Albanian j. agric. sci. 2017;16 (1): 19-27 Agricultural University of

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Using Land Cover to Calculate some Nature Indicators of the Republic of

ZYDI TEQJA1*; ENKELEJD LEKAJ1; NIKOLLAQ BARDHI2

1Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania

2Department of Crop Production, Agricultural University of Tirana,. Tirana, Albania

Abstract

The idea that contact with nature can promote health and well-being is well accepted worldwide and based on this idea there are many initiatives that try to use the therapeutic powers of nature. The health status of an individual or group can be measured by means of health indicators. Measures of the presence, amount or quality of green space or other land cover categories in a certain area are commonly referred to as green space or nature indicators. Just like health indicators, nature indicators can be assessed in an objective or subjective manner. The aim of this paper is to explore the changes of land cover in Albania during last decade and to calculate nature indicators, valuable to study the relationship between nature and public health. This research showed that the territory of the Republic of Albania is characterized by high variability of land cover. This variability is a precondition of identifying significant relationships between nature indicators and health indicators. Though 51 land cover indicators are studied, just artificial surfaces, agricultural areas and forestry and semi natural areas for 61municipalities are analyzed in this paper. These indicators will be used as independent variables to identify any relationship between nature and public health indicators. The results can be used also by local and national governmental agencies in policy making. Keywords: nature indicators; land cover; maps.

1. Introduction problems just to the exposure to pathogens. Quite different from this point of view is the biopsychosocial One of the better known theories, the “biophilia approach which sees health as a multidimensional hypothesis,” suggests that we love nature because we concept that involves not only biological but also evolved in it. Edward O. Wilson introduced and psychological and social influences. This approach popularized the hypothesis in his book, “Biophilia” focuses on identifying factors that promote health [20].The idea that contact with nature can promote rather than on factors that cause disease [2]. The health and well-being is well accepted worldwide and health-promoting effects of nature can be positioned based on this idea there are many initiatives that try to within this approach. This concept of health is reflected use the therapeutic powers of nature [3, 5, 9, 10, 13, 16, in the well-known definition of health proposed by 17,18, 21]. However, just during recent decades the World Health Organization: “Health is a state because of the increased stress and a sedentary of complete physical, mental and social well-being lifestyle, increased levels of cardiovascular diseases, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” type II diabetes and respiratory problems, a growing [19]. However, this WHO definition been interest is inspired in the scientific study of nature- criticized as being too broad. Alternatively, health has health relations. been defined as “a condition of well-being free of Traditionally, health has been defined as the disease or infirmity” [15]. This definition provides a ‘absence of diseases’. This is a point of view focused transitional view of health as a positive yet measurable exclusively on biological process and relates health concept, and as such, it provides a suitable starting

