switzerland decreased by 2.4% between 2006 and 2012. The conversion from transitional woodland to forest, which was rather insignificant during the previous period, became the second most extensive driver of land cover development in the country in recent years. Artificial development is the third most significant driver of change in Switzerland, with the highest share of sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures, mainly industrial or commercial areas and mine and quarrying sites. However, the intensity of land take in the country (described by the annual artificial land take rate of 0.04%) is extremely low, compared to the European average. This situation was similar in the previous period. 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 Switzerland: 6 1.1. Land cover 2012 [% of total] Wet. 0,1% 4% 7% 700 500 1.2. Net change in land cover [ha] 0.3 1.3. Net change in land cover [% of initial year 2006] 17% 18% 300 100 0.1 13% 10% -100-300 31% -500-0.1 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 2658 7328 4268 12405 5483 6960 35 1456 40594 Consumption of initial LC 2.8 5.1 1.0 13.3 0.6 27.7 0.0 0.0 50 Formation of new LC 9.2 0.3 0.3 12.6 0.2 28.0 0.0 0.0 50 Net Formation of LC 6.4-4.8-0.8-0.6-0.4 0.3 0.0 0.0 0 Net formation as % of initial year 0.2-0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Total turnover of LC 11.9 5.3 1.3 25.9 0.8 55.7 0.0 0.0 101 Total turnover as % of initial year 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.2 Land cover 2012 2665 7323 4267 12404 5483 6961 35 1456 40594 1
Land cover trends comparison vs. 2.4. Annual land cover change [ha/year, % of total area] 0 300 600 900 0.01% 0.02% Artificial areas Arable land & permanent crops Pastures & mosaics Forested land 2.5. Annual turnover of LC types [ha/year] 0 300 600 900 2.6. Net annual change of LC types [ha/year] Artificial areas Arable land & permanent crops Pastures & mosaics Forested land -150-100 -50 0 50 100 150 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] 588 841 Annual land cover change as % of initial year 0.01% 0.02% Land uptake by artificial development as mean annual change [ha/year] 161 118 Agricultural land uptake by urban and infrastructures development as mean annual change [ha/year] 141 97 Net uptake of forests and semi-natural land by agriculture as mean annual change [ha/year] 0-2 Net conversion from pasture to arable land and permanent crops as mean annual change [ha/year] 3-2 Forest & other woodland net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] -28-11 Dry semi-natural land cover net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] 9-3 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] 150 0.06% 100 0.04% 50 0 Artificial development still very slow Artificial development in Switzerland is rather insignificant, when compared to other European countries. This situation was identical already during the previous period. Sprawl is driven by the extension of mines and quarrying areas, industrial and commercial sites and residential areas all these flows occur with increased intensity, compared to the previous period. On the other hand, sprawl of sport and leisure facilities and also construction, which were major drivers of artificial development in, almost disappeared from the landscape. Agricultural land, with prevailing share of arable (68% of total sprawl area) is the main source for the new artificial development. Besides sprawl, also recycling of developed urban land was observed in Switzerland, represented mostly by the conversion from construction sites into transportation network units. 3.9. Artificial surfaces 2012 [% of total area] 3.10. Artificial land take [ha/year] 8% 2% 1% 0.2% 0 20 40 60 89% 3.11. Mean annual artificial change by class [ha/year] 30 0-30 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 () No significant agricultural development The development of agricultural land in Switzerland is influenced mostly by agricultural land consumption by artificial development. Agricultural land is the main source for urban sprawl in the country, with prevailing share of arable (82% of total agricultural consumption). However, due to the low intensity of artificial land take in Switzerland, a percentage of the agricultural (and also arable) land taken by sprawl is rather insignificant. The intensity of other agricultural changes in the country is almost negligible, there were only observed some cases of conversion of construction or mineral extraction sites to agricultural land. 231 32% 4.12. Agricultural areas 2012 [% of total area] 242 2% 243 3% 100 0-100 -200-300 -400-500 0.00% -0.07% 4.13. Development of agricultural areas detailed balance [ha] Consumption of initial land cover Formation of new land cover 0.01% -0.02% -0.10% -600 222 0.4% 221 1% 211 62% 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 211 Non-irrigated