Country fact sheet Land cover 2012 Cyprus September 2017 Photo: Toni García, My City/EEA
Land cover 2012 Overview of land cover & change In the period, there has been observed significant decrease of intensity of overall land cover change in Cyprus, characterized by decrease of the annual land cover change rate from 0,49% in to 0,18% in. This means that the overall speed of landscape development is slightly below the European average. Comparison with previous period shows, that all artificial sprawl, agricultural and forest conversions lost much of their intensities. From all main land cover flows, only urban land management and changes due to natural and multiple causes have higher intensity, compared to. As a result, the sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures, driven mainly by construction, is the most powerful driver of change in Cyprus in the period. It also holds the annual artificial land take rate on 0,6, which, although much lower than in previous period (2,56%), is still one of the highest sprawl rates in Europe. As usual, sprawl consumes mostly agricultural land, with comparable share of arable and pasture land and also seminatural vegetation areas in Cyprus. After this flow, changes due to natural and multiple causes (represented mainly by shrub fires), are the second most significant drivers of change in the Cyprian landscape. 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 Cyprus: 6 1.1. Land cover 2012 [% of total] 0.3% Wetl. 0. Water 9% 2000 1.2. Net change in land cover [ha] 7.0 1.3. Net change in land cover [% of initial year 2006] 20% 4.0 35% 0 2 1.0 13% -2000-2.0 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 807 3249 1197 1944 1816 189 25 21 9248 Consumption of initial LC 24.7 14.0 10.6 24.1 22.3 4.3 0.0 0.4 100 Formation of new LC 50.6 1.7 2.5 21.0 3.5 20.1 0.0 0.8 100 Net Formation of LC 25.9-12.2-8.1-3.0-18.8 15.8 0.0 0.5 0 Net formation as % of initial year 3.2-0.4-0.7-0.2-1.0 8.4 0.0 2.2 Total turnover of LC 75.4 15.7 13.0 45.1 25.7 24.4 0.0 1.2 200 Total turnover as % of initial year 9.3 0.5 1.1 2.3 1.4 12.9 0.0 5.6 2.2 Land cover 2012 833 3237 1189 1941 1798 205 25 21 9248 1
Land cover trends comparison vs. 2.4. Annual land cover change [ha/year, % of total area] 0 2000 4000 0.48% 0.18% Artificial areas Arable land & permanent crops Pastures & mosaics Forested land 2.5. Annual turnover of LC types [ha/year] 0 1000 2000 3000 2.6. Net annual change of LC types [ha/year] Artificial areas Arable land & permanent crops Pastures & mosaics Forested land -2000 0 2000 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] 4467 1671 Annual land cover change as % of initial year 0.48% 0.18% Land uptake by artificial development as mean annual change [ha/year] 1733 471 Agricultural land uptake by urban and infrastructures development as mean annual change [ha/year] 1274 344 Net uptake of forests and semi-natural land by agriculture as mean annual change [ha/year] 532 19 Net conversion from pasture to arable land and permanent crops as mean annual change [ha/year] -134-22 Forest & other woodland net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] 1615-50 Dry semi-natural land cover net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] -2169-47 Wetlands & water bodies net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] 3 8 2000 2.7. Intensity of main change drivers (LC FLOWS) [ha/year] 1000 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 0.58% 2.45% 1000 0 Rapid slowdown of residential sprawl Despite its rapid slowdown, the artificial land take in Cyprus is still one of the highest in Europe and the major driver of landscape change in the country. This overall slowdown is caused mainly by decrease of diffuse residential sprawl, which was the main driver of artificial development in the previous period. This residential sprawl was probably connected to rapid development of tourism, with significant growth of accommodation facilities. In the period, the residential sprawl became only the second most powerful driver, leaving construction on the first position, with a bit higher intensity. The map shows, that the residential sprawl disappeared mostly from the western part of the island (especially from the surroundings of Paphos city). There were also significant concentrations of the residential development on the northern and eastern shore and around the Lemesos city in the south in the previous period, which, all, disappeared in the. 3.9. Artificial surfaces 2012 [% of total area] 3.10. Artificial land take [ha/year] 5% 3% 3% 0 100 200 300 18% 7 3.11. Mean annual artificial change by class [ha/year] 800 2000-2012 300-200 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 () Slowdown of agricultural conversions Development of agricultural land in Cyprus shows rapid decrease of intensity, compared to previous period. This is valid for both internal agricultural conversions and conversion from forested and natural land to agriculture, which were quite frequent in the period. Both arable and crop land and pasture show negative balance of net change, which is caused mainly by consumption of agricultural land through artificial land take, in particular construction. The rest of the agricultural flows, which were observable in the previous period, almost disappeared from the Cyprian landscape. It includes diffuse extension of set aside fallow land and pasture and diffuse conversion from permanent crops to arable land and, in particular, conversions from semi-natural land to agriculture, which were quite frequent in the previous period. 