Country fact sheet
September 2017
Photo: © Toni García, My City/EEA
Land cover 2012
Slovenia
Slovenia
1
Land cover 2012 Overview of land cover & change 2006-2012 In the long term, Slovenia is a country with one of the lowest land cover change dynamics in Europe and, when compared to the previous period 2000-2006, this dynamic become even lower. Both internal forest conversions and sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures, which were observed during the previous period as major drivers of the land cover development in Slovenia, have significantly slowed down in the 2006-2012 period. On the other hand, there occurs some amount of urban land management, which was not present in 2000-2006. This exchange is connected mostly with the construction of the highway segment between Maribor and Murska Sobota in the north-eastern part of the country. The sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures is the most important driver of change in the country; however, considering its intensity, it is rather insignificant, in comparison with the European average. The annual land take rate in Slovenia is very low, with 0.15% it is one of the lowest among European countries. The sprawl, represented mainly by construction, was significantly stronger during the previous period 2000-2006. However, it has to be mentioned, that considerable part of this construction was also connected with the highway construction in the north-east of the country. The intensity of the most significant flow from previous period – forest creation and management – shows a rapid decrease and this change covers comparable area now as the above mentioned sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures. 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 2000-2006-2012 - see Corine land cover (CLC) programme for details. Number of years between CLC2006-CLC2012 data for Slovenia: 6
3%7%
28%
58%
Semi-nat. 2%
Open sp. 2%
Wet. 0,2%
Water 0,4%
1.1. Land cover 2012[% of total]
-600
-300
0
300
600
1.2. Net change in land cover 2006-2012 [ha]
-0.2
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.3. Net change in land cover [% of initial year
2006]
A rtific ial areas A rable land & permanent c rops Pas tures & mosaics Fores ted land
Semi-natural vegetation O pen spaces/ bare soils Wetlands Water bodies
Summary balance table 2006-2012
Art
ific
ial
area
s
Ara
ble
lan
d &
per
man
ent
cro
ps
Pas
ture
s &
mo
saic
s
Fore
sted
lan
d
Sem
i-n
atu
ral
veg
etat
ion
Op
en s
pac
es/
bar
e so
ils
Wet
lan
ds
Wat
er b
od
ies
TO
TA
L
[hu
nd
red
s h
a]
Land cover 2006 604 1337 5685 11874 444 303 32 78 20357
Consumption of initial LC 3.9 0.7 1.2 11.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 17
Formation of new LC 9.2 0.5 0.3 7.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 17
Net Formation of LC 5.3 -0.2 -1.0 -4.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0
Net formation as % of initial year 0.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1
Total turnover of LC 13.0 1.1 1.5 18.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 35
Total turnover as % of initial year 2.2 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2
Land cover 2012 609 1337 5684 11869 444 303 32 78 20357
Slovenia
2
Land cover trends comparison 2000-2006 vs. 2006-2012
0.02%
0.01%
0 200 400 600
2000-2006
2006-2012
2.4. Annual land cover change[ha/year, % of total area]
0 300 600
Artificial areas
Arable land& permanent crops
Pastures& mosaics
Forested land
Semi-natural vegetation
Open spaces/ bare soils
Wetlands
Water bodies
2.5. Annual turnover of LC types [ha/year]
2000-2006 2006-2012
-200 0 200
Artificial areas
Arable land& permanent crops
Pastures& mosaics
Forested land
Semi-natural vegetation
Open spaces/ bare soils
Wetlands
Water bodies
2.6. Net annual change of LC types [ha/year]
Summary trend figures 2000-2006 2006-2012
Annual land cover change [ha/year] 496 288
Annual land cover change as % of initial year 0.02% 0.01%Land uptake by artificial development as mean annual change [ha/year] 174 90
Agricultural land uptake by urban and infrastructures development as mean annual change [ha/year] 75 29
Net uptake of forests and semi-natural land by agriculture as mean annual change [ha/year] -2 11
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] -103 -72