*Corresponding author: Z ydi Teqja; E-mail: [email protected] (Accepted for publication March 20, 2017) ISSN: 2218-2020, © Agricultural University of Tirana Teqja Z. et al., 2017 point for the study of health benefits of nature. The classification in Albania is revised by international health status of an individual or group can be measured standards [12]. Muller D, et al. [11] used satellite data by means of health indicators. to measure changes in land cover in South east Albania Within this framework, the term nature is between 1988 and 2003 to assess changes in local land- generally used to indicate a broad category of natural use practices, and examined shifts in the determinants environments and elements of those environments, of land cover at the village level. Sallaku F, et al [14] such as trees, shrubs or flowers, sea or lake, animals, studied the relationship between land reforms, land blue sky etc. The term landscape is typically used for tenure in the dynamics of land use and land-cover areas, often located in the countryside, that are the change in Albania in the framework of the result of an interaction between human and natural environmental consequences and policy response. The factors. The term natural area is used to describe more aim of this paper is to explore the changes of land cover large-scale natural settings that have developed and land use in Albania after the period of the above through natural growth rather than design or planning. mentioned study [14] and to calculate nature indicators, Finally, green space is a term that is mostly used by valuable to study the relationship between nature and policy makers to refer to nature in and around urban public health. areas, such as parks, trees along streets and gardens 2. Materials and methods [19]. According to De Vries, [6] there are four possible mechanisms that are frequently mentioned in the The main groups of data in this study are: (1) literature: (1) improvement in air quality, (2) CORINE Land cover maps of 2006 and 2012, provided stimulation of physical activity, (3) facilitation of social by the National Environment Agency of Albania, (2) cohesion, and (4) restoration from (or reduction in) census data of 2011 and (3) digital maps of the new stress and mental fatigue. administrative division of Albania, provided by Measures of the presence, amount or quality of Ministry of Local government of Albania (Year 2015). green space in a certain area are commonly referred to The main purpose of this research is to construct as green space indicators. Just like health indicators, independent variables that can be used to study the green space indicators can be assessed in an objective relationship between nature and public health. or subjective manner. Objective green space indicators, In this paper just three main categories of land such as the percentage of an area covered by vegetation cover are presented: (1) Artificial surfaces (Land cover or water, can be calculated from maps. Mapping the codes 111- 142); (2) Agricultural areas (Land cover land of the earth has been seen as desirable for many codes 211-244); and (3) Forest and semi natural areas years. In recent years there is a growing dedication to (Land cover codes 311-335). The calculations are made record land use and land cover through various land through ArcGIS 10.3 software. classification programs and to monitor change over The analysis is done to public administrative unit years. CORINE Land Cover mapping is widely used level, but just municipal level analysis is presented in for this purpose in Europe, including Albania. this paper. Land use is a concept related to land cover and 3. Results and their discussion the terms often are used interchangeably, although they are quite different. The difference is explained by CORINE Land cover maps of 2006 and 2012 are several authors [1, 4, 7]. Land cover is the physical used to calculate the values of three main categories of material at the surface of the earth. It includes grass, land cover for all new municipalities created by the asphalt, trees, bare ground, water etc. Meanwhile, land 2015 administrative reform, in relation to their use is a picture of how people utilize the land. Urban population according to 2011 census. Figure 1 shows and agricultural land uses are two of the most the distribution of artificial surfaces, agricultural areas commonly recognized classes of land use. The origins and Forest and semi natural areas for Albania in 2006 of the land cover and land use terms and the and 2012. implications of their confusion are discussed in Fisher P. F, et al. [8]. The land cover/land use concepts are used in Albania after 1990 year. By that time, land cover

20 Using land cover to calculate some nature indicators of the Republic of Albania

Figure 1. Maps of Land cover of Albania for 2006 and 2012 calculated for 61 new municipalities in relation to their population. All three land cover categories are organized in Tropojë, , Mallakastër, , Bulqizë, , five classes from lowest to highest values. From this Kamëz, Këlcyrë. figure it can be seen that the majority of artificial Group 2 with artificial surfaces between surfaces and agricultural areas are located in west 210,001-400,000m2/1000 inhabitants includes: Korçë, lowland part of the country, while forestry and semi Durrës, , , , Këlcyrë, Cërrik, natural areas are mainly located in northern and south Shkodër, Vorë, Vlorë, , , Lushnje, , east part. It is difficult to identify changes between the Ura Vajgurore, Malësi e Madhe, Kuçovë, Kolonjë, maps of 2006 and 2012 so we continued to analyze Mirditë. separately each of the above mentioned categories. Group 3 with artificial surfaces between Figure 2 shows the values of artificial surfaces 400,000 - 3,000,000m2/1000 inhabitants includes: for all municipalities of Albania for 2006, 2012 and the , , Krujë, Tepelenë, , , changes between 2006 and 2012. Lezhë, , Sarandë, Vau i Dejës, Selenicë, Divjakë, The upper part of figure 2 shows the values of Gjirokastër, Kavajë, Rrogozhinë, Delvinë, Libohovë, artificial surfaces for 2006 while the middle part shows , Himarë, , . these values for 2012. These values are calculated as The lower part of figure 2 shows how the land area per 1000 inhabitants. Based on the average values cover categories have changed from 2006 to 2012. In of artificial surfaces for the period 2006-2012, three this case three different groups can be identified: groups of municipalities are created: Group 1 with significant decrease of artificial surfaces Group 1 with artificial surfaces between 53,000 (between -560,000 to -24,000m2/1000 inhabitants) -210,000m2/1000 inhabitants includes: Gramsh, includes: , Pukë, , Dibër, Fushë Arrës, , , Përmet, Tiranë, , Kukës, Poliçan,