242 16% 4.12. Agricultural areas 2012 [% of total area] 243 1 300-200 -700 0.03% -0.50% 4.13. Development of agricultural areas detailed balance [ha] 0.19% -0.29% -0.09% 0.29% -0.47% -0.56% -0.30% 0.34% -1.19% -0.4 241 7% 231 0. 223 222 4% 221 3% 212 6% 211 5-1200 Non-irrigated arable land Permanently irrigated land Rice fields Vineyards Consumption of initial land cover Formation of new land cover 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 213 Rice fields 0 221 Vineyards -200 222 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 -400 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] 5% 0.5% 49% 45% Forest Semi-natural vegetation Open spaces/ bare soils Wetlands Water bodies Shrub fires back again The pace of development of natural landscape is much slower than in the previous period and the overall intensity is very low. Forest creation and management (represented mostly by afforestation of burnt areas in Cyprus), which was the most powerful change driver before, lost most of its intensity. On the other hand, there newly occurs certain amount of internal forest conversions between forest and transitional woodland (in both directions) and also forests and shrubs fires returned to the Cyprian landscape in the period, which mainly consumed natural grassland or sclerophyllous vegetation. 3000 5.16. Development of forest & nature areas detailed balance [ha] 1000 0.63% 0.2 2.79% 616.56% 4.00% -1000-0.87% -0.30% -1.38% -2.63% -2.64% -30.37% Consumption of initial land cover Formation of new land cover -100.00% -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 2000 5.17. Mean annual forest & nature change by class [ha/year] 0-2000 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] 4% 0.4% Water b. 6.19. Formation of land cover [% of total change area] 2 25% 20% 3% 5 14% 2 24% 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 lcf9 24% lcf1 15% lcf2 4% lcf2 Urban residential sprawl lcf3 Sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures lcf4 A griculture internal conversions lcf8 lcf5 C onversion from forested & natural land to agriculture lcf6 Withdrawal of farming lcf7 2 lcf5 lcf4 3% lcf3 3 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] Open spaces / bare soils Water bodies Sport/ leisure 18% Disc. urban fabric 16% Seminatural vegetation 23% Forested land Pastures & mosaics 33% Arable land & permanent crops 40% Construct. 48% Industrial/ commerc. 1 Port areas 0.3% Airports Mineral extraction 4% Dump sites 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 0.53% 2.36% 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.) -300 200 700 7
Agriculture 8.25. LC consumed by agriculture [% of total] 8.26. Formation of agricultural land from non-agriculture [% of total] Construct. 25% Nonirrigated arable 28% Scleroph. veg. 75% Fruit trees/berry plantations 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. 5% Sport/ leisure 19% Disc. urban fabric 20% Complex cultivation patterns 4 Nonirrigated arable 45% Industrial/ commercial 13% Annual crops/ permanent crops 5% Pastures 0. Fruit trees/berry plantations Perm. irrigated land 3% Construct. 4 Dump sites Airports Mineral extraction 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] -10 0 10 20-50 50 150 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 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 lcf422 Other internal conversions of arable land 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 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 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 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 50 100 150-1000 -500 0 500 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] Dump sites 14% Construct. 13% Water bodies 20% Scleroph. veg. 30% Mineral extraction 73% Transition. woodland/ shrub 48% 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] Sparsely vegetated areas 8% Transition. woodland/ shrub Sea and ocean 4% Natural grassland 10% Sport/ leisure 14% Fruit trees/berry plantations 3% Disc. urban fabric 3% Industrial/ commerc 5% Port areas Mineral extraction 10% Dump sites Scleroph. veg. 76% Construct. 63% Transit. woodland shrub 2 Mixed forest 0. 10.37. Forested land 2012 [% of total area] Broadleaved forest 0.3% 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 79% Forest creation, afforestation Conversion from transitional woodland to forests Forest creation over wetlands 10
Beaches, dunes and sand plains 11.39. Dry semi-natural areas 2012 [% of total area] Bare rock Sparsely veg. areas 6% Burnt areas Natural grassl. 13% 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 50 100 Withdrawal of farming without woodland creation Scleroph. veget. 77% Decrease of permanent snow and glaciers 11.41. Wetlands & water 2012 [% of total area] Inland marshes 1 11.42. Main trends in wetlands & water consumption/formation [ha/year] Consumption of wetlands by urban sprawl -5 0 5 10 Water bodies 46% Conversion of wetlands to agriculture Forest creation and afforestation over wetlands Salt marshes 43% Withdrawal of farming without woodland creation Net water bodies creation Water courses 0.6% 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.) -1000 0 1000 2000 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.) -1700-700 300 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.) -10-5 0 5 10 15 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