Dry semi-natural land cover net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] 0 0
Wetlands & water bodies net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] 10 2
0
200
400
lcf1
Urb
an la
ndm
anag
emen
t
lcf2
Urb
anre
side
ntia
l spr
awl
lcf3
Spr
awl o
fec
onom
ic s
ites
and
infr
astr
uctu
res
lcf4
Agr
icul
ture
inte
rnal
conv
ersi
ons
lcf5
Con
vers
ion
from
for
este
d &
natu
ral l
and
toag
ricu
lture
lcf6
Withd
raw
al o
ffa
rmin
g
lcf7
For
ests
crea
tion
and
man
agem
ent
lcf8
Wat
er b
odie
scr
eation
an
dm
anag
emen
t
lcf9
Cha
nges
due
to n
atur
al a
ndm
ultip
le c
ause
s
2.7. Intensity of main change drivers (LC FLOWS) [ha/year]
2000-2006 2006-2012
Slovenia
3
Artificial surfaces sprawl (2006-2012)
0.29
%
0.15
%
0
100
200
2000-2006 2006-2012
3.8. Artificial land take [ha/year,
% of initial year]
Slow down after highway construction
The artificial land take in Slovenia is very slow, compared to other European countries. There was a culmination of the sprawl rate (driven mainly by highway construction in the north-eastern part of the country) during the previous period followed by a rapid decrease in the 2006-2012 period. The distribution of the sprawl shows almost no sprawl around the capital city of Ljubljana. The patches of sprawl are scattered over the central and north-eastern part of the country. The construction is the most frequent compound of the land take; however, construction sites are quickly consumed and transformed into other artificial classes, mostly transportation network units. This process is documented by a high rate of recycling of developed urban land. The overall change balance of urban land cover classes shows increased formation of road and transportation network and industrial and commercial areas. In contrast, construction sites show negative balance, with prevailing consumption, which can indicate further slowdown of artificial development in the future.
74%
11%
11%3% 1%
3.9. Artificial surfaces 2012 [% of total area]
0 20 40
3.10. Artificial land take 2006-2012 [ha/year]
-30
0
30
60
90
Con
tinu
ous
urba
n fa
bric
Dis
cont
inuo
us u
rban
fab
ric
Ind
ustr
ial o
r co
mm
erci
alun
its
Roa
d an
d ra
il ne
twor
ks a
ndas
soci
ated
land
Por
t ar
eas
Airpo
rts
Min
eral
ext
ract
ion
site
s
Dum
p si
tes
Con
stru
ctio
n si
tes
Gre
en u
rban
are
as
Spo
rt a
nd le
isur
e fa
cilit
ies
3.11. Mean annual artificial change by class [ha/year]
2000-2006 2006-2012
Slovenia
4
Agriculture (2006-2012)
Agricultural land without exchange
The Slovenian agricultural land is represented mostly by complex cultivation patterns, agro-natural areas and pastures. There was no significant development of agricultural land observed in the period 2006-2012 in Slovenia. The situation was similar already during both previous periods 1990-2000 and 2000-2006. The consumption of arable land, which was visible during the previous period, does not occur any more in 2006-2012 and also the amount of internal agricultural flows is negligible. The only change which influences the amount of agricultural land in Slovenia is the consumption of mainly complex cultivation patterns area by urban sprawl, mostly by the sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures.
21116%
2212%2221%
23116%
24239%
24326%
4.12. Agricultural areas 2012 [% of total area]
-0.0
5%
-0.2
5%
-0.0
1%
-0.0
3%
-0.0
2%
0.03
%
0.02
%
-80
-40
0
40
Non
-irr
igat
ed a
rabl
e la
nd
Per
man
ently
irriga
ted
land
Ric
e fie
lds
Vin
eyar
ds
Fru
it t
rees
and
ber
ry p
lant
atio
ns
Oliv
e gr
oves
Pas
ture
s
Ann
ual/
pe
rman
ent
crop
s
Com
plex
cul
t. p
atte
rns
Agr
icul
ture
with
nat
. ve
g.
Agr
o-fo
rest
ry a
reas
4.13. Development of agricultural areas 2006-2012– detailed balance [ha]
Consumption of initial land cover
Formation of new land cover
211 Non-irrigated arable land
212 Permanently irrigated land
213 Rice fields
221 Vineyards
222 Fruit trees and berry plantations
223 Olive groves
231 Pastures
241 Annual crops associated with permanent crops242 Complex cultivation patterns
243 Agriculture land with significant areas of natural vegetation244 Agro-forestry areas
-40
-20
0
Non
-irr
igat
ed a
rabl
e la
nd
Per
man
ently
irriga
ted
land R
ice
field
s
Vin
eyar
ds
Fru
it t
rees
and
ber
ry p
lant
atio
ns
Oliv
e gr
oves
Pas
ture
s
Ann
ual/
per
man
ent
crop
s
Com
plex
cul
t. p
atte
rns
Agr
icul
ture
with
nat
. ve
g.