21 Teqja Z. et al., 2017

Figure 2. The values of artificial surfaces for all municipalities of Albania for 2006, 2012 and differences between 2006 and 2012. Finiq, Dropull, Konispol, Libohovë, Tropojë, Këlcyrë, Malësi e Madhe, Selenicë, Poliçan, Pustec, Kolonjë, Gjirokastër, Peqin, Skrapar, Ura Vajgurore, Maliq, Rrogozhinë, Kamëz, Fushë Arrës. Group 2 with small changes of artificial surfaces (between -24,001 to 4,000m2/1000 inhabitants) includes: Shkodër, Devoll, Kuçovë, Kavajë, Durrës, Vau i Dejës, Belsh, Vlorë, Pukë, Fier, Mat, Librazhd, Divjakë, Gramsh, Klos, Bulqizë, Prrenjas, Elbasan, Tiranë, Pogradec, Has. Group 3 with significant increase of artificial surfaces (between 4,001 to 300,000m2/1000 inhabitants) includes: Memaliaj, Tepelenë, Dibër, Lushnje, Korçë, Kukës, Cërrik, Përmet, Sarandë, Berat, Shijak, Mallakastër, Kurbin, Delvinë, Krujë, Lezhë, Vorë, Himarë, Roskovec, Patos, Mirditë. Figure 3 shows the values of agricultural areas (area per 1000 inhabitants) for all municipalities of Albania for 2006, 2012 and the changes between 2006 and 2012. The upper part of figure 3 shows the values of agricultural areas for 2006 while the middle part shows these values for 2012. Based on the average values of agricultural areas for the period 2006-2012, three groups of municipalities are created:

22 Using land cover to calculate some nature indicators of the Republic of Albania

Figure 3 The values of agricultural areas for all municipalities of Albania for 2006, 2012 and differences between 2006 and 2012. Group 3 with agricultural areas between Group 1 with agricultural areas between 95,000 5,600,001 - 29,600,000 m2/1000 inhabitants includes: - 2,850,000 m2/1000 inhabitants includes: Kamëz, Maliq, Fushë Arrës, Tepelenë, Konispol, Rrogozhinë, Tiranë, Sarandë, Durrës, Elbasan, Shkodër, Vorë, Divjakë, Devoll, Tropojë, Belsh, Malësi e Madhe, Vlorë, Shijak, Kurbin, Prrenjas, Bulqizë, Kuçovë, Poliçan, Finiq, Përmet, Memaliaj, Selenicë, Skrapar, Pogradec, Krujë, Patos, Berat, Dibër, Lezhë, Kavajë. Himarë, Kolonjë, Këlcyrë, Libohovë, Dropull. Group 2 with agricultural areas between The lower part of figure 2 shows how 2,850,001 - 5,600,000 m2/1000 inhabitants includes: agricultural areas have changed from 2006 to 2012. In Kukës, Korçë, Mat, Cërrik, Pustec, Mirditë, Klos, Ura this case three different groups can be identified: Vajgurore, Lushnje, Fier, Librazhd, Gjirokastër,

Roskovec, Vau i Dejës, Peqin, Pukë, Has, Mallakastër, Group 1, with significant decrease of Gramsh, Delvinë. agricultural areas (between -1,000,000 to -28,000 m2/1000 inhabitants) includes: Libohovë, Delvinë,

