Country fact sheet
Land cover 2012
ICELAND September 2017
Photo: © Toni García, My City/EEA Iceland
Land cover 2012
Overview of land cover & change 2006-2012
The pace of land cover development in Iceland shows slight acceleration, compared to the previous period. However, in the European context, it is relatively low, reaching about one half of the average value. The landscape exchange is driven mostly by the changes due to natural and multiple causes. The intensity of the other land cover flows is significantly lower, compared to these conversions. Both sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures and forest creation and management occur with significantly decreased intensity than in the previous period 2000-2006. On the other hand, the intensity of water bodies creation and development is several times higher, compared to the period 2000-2006. Although it covers a significantly smaller area, compared to the above mentioned conversions of natural land, the artificial development in Iceland is quite significant. With the annual artificial land take rate of 0.36%, its speed reaches the European average. However, compared to the previous period, its intensity is much lower. Also in the latest period, the land take is driven mostly by the sprawl of sport and leisure facilities and by construction. It has to be mentioned, that these two flows, which were very extensive in the previous period, lost most of their intensity and the sprawl of industrial or commercial sites and urban fabric almost disappeared from the Icelandic landscape in the 2006-2012. 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 Iceland: 6 1.1. Land cover 2012 1.2. Net change in land 1.3. Net change in land [% of total] cover 2006-2012 [ha] cover [% of initial year Arable 2006] Artific. l.&p.c. 0,4% 2500 2% 0,02% 3% 3.0 Forest 7% 1%
0 2.0
37% 1.0 -2500
0.0
50% -5000 -1.0
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 2006-2012 TOTAL TOTAL [hundreds ha] [hundreds Artificial areas Artificial Arable land & permanent crops & Pastures mosaics Forested land Semi-natural vegetation Open spaces/ soils bare Wetlands bodiesWater
Land cover 2006 396 22 2559 720 38558 51211 7666 2362 103494
Consumption of initial LC 17.9 0.0 2.0 4.4 95.3 462.1 14.0 181.1 777
Formation of new LC 18.8 0.3 21.9 28.5 47.8 466.9 0.6 192.1 777 Net Formation of LC 0.9 0.3 20.0 24.1 -47.5 4.8 -13.4 11.0 0
Net formation as % of initial year 0.2 1.2 0.8 3.3 -0.1 0.0 -0.2 0.5 Total turnover of LC 36.7 0.3 23.9 32.9 143.0 929.0 14.6 373.2 1554
Total turnover as % of initial year 9.3 1.2 0.9 4.6 0.4 1.8 0.2 15.8 1.5
Land cover 2012 396 22 2579 744 38511 51215 7652 2373 103494 1 Iceland
Land cover trends comparison 2000-2006 vs. 2006-2012
2.4. Annual land cover change [ha/year, % of total area]
0 5000 10000
2000-2006 0.10%
2006-2012 0.13%
2.5. Annual turnover of LC types 2.6. Net annual change of LC types [ha/year] [ha/year]
0 5000 10000 15000 -1400 -700 0 700
Artificial areas Artificial areas
Arable land Arable land & permanent crops & permanent crops
Pastures Pastures & mosaics & mosaics
Forested land Forested land
Semi-natural Semi-natural vegetation vegetation Open spaces Open spaces / bare soils / bare soils Wetlands Wetlands
2000-2006 Water bodies Water bodies 2006-2012
Summary trend figures 2000-2006 2006-2012 Annual land cover change [ha/year] 10731 12947 Annual land cover change as % of initial year 0.10% 0.13% Land uptake by artificial development as mean annual change [ha/year] 1058 140 Agricultural land uptake by urban and infrastructures development as mean annual change [ha/year] 110 7 Net uptake of forests and semi-natural land by agriculture as mean annual change [ha/year] 57 344 Net conversion from pasture to arable land and permanent crops as mean annual change [ha/year] 33 0 Forest & other woodland net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] 628 402 Dry semi-natural land cover net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] -1865 -711 Wetlands & water bodies net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] 243 -41
2.7. Intensity of main change drivers (LC FLOWS) [ha/year]
9000 2000-2006
2006-2012
6000
3000
0 management management multiple causes infrastructures lcf7 Forests creation and lcf6 Withdrawal oflcf6 farming Withdrawal lcf2 Urban residential sprawl residentiallcf2 Urban natural land to agriculture to natural land lcf1 Urban land management landlcf1 Urban lcf8 Water bodies creation andcreation bodieslcf8 Water lcf5 Conversion from forested& lcf9 Changes due to natural and to lcf9 Changes due lcf3 Sprawl of economic sites and
lcf4 Agriculture internal conversions internal Agriculture lcf4 2 Iceland
Artificial surfaces sprawl (2006-2012) 3.8. Artificial land take [ha/year, % of initial year]
900 3.19%
600
300 0.35% 0 2000-2006 2006-2012
Artificial sprawl slows down, still driven by extension of sport and leisure facilities and construction
The intensity of the artificial sprawl is significantly lower, compared to previous period 2000-2006, however, it still reaches the European average. The artificial development is still driven by the sprawl of sport and leisure facilities and by construction, which is a similar situation as in the previous period, although the intensity of these two flows is significantly lower in 2006-2012. In contrast, the sprawl of industrial or commercial sites and also of residential fabric lost most of their intensity and almost disappeared from the Icelandic landscape in the last period. The spatial distribution of the land take shows a similar pattern with the previous period, with major concentration on the western coast of the island. It has to be mentioned, that the artificial sprawl is compensated by simultaneous conversion of artificial areas (mostly construction sites) into natural land, which leads to very low rate of net formation of artificial land.