Agr
o-fo
rest
ry a
reas
4.14. Mean annual agricultural change by class [ha/year]
2000-2006 2006-2012
Slovenia
5
Forest & nature (2006-2012)
93%
4%
2%
Wet. 0,2%
Water1%
5.15. Forest & nature areas 2012
[% of total area]
Forest Semi-natural vegetation
Open spaces/ bare soils Wetlands
Water bodies
Forest and nature land development
Despite its significantly lower intensity, the internal conversions of forested land remain the most extensive land cover flow in Slovenia, with prevailing recent felling and transition. However, the consumption of forested land by land take by economic sites and infrastructures, mainly by construction sites, had already almost comparable intensity as forest internal conversions in the period 2006-2012. The main reason was a rapid slowdown of recent felling, which is visible already when comparing the two previous periods – 1990-2000 and 2000-2006. Despite this slowdown, transitional woodland still shows a positive balance of net change, with prevailing formation of land.
-0.0
4%
-0.2
2%
-0.0
4%
-0.5
7%
0.03
%
0.02
%
1.29
%
0.39
%
-600
-300
0
300
600
Bro
ad-l
eave
d fo
rest
Con
ifero
us for
est
Mix
ed for
est
Nat
ural
gra
ssla
nd
Moo
rs a
nd h
eath
land
Scl
erop
hyllo
us v
eget
atio
n
Tra
nsitio
nal w
oodl
and
shr
ub
Bea
ches
, du
nes,
san
d
Bar
e ro
ck
Spa
rsel
y ve
geta
ted
area
s
Bur
nt a
reas
Gla
cier
s/pe
rp.
snow
Inl
and
mar
shes
Pea
tbog
s
Sal
t m
arsh
es
Sal
ines
Int
ertida
l fla
ts
Wat
er c
ours
es
Wat
er b
odie
s
Coa
stal
lago
ons
Est
uaries
Sea
and
oce
an
5.16. Development of forest & nature areas 2006-2012 – detailed balance [ha]
Consumption of initial land cover
Formation of new land cover
-200
0
200
Bro
ad-l
eave
d fo
rest
Con
ifero
us for
est
Mix
ed for
est
Nat
ural
gra
ssla
nd
Moo
rs a
nd h
eath
land
Scl
erop
hyllo
us v
eget
atio
n
Tra
nsitio
nal w
oodl
and
shr
ub
Bea
ches
, du
nes,
san
d
Bar
e ro
ck
Spa
rsel
y ve
geta
ted
are
as
Bur
nt a
reas
Gla
cier
s an
d pe
rpet
ual
snow
Inl
and
mar
shes
Pea
tbog
s
Sal
t m
arsh
es
Sal
ines
Int
ertida
l fla
ts
Wat
er c
ours
es
Wat
er b
odie
s
Coa
stal
lago
ons
Est
uaries
Sea
and
oce
an
5.17. Mean annual forest & nature change by class [ha/year]
2000-2006 2006-2012
Slovenia
6
Annex: Land cover flows and trends Land cover flows 2006-2012
22%
4%
7%67%
6.18. Consumption of land cover2006-2012 [% of total change
area]
53%
3%
1%
42%
Water 0,4%
6.19. Formation of land cover 2006-2012 [% of total change
area]
A rtific ial areas A rable land & permanent c rops Pas tures & mosaics Fores ted land
Semi-natural vegetation O pen spaces/ bare soils Wetlands Water bodies
lcf122%
lcf21%
lcf330%
lcf40.1%
lcf54%
lcf742%
lcf80.6%
6.20. Drivers of change (LC FLOWS)2006-2012 [% of total change area]
lc f1 U rban land management
lc f2 U rban res idential sprawl
lc f3 Sprawl of economic s ites and infras truc tures
lc f4 A griculture internal convers ions
lc f5 C onvers ion from fores ted & natural land to agriculture
lc f6 Withdrawal of farming
lc f7 Fores ts c reation and management
lc f8 Water bodies c reation and management
lc f9 C hanges due to natural and multiple causes
Slovenia
7
Artificial areas
Arable land &
permanent crops11%
Pastures & mosaics
20%
Forested land69%
7.21. Consumption by artificial land take2006-2012 [% of total]
Disc. urban fabric4%
Industrial/commer.