23 Teqja Z. et al., 2017 Sarandë, Patos, Peqin, Përmet, Mirditë, Tropojë, Vorë, Group 3 with significant increase of Vau i Dejes, Devoll, Roskovec, Lushnje, Fushë Arrës, agricultural areas (between 25,001 to 4,600,000 Belsh, Lezhë, Shijak, Has, Pukë, Kurbin. m2/1000 inhabitants) includes: Kamëz, Shkodër, Dibër, Group 2, with small changes of agricultural Maliq, Pustec, Korçë, Berat, Malësi e Madhe, Ura areas (between -28,001 to 25,000 m2/1000 inhabitants) Vajgurore, Mallakastër, Himarë, Këlcyrë, Gjirokastër, includes: Vlorë, Pogradec, Divjakë, Elbasan, Kukës, Finiq, Konispol, Selenicë, Poliçan, Tepelenë, Kolonjë, Krujë, Tiranë, Librazhd, Gramsh, Prrenjas, Klos, Skrapar, Dropull. Cërrik, Fier, Durrës, Kuçovë, Kavajë, Mat, Bulqizë, Rrogozhinë, Memaliaj.

Figure 4. The values of forestry and semi natural areas for all municipalities of Albania for 2006, 2012 and differences between 2006 and 2012.

24 Using land cover to calculate some nature indicators of the Republic of Albania Figure 4 shows all above mention indicators for and semi natural areas for 61municipalities, are forest and semi natural areas. analyzed in this paper. Group 1 with Forest and semi natural areas There are significant changes of land cover between 53,000 -210,000 m2/1000 inhabitants indicators from 2006 to 2012. The highest decrease of includes: Gramsh, Memaliaj, Pukë, Librazhd, Dibër, artificial surfaces (between -560,000 to - Fushë Arrës, Mat, Prrenjas, Përmet, Tiranë, Berat, 24,000m2/1000 inhabitants) is verified for the Kukës, Poliçan, Tropojë, Skrapar, Mallakastër, Klos, following municipalities: Finiq, Dropull, Konispol, Bulqizë, Elbasan, Kamëz, Këlcyrë. Libohovë, Tropojë, Këlcyrë, Malësi e Madhe, Selenicë, Group 2 with Forest and semi natural areas Poliçan, Pustec, Kolonjë, Gjirokastër, Peqin, Skrapar, between 210,001-400,000 m2/1000 inhabitants Ura Vajgurore, Maliq, Rrogozhinë, Kamëz, Fushë includes: Korçë, Durrës, Pogradec, Fier, Kurbin, Arrës. While the highest increase of artificial surfaces Këlcyrë, Cërrik, Shkodër, Vorë, Vlorë, Maliq, Devoll, (between 4,001 to 300,000m2/1000 inhabitants) is Lushnje, Shijak, Ura Vajgurore, Malësi e Madhe, verified for: Memaliaj, Tepelenë, Dibër, Lushnje, Kuçovë, Kolonjë, Mirditë. Korçë, Kukës, Cërrik, Përmet, Sarandë, Berat, Shijak, Group 3 with Forest and semi natural areas Mallakastër, Kurbin, Delvinë, Krujë, Lezhë, Vorë, between 400,001 - 3,000,000 m2/1000 inhabitants Himarë, Roskovec, Patos, Mirditë. includes: Roskovec, Patos, Krujë, Tepelenë, Belsh, Regarding agricultural areas the municipalities Pustec, Lezhë, Peqin, Sarandë, Vau i Dejës, Selenicë, with highest decrease (between -1,000,000 to -28,000 Divjakë, Gjirokastër, Kavajë, Rrogozhinë, Delvinë, m2/1000 inhabitants) are: