18
Country fact sheet September 2017 Photo: © Toni García, My City/EEA Land cover 2012 Switzerland
Country fact sheet
September 2017
Photo: © Toni García, My City/EEA
Land cover 2012
Switzerland
Switzerland
1
Land cover 2012 Overview of land cover & change 2006-2012 In the long term, the Swiss landscape shows very low intensity of land cover development. The annual land cover change rate in the period 2006-2012 (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 2000-2006, 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 2000-2006-2012 - see Corine land cover (CLC) programme for details. Number of years between CLC2006-CLC2012 data for Switzerland: 6
7%
18%
10%
31%
13%
17%
Wet. 0,1%
4%
1.1. Land cover 2012[% of total]
-500
-300
-100
100
300
500
700
1.2. Net change in land cover 2006-2012 [ha]
-0.1
0.1
0.3
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 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
Switzerland
2
Land cover trends comparison 2000-2006 vs. 2006-2012
0.01%
0.02%
0 300 600 900
2000-2006
2006-2012
2.4. Annual land cover change[ha/year, % of total area]
0 300 600 900
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
-150 -100 -50 0 50 100 150
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] 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
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
Switzerland
3
Artificial surfaces sprawl (2006-2012)
0.06
%
0.04
%
0
50
100
150
2000-2006 2006-2012
3.8. Artificial land take [ha/year,
% of initial year]
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 2000-2006. 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 2000-2006, 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.
89%
8%2% 1% 0.2%
3.9. Artificial surfaces 2012 [% of total area]
0 20 40 60
3.10. Artificial land take 2006-2012 [ha/year]
-30
0
30
Con
tinu
ous
urba
n fa
bric
Dis
cont
inuo
us u
rban
fab
ric
Ind
ustr
ial o
r co
mm
erci
al u
nits
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
Switzerland
4
Agriculture (2006-2012)
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.
21162%
2211%
2220.4%
23132%
2422%
2433%
4.12. Agricultural areas 2012 [% of total area]
-0.0
7%
-0.0
2%
-0.1
0%
0.00
%
0.01
%
-600
-500
-400
-300
-200
-100
0
100
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
-150
-100
-50
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
Switzerland
5
Forest & nature (2006-2012)
47%
21%
26%
Wet. 0,1%
6%
5.15. Forest & nature areas 2012
[% of total area]
Forest
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.
-0.0
4%
-0.0
2%
-0.0
1%
0.00
%
-0.0
5%
-3.6
3%
-2.4
1%
0.37
%
0.01
%
0.13
%
0.00
%
0.25
%
9.34
%
0.71
%
-3000
-1000
1000
3000
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
-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
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
Switzerland
6
Annex: Land cover flows and trends Land cover flows 2006-2012
6%10%
2%
26%
1%
55%
6.18. Consumption of land cover2006-2012 [% of total change
area]
18%
Arable land 1%
Pastures 0,3%
25%
Semi-nat. 0,4%
55%
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
lcf14%
lcf23% lcf3
12%lcf4
0.2%lcf51%
lcf60.3%
lcf725%
lcf955%
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
Switzerland
7
Artificial areas
Arable land &
permanent crops70%
Pastures & mosaics
12%
Forested land18%
7.21. Consumption by artificial land take2006-2012 [% of total]
Disc. urban fabric18%
Industrial/commer.
33%
Mineral extraction
41%
Construct.3%
Sport/leisure
4%
7.22. Formation by artificial land take2006-2012 [% of total]
0.06%
0.04%
0 50 100 150
2000-2006
2006-2012
7.23. Net formation of artificial area [ha/year, % of initial year]
-60 -30 0 30 60
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 developed areasto 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
Switzerland
8
Agriculture
Mineral extraction
15%
Construct.85%
8.25. LC consumed by agriculture 2006-2012 [% of total]
Non-irrigated arable67%
Pastures33%
8.26. Formation of agricultural land from non-agriculture 2006-2012 [% of total]
Non-irrigated arable83%
Pastures12%
Agriculture with
natural veg.5%
8.27. Consumption of agricultural landby non-agriculture 2006-2012 [% of total]
Disc. urban fabric21%
Industrial/commercial
38%
Mineral extraction
29%
Construct.3%
Sport/leisure
5%
Coniferous forest2%
8.28. Formation of non-agricultural landfrom agriculture 2006-2012 [% of total]
-3 -2 -1 0 1
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]
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2
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
Switzerland
9
0 1 2 3
lcf411 Uniform extension ofset aside fallow land and
pasture
lcf412 Diffuse extension of setaside fallow land and pasture
lcf421 Conversion from arableland to permanent irrigation
perimeters
lcf422 Other internalconversions of arable land
lcf431 Conversion from olivesgroves 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 from arableland to vineyards and
orchards
lcf452 Conversion from arableland 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
Switzerland
10
Forest & nature
Mineral extraction
57%
Construct.13%
Pastures30%
10.33. LC consumed by forest & nature2006-2012 [% of total]
Coniferous forest30%
Transition.woodland/
shrub57%
Beaches, dunes,
sand plains13%
10.34. Formation of forest & nature land from non-forest /nature 2006-2012
[% of total]
Broad-leaved forest42%
Coniferous forest34%
Mixed forest23%
10.35. Consumption of forest & nature landby non-forest/nature 2006-2012 [% of
total]
Industrial/commerc.
7%
Mineral extraction
91%
10.36. Formation of non-forest/nature landfrom forest & nature 2006-2012 [% of total]
Broad-leaved forest10%
Conifer.forest49%
Mixed forest38%
Transit. woodland
shrub2%
10.37. Forested land 2012 [% of total area]
0 100 200
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]
Switzerland
11
Natural grassland
36%
Moors and
heathl.8%Beaches
0,2%
Bare rock30%
Sparsely veget. areas17%
Glaciers and
perpetual snow9%
11.39. Dry semi-natural areas 2012 [% of total area]
0 200 400
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
2%Water
courses2%
Water bodies96%
11.41. Wetlands & water 2012[% of total area]
0 0
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]
-200 -100 0 100 200
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
Switzerland
12
-500 -300 -100 100 300 500
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
0 0
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
Switzerland
13
CLC Changes 2006-2012
CLC Changes 2000-2006
Switzerland
14
Drivers of change 2006-2012
Drivers of change 2000-2006
Switzerland
15
Artificial sprawl 2006-2012
Artificial sprawl 2000-2006
Switzerland
16
Agriculture 2006-2012
Agriculture 2000-2006
Switzerland
17
Forest and nature 2006-2012
Forest and nature 2000-2006