20%
Road/rail network
10%
Airports4%
Mineral extraction
17%
Construct.45%
7.22. Formation by artificial land take2006-2012 [% of total]
0.29%
0.15%
0 100 200
2000-2006
2006-2012
7.23. Net formation of artificial area [ha/year, % of initial year]
-100 -50 0 50 100
lcf11Urban development/ infilling(cons.)
lcf11Urban development/ infilling(form.)
lcf12 Recycling of developed urbanland (cons.)
lcf12 Recycling of developed urbanland (form.)
lcf13 Development of green urbanareas (cons.)
lcf13 Development of green urbanareas (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 quarryingareas
lcf36 Sprawl of dumpsites
lcf37 Construction
lcf38 Sprawl of sport and leisurefacilities (cons.)
lcf38 Sprawl of sport and leisurefacilities (form.)
lcf54 Conversion from developedareas 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.)
7.24. Artificial development by change drivers(LC FLOWS) [ha/year]
2000-2006 2006-2012
Slovenia
8
Agriculture
Construct.15%
Broad-leaved forest59%
Mixed forest20%
Transition.woodland
shrub11%
8.25. LC consumed by agriculture 2006-2012 [% of total]
Non-irrigated arable40%
Vineyards22%
Pastures30%
Complex cultivation patterns
8%
8.26. Formation of agricultural land from non-agriculture 2006-2012 [% of total]
Non-irrigated arable31%
Fruit trees/berry plantations
5%
Pastures4%
Complex cultivation patterns
41%
Agriculture with
natural veg.19%
8.27. Consumption of agricultural landby non-agriculture 2006-2012 [% of total]
Disc. urban fabric13%
Industrial/ commer.
34%
Road/rail network
7%
Airports7%
Mineral extraction
26%
Construct.8%
Water bodies
6%
8.28. Formation of non-agricultural landfrom agriculture 2006-2012 [% of total]
0 5 10
Conversion from forest toagriculture
Conversion from dry semi-natural& natural land to agriculture
Conversion from wetlands toagriculture
Withdrawal of farming withwoodland creation
Withdrawal of farming withoutsignificant woodland creation
8.29. Main annual conversions between agriculture and forests & semi-natural land
2006-2012 [ha/year]
0 0
Extension of pasture, set asideand fallow land
Conversion from pasture to arableand permanent crops
8.30. Mean annual conversion between arable land and pasture [ha/year]
2000-2006
2006-2012
Slovenia
9
0.0 0.5 1.0
lcf411 Uniform extension ofset aside fallow land and
pasture
lcf412 Diffuse extension ofset aside fallow land and
pasture
lcf421 Conversion fromarable land to permanent
irrigation perimeters
lcf422 Other internalconversions of arable land
lcf431 Conversion fromolives groves to vineyards
and orchards
lcf432 Conversion fromvineyards and orchards to
olive groves
lcf433 Other conversionsbetween vineyards and
orchards
lcf441 Conversion frompermanent crops topermanent irrigation
perimeters
lcf442 Conversion fromvineyards and orchards tonon-irrigated arable land
lcf443 Conversion from olivegroves to non-irrigated
arable land
lcf444 Diffuse conversionfrom permanent crops to
arable land
lcf451 Conversion fromarable land to vineyards and
orchards
lcf452 Conversion fromarable land to olive groves
lcf453 Diffuse conversionfrom arable land topermanent crops
lcf461 Conversion frompasture to permanentirrigation perimeters
lcf462 Intensive conversionfrom pasture to non-irrigatedarable land and permanent
crops
lcf463 Diffuse conversionfrom pasture to arable and
permanent crops
lcf47 Extension of agro-forestry
9.31. Mean annual agriculture internalconversions [ha/year]
2000-2006 2006-2012
-80 -60 -40 -20 0 20
lcf13 Development of green urbanareas
lcf2 Urban residential sprawl
lcf3 Sprawl of economic sites andinfrastructures
lcf511 Intensive conversion from forestto agriculture
lcf512 Diffuse conversion from forest toagriculture
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 continuousagriculture (cont. agri. cons.)
lcf523 Conversions from agriculture-nature mosaics to continuousagriculture (cont. agri. form.)
lcf53 Conversion from wetlands toagriculture
lcf54 Conversion from developed areasto agriculture
lcf61 Withdrawal of farming withwoodland creation
lcf62 Withdrawal of farming withoutsignificant 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.)
lcf99 Other changes and unknown (agri.form.)