Libohovë, Delvinë, Sarandë, Libohovë, Konispol, Himarë, Finiq, Dropull. Patos, Peqin, Përmet, Mirditë, Tropojë, Vorë, Vau i The lower part of figure 2 shows how Forest and Dejës, Devoll, Roskovec, Lushnje, Fushë Arrës, Belsh, semi natural areas have changed from 2006 to 2012. In Lezhë, Shijak, Has, Pukë, Kurbin and the this case three different groups can be identified: municipalities with the highest increase of agricultural Group 1, with significant decrease of Forest areas (between 25,001 to 4,600,000 m2/1000are: and semi natural areas (between -560,000 to -24,000 Kamëz, Shkodër, Dibër, Maliq, Pustec, Korçë, Berat, m2/1000 inhabitants) includes: Finiq, Dropull, Malësi e Madhe, Ura Vajgurore, Mallakastër, Himarë, Konispol, Libohovë, Tropojë, Këlcyrë, Malësi e Këlcyrë, Gjirokastër, Finiq, Konispol, Selenicë, Madhe, Selenicë, Poliçan, Pustec, Kolonjë, Poliçan, Tepelenë, Kolonjë, Skrapar, Dropull. Gjirokastër, Peqin, Skrapar, Ura Vajgurore, Maliq, The municipalities with the highest decrease of Rrogozhinë, Kamëz, Fushë Arrës, Shkodër. Forest and semi natural areas (between -560,000 to - Group 2, with small changes of Forest and semi 24,000 m2/1000 inhabitants) are: Finiq, Dropull, natural areas (between -24,001 to 4,000 m2/1000 Konispol, Libohovë, Tropojë, Këlcyrë, Malësi e inhabitants) includes: Devoll, Kuçovë, Kavajë, Durrës, Madhe, Selenicë, Poliçan, Pustec, Kolonjë, Vau i Dejës, Belsh, Vlorë, Pukë, Fier, Mat, Librazhd, Gjirokastër, Peqin, Skrapar, Ura Vajgurore, Maliq, Divjakë, Gramsh, Klos, Bulqizë, Prrenjas, Elbasan, Rrogozhinë, Kamëz, Fushë Arrës, Shkodër. Meanwhile Tiranë, Pogradec, Has. the municipalities with the highest of Forest and semi Group 3 with significant increase of Forest and natural areas (between 4,001 to 300,000 m2/1000 semi natural areas (between 4,001 to 300,000 m2/1000 inhabitants): Memaliaj, Tepelenë, Dibër, Lushnje, inhabitants) includes: Memaliaj, Tepelenë, Dibër, Korçë, Kukës, Cërrik, Përmet, Sarandë, Berat, Shijak, Lushnje, Korçë, Kukës, Cërrik, Përmet, Sarandë, Berat, Mallakastër, Kurbin, Delvinë, Krujë, Lezhë, Vorë, Shijak, Mallakastër, Kurbin, Delvinë, Krujë, Lezhë, Himarë, Roskovec, Patos, Mirditë. Vorë, Himarë, Roskovec, Patos, Mirditë. These indicators will be used as independent variables to identify any relationship between nature 4. Conclusions and public health indicators. The results can be used The territory of the Republic of Albania is also by local and national governmental agencies in characterized by high variability of land cover. This policy making. variability is a precondition of identifying significant relationships between nature indicators and health indicators. Though we studied 51 land cover indicators, just artificial surfaces, agricultural areas and forestry