3.9. Artificial surfaces 2012 3.10. Artificial land take 2006-2012 [% of total area] [ha/year]
4% 3% 0 30 60 10%
17%
66%
3.11. Mean annual artificial change by class [ha/year]
400 2000-2012
200 2006-2012
0
-200 Airports Port areas Dump sites Dump Construction sites Construction Green urban areas Green associated land Mineral extraction sites extraction Mineral Continuous urbanfabric Sport and leisure facilities leisure and Sport Discontinuous urban fabric urban Discontinuous andRoad rail networks and
Industrial or commercial units
3 Iceland
Agriculture (2006-2012)
Conversion of natural grasslands, heathlands and peatbogs to pasture
The extent of agricultural land in Iceland is very limited, covering only 3% of the total area, with strong predominance of pastures (97% of total agricultural land). In the period 2006-2012, there was an observed frequent formation of agricultural land (mostly pastures), mainly through conversion from natural land to agriculture. This flow was represented mostly by the diffuse conversion from semi- natural land (conversion of marginal land) and also from wetlands to agriculture. Moors and heathlands, natural grasslands as well as peatbogs are the main sources for this new agricultural land (mostly pastures) creation. Geographically, patches with these conversions are concentrated in the south-western part of the island and they also occur along the northern coast. These flows were observed already during the previous period, however, their intensity was rather insignificant. 4.13. Development of agricultural areas 2006-2012 4.12. Agricultural areas 2012 – detailed balance [ha] [% of total area] 2000
242 211 2% 1% 1000 Consumption of initial land cover Formation of new land cover 1.22% 0.83% 2.13% 0 0.08%
-1000 - Pastures Vineyards Rice fields Rice Agriculture arable land Olive groves Permanently Non-irrigated irrigated land irrigated
231 veg. nat. with
97% trees Fruit Agro-forestry areas and berry plantations berry and Complex cult. patterns cult. Complex
Annual/permanent crops 211 Non-irrigated arable land 4.14. Mean annual agricultural change by class [ha/year]
212 Permanently irrigated land 400 2000-2006
213 Rice fields 2006-2012 200 221 Vineyards 0 222 Fruit trees and berry plantations
223 Olive groves -200
231 Pastures Pastures Vineyards 241 Annual crops associated fields Rice patterns Agriculture arable land Olive groves with permanent crops land Non-irrigated Complex cult. 242 Complex cultivation patterns veg. nat. with plantations Agro-forestry areas
243 Agriculture land with berry and trees Fruit significant areas of natural vegetation irrigated Permanently 244 Agro-forestry areas crops permanent Annual/
4 Iceland
Forest & nature (2006-2012) 5.15. Forest & nature areas 2012 [% of total area] 1% 2% Forest
8% 38%
51%
Forest
Semi-natural vegetation
Open spaces/ bare soils
Wetlands
Water bodies
Dynamic development of natural land
Covering most of the Icelandic area, the natural landscape shows high dynamics of land cover development. The most significant flow in natural land cover, as well as in the country in general, is the decrease of glaciers cover, which has significantly higher intensity, compared to previous period. The most of former glaciers area is being converted into bare rock land, beaches, dunes or sand plains or to water bodies, courses or coastal lagoons. The other significant flows in the Icelandic natural land are semi-natural rotation (mainly creation of natural grasslands over moors and heathlands or open spaces and bare soils) and water bodies extension over former moors and heathlands or bare rock areas. There also occur frequent conversions of water courses into beaches, dunes and sand plains – which indicates the temporal character of water courses in Iceland. As already mentioned, natural areas, with prevailing share of moors and heathlands, natural grasslands and peatbogs are also consumed by the creation of new pastures. 5.16. Development of forest & nature areas 2006-2012 – detailed balance [ha] 30000