9.32. Mean annual conversions between agricultureand other LC types [ha/year]
2000 - 2006
2006 - 2012
Slovenia
10
Forest & nature
Non-irrigated arable45%
Complex cultivation patterns
55%
10.33. LC consumed by forest & nature2006-2012 [% of total]
Water bodies100%
10.34. Formation of forest & nature land from non-forest /nature 2006-2012
[% of total]
Broad-leaved forest27%
Coniferous forest39%
Mixed forest32%
Transit. woodland/
shrub2%
10.35. Consumption of forest & nature landby non-forest/nature 2006-2012 [% of
total]
Industrial/commerc.
13%
Road/rail network
10%
Airports1%
Mineral extraction
11%
Construct.56%
Non-irrigated arable
6%
Vineyards3%
Pastures3%
Complex cultivation patterns
1%
10.36. Formation of non-forest/nature landfrom forest & nature 2006-2012 [% of total]
Broad-leaved forest37%
Conifer. forest21%
Mixed forest39%
Transit.woodland
shrub3%
10.37. Forested land 2012 [% of total area]
0 30 60 90
Consumption of forest land byurban sprawl
Conversion from forest toagriculture
Recent fellings and transitions
Withdrawal of farming withwoodland creation
Forest creation, afforestation
Conversion from transitionalwoodland to forests
Forest creation over wetlands
10.38. Main trends in woodland & forests consumption/formation 2006-2012
[ha/year]
Slovenia
11
Natural grassland
29%
Moors and
heathl.31%
Scleroph. veget.0,2%
Beaches, dunes
and sand plains1%
Bare rock24%
Sparsely vegetat.
areas15%
Glaciers and
perpetual snow0.2%
11.39. Dry semi-natural areas 2012 [% of total area]
0 0
Consumption of dry semi-naturalland cover by urban sprawl
Conversion of semi-natural landcover to agriculture
Forest creation, afforestation overdry semi-natural land
Withdrawal of farming withoutwoodland creation
Decrease of permanent snow andglaciers
11.40. Main trends in dry semi-natural land consumption/formation 2006-2012
[ha/year]
Inland marshes
22%
Salt marshes
2%
Salines5%
Water courses
46%
Water bodies25%
11.41. Wetlands & water 2012[% of total area]
0 1 2
Consumption of wetlands by urbansprawl
Conversion of wetlands toagriculture
Forest creation and afforestationover wetlands
Withdrawal of farming withoutwoodland creation
Net water bodies creation
Net wetlands creation
11.42. Main trends in wetlands & water consumption/formation 2006-2012
[ha/year]
-400 -200 0 200 400
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.)
11.43. Mean annual conversions of forest & other woodland[ha/year]
2000-2006 2006-2012
Slovenia
12
-2 -1 0 1 2
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.)
12.44. Mean annual conversions of dry semi-natural LC [ha/year]
2000-2006 2006-2012
-2 0 2 4 6 8 10
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 thanLCF91)
lcf9 Changes of land cover due to natural and multiple causes (other thanLCF912)
lcf911 Semi-natural creation (form.)
lcf912 Semi-natural rotation (cons.)
lcf912 Semi-natural rotation (form.)
lcf913 Extension of water courses (form.)
12.45. Mean annual conversions of wetlands and water LC [ha/year]
2000-2006 2006-2012
Slovenia
13
CLC Changes 2006-2012
CLC Changes 2000-2006
Slovenia
14
Drivers of change 2006-2012
Drivers of change 2000-2006
Slovenia
15
Artificial sprawl 2006-2012
Artificial sprawl 2000-2006
Slovenia
16
Agriculture 2006-2012
Agriculture 2000-2006
Slovenia
17
Forest and nature 2006-2012
Forest and nature 2000-2006
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