25 Teqja Z. et al., 2017 5. References 10. Health Council of the Netherlands: Nature and health: The influence of nature on social, 1. Anderson, J.R., Hardy, E.E., Roach, J.T. and psychological and physical well-being. The Witmer, R.E: A Land Use and Land Cover Hague: Health Council of the Netherlands. Classification System for Use with Remote 2004. Retrieved from Sensor Data. U.S. Geological Survey, http://www.forhealth.fi/pmwiki/docs/dutch- Professional Paper 964; Reston, VA; 1976: 28. health-council-review.pdf (Accessed 23 2. Antonovsky, A: Health, stress and coping. December 2016). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass; 1979. 11. Muller D, Sikor Th: Effects of postsocialist 3. Bentsen, P., Søndergaard Jensen, F., Mygind, reforms on land cover and land use in South- E., & Barfoed Randrup, T: The extent and Eastern Albania. Applied Geography 26 dissemination of udeskole in Danish schools. (2006) 175–191 Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 2010: 9 12. Nikolli P: Land cover classification in (3), 235–243. Albania. ISPRS TC VII Symposium – 100 4. Campbell JB: Spatial correlation-effects upon Years ISPRS, Vienna, Austria, July 5–7, 2010: accuracy of supervised classification of land IAPRS, Vol. XXXVIII, Part 7B. cover. Photogrammetric Engineering and 13. Park, B., Tsunetsugu, Y., Kasetani, T., Kagawa, Remote Sensing. 1981: 47 (3): 355-363 T., & Miyazaki, Y: The physiological effects 5. Coutts, C., Horner, M., & Chapin, T: Using GIS of ‘Shinrin-yoku’ (taking in the forest to model the effects of green space atmosphere or forest bathing): Evidence from accessibility on mortality in Florida. f ield experiments in 24 forests across Japan. Geocarto International. 2010: 25(6), 471-484. Environmental Health and Preventive 6. De Vries, S: Nearby nature and human Medicine. 2010: 15 (1), 18–26. health: looking at the mechanisms and their 14. Sallaku F, Huqi B, Tota O, Mema M, Fortuzi implications. In C. Ward Thompson, P. Sh, Jojiç E: Dynamics of land-use and land- Aspinall, & S. Bell (Eds.), Open space: People cover change in Albania: Environmental space 2, innovative approaches to researching consequences and policy response. In: landscape and health. Abingdon: Routledge. Research Journal of Agricultural Science. 2009: 2010: 75–94. Vol. 41 (2), pp. 190-198. 7. Di Gregorio, A., and L.J.M. Jansen: Land 15. Saracci, R: The World Health Organisation cover Classification System (LCCS): needs to reconsider its definition of health. Classification concepts and user manual. British Medical Journal. 1997: 314 (7091), Environment and Natural Resources Service 1409–1410. (SDRN), FAO, Rome; 2000. 16. Ulrich, R. S: Human responses to vegetation 8. Fisher, P.F., Comber, A.J. and Wadsworth, and landscapes. Landscape and Urban R.A: Land use and Land cover: Planning. 1986 (3) 29–44. Contradiction or Complement. Chapter 17. Ulrich, R. S: View through a window may published in Re-Presenting GIS, Editor Peter influence recovery from surgery. Science. Fisher and David Unwin. Wiley, Chichester; 1984: 224 (4647), 420–421. 2005 18. Van den Berg, A: Health impacts of healing 9. Hartig, T., Van den Berg, A. E., Hägerhäll, environments: A review of the benefits of C. M., Tomalak, M., Bauer, N., Hansmann, nature, daylight, fresh air and quiet in R., & Waaseth, G: Health benefits of nature healthcare settings . Groningen: Foundation experience: Psychological, social and 200 Years University Hospital Groningen. cultural processes. In Nilsson, K., Sangster, 2005. Retrieved from M., Gallis, C., Hartig, T., De Vries, S., Seeland, http://www.agnesvandenberg.nl/healing K. and Schipperijn, J. (Eds.), Forests, trees and environments.pdf. (Accessed 23 December human health and well-being. Dordrecht: 2016). Springer Science Business and Media. 2011: 19. Van den Berg, A. E., Yannick Joye, Sjerp de 169–182. Vries: Health benefits of nature. In:

26 Using land cover to calculate some nature indicators of the Republic of Albania Environmental psychology: an introduction / edited by Linda Steg, Agnes van den Berg and Judith de Groot. 2010. 20. Wilson, Edward O: Biophilia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. 1984. Yerrel, P: National evaluation of BTC

27