arable land 4.14. Mean annual agricultural change by class [ha/year] 212 Permanently irrigated land 0 213 Rice fields 221 Vineyards -50 222 Fruit trees and berry plantations -100 223 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 -150 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] Wet. 0,1% 6% 47% 26% Forest 21% Semi-natural vegetation Open spaces/ bare soils Wetlands Water bodies Glaciers-melt accelerates The most significant process in the Swiss natural land, as well as in the Swiss landscape in general, is a decrease of glaciers cover in the alpine areas. This process continues with even increased intensity, compared to the previous period, which shows opposite trend in comparison with neighbouring Austria, where the glaciers-melt seems to have slowed down in the latest period. As a result, the total area of glaciers in Switzerland decreased by 2.4% between 2006 and 2012. Another significant change in the country, with rapidly increased intensity compared to the previous period, is the internal forest conversion. This flow is represented mostly by the conversion from transitional woodland to forest, which was not observed during the previous period. 3000 5.16. Development of forest & nature areas detailed balance [ha] 1000 0.37% 0.01% 0.13% 0.00% 0.25% 9.34% 0.71% -1000-0.04% -0.02% -0.01% 0.00% -0.05% -3.63% -2.41% Consumption of initial land cover Formation of new land cover -3000 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 600 300 5.17. Mean annual forest & nature change by class [ha/year] 0-300 -600 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] 6% 10% 2% 18% Arable land 1% Pastures 0,3% 55% 26% 55% 25% 1% Seminat. 0,4% 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 4% lcf2 3% lcf3 12% lcf4 0.2% lcf5 1% lcf1 Urban land management lcf2 Urban residential sprawl lcf3 Sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures lcf4 A griculture internal conversions lcf9 55% lcf6 0.3% lcf7 25% lcf5 C onversion from forested & natural land to agriculture 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] Forested land 18% Construct. 3% Sport/ leisure 4% Disc. urban fabric 18% Pastures & mosaics 12% Mineral extraction 41% Arable land & permanent crops 70% Industrial/ commer. 33% 7.23. Net formation of artificial area [ha/year, % of initial year] 7.24. Artificial development by change drivers (LC FLOWS) [ha/year] 0 50 100 150 0.04% 0.06% 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.) -60-30 0 30 60 7
Agriculture 8.25. LC consumed by agriculture [% of total] 8.26. Formation of agricultural land from non-agriculture [% of total] Mineral extraction 15% Pastures 33% Construct. 85% Nonirrigated arable 67% 8.27. Consumption of agricultural land by non-agriculture [% of total] 8.28. Formation of non-agricultural land from agriculture [% of total] Pastures 12% Agriculture with natural veg. 5% Construct. 3% Sport/ leisure 5% Coniferous forest 2% Disc. urban fabric 21% Mineral extraction 29% Nonirrigated arable 83% Industrial/ commercial 38% 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] -3-2 -1 0 1-3 -2-1 0 1 2 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] lcf411 Uniform extension of set aside fallow land and pasture 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 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 lcf47 Extension of agroforestry 0 1 2 3 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] Pastures 30% Beaches, dunes, sand plains 13% Coniferous forest 30% Mineral extraction 57% Construct. 13% Transition. woodland/ shrub 57% 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] Mixed forest 23% Industrial/ commerc. 7% Broadleaved forest 42% Coniferous forest 34% Mineral extraction 91% Mixed forest 38% 10.37. Forested land 2012 [% of total area] Transit. woodland shrub 2% Broadleaved forest 10% 10.38. Main trends in woodland & forests consumption/formation [ha/year] Consumption of forest land by urban sprawl Conversion from forest to agriculture Recent fellings and transitions 0 100 200 Withdrawal of farming with woodland creation Conifer. forest 49% Forest creation, afforestation Conversion from transitional woodland to forests Forest creation over wetlands 10
Sparsely veget. areas 17% 11.39. Dry semi-natural areas 2012 [% of total area] Glaciers and perpetual snow 9% Natural grassland 36% 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 0 200 400 Bare rock 30% Beaches 0,2% Moors and heathl. 8% Withdrawal of farming without woodland creation Decrease of permanent snow and glaciers 11.41. Wetlands & water 2012 [% of total area] Inland marshes 2% Water courses 2% 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 96% 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.) -200-100 0 100 200 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.) -500-300 -100 100 300 500 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