10000 0.71% 3.36% 0.57% 1.44% 0.01% 8.37% 6.52% 0.95% 0.20% 0.00% 0.10% 6.83% 2.06% 2.49% 12.52% 30.98%
-10000 0.18% 0.11% 0.37% 0.24% 1.26% 3.44% 0.24% 0.19% 2.45% 0.29% 0.19% 0.03% 0.58% 0.16% ------19.95% 15.20% - - 100.00% - -30000 Salines Peatbogs Estuaries Bare rock Burnt areas Mixed forest Salt marshes Salt Water bodies shrub Intertidal flats Intertidal Water courses Sea and ocean Sea Inland marshes Coastal lagoons Coastal Coniferous forest Natural grassland Natural Broad-leaved forest Glaciers/perp. snow Glaciers/perp. Consumption of initial land cover Moors and heathland Moors Beaches, dunes, sand dunes, Beaches, Transitional woodland Transitional Formation of new land cover Sparsely vegetated areas vegetated Sparsely Sclerophyllous vegetation Sclerophyllous 5.17. Mean annual forest & nature change by class [ha/year] 2500
0
-2500 2000-2006 2006-2012
-5000 Salines Peatbogs Estuaries Bare rock Burnt areas Mixed forest areas Salt marshes Salt Water bodies snow shrub Intertidal flats Intertidal Water courses Sea and ocean Sea Inland marshes Coastal lagoons Coastal Coniferous forest Natural grassland Natural Sparsely vegetated Sparsely Broad-leaved forest Moors and heathland Moors Beaches, dunes, sand dunes, Beaches, Transitional woodland Transitional Glaciers and perpetual and Glaciers
Sclerophyllous vegetation Sclerophyllous 5 Iceland
Annex: Land cover flows and trends
Land cover flows 2006-2012
6.18. Consumption of land cover 6.19. Formation of land cover 2006-2012 [% of total change 2006-2012 [% of total change area] area]
0,3% 0,1% 2% 1% 2% Pastures Arable 3% Forest 4% 23% 12% 25% 6%
2% 0,1% Wetland
60% 60%
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) 2006-2012 [% of total change area]
lcf2 lcf3 lcf5 lcf6 lcf1 Urban land management lcf1 0.04% 1% 3% 1% 0.2% lcf7 lcf2 Urban residential sprawl 4% lcf3 Sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures lcf8 10% lcf4 A griculture internal conversions
lcf5 C onversion from forested & natural land to agriculture
lcf6 Withdrawal of farming
lcf7 Forests creation and management
lcf9 81% lcf8 Water bodies creation and management
lcf9 C hanges due to natural and multiple causes
6 Iceland
Artificial areas
7.21. Consumption by artificial land take 7.22. Formation by artificial land take 2006-2012 [% of total] 2006-2012 [% of total]
Disc. Water Pastures & urban Industrial/ bodies Port areas mosaics fabric commerc. 4% Forested 4% 5% 4% 3% land Airports Wetlands 8% 17% 3% Sport/ Mineral leisure extraction 43% 1% Open spaces / bare soils 4%
Construct. Semi- 43% natural vegetation 62%
7.23. Net formation of artificial area 7.24. Artificial development by change drivers [ha/year, % of initial year] (LC FLOWS) [ha/year]
0 300 600 900 lcf11Urban development/ infilling (cons.)
2000-2006 3.19% lcf11Urban development/ infilling 2000-2006 (form.) 2006-2012 0.04% lcf12 Recycling of developed urban 2006-2012 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.)
-200 0 200 400
7 Iceland
Agriculture
8.25. LC consumed by agriculture 2006-2012 8.26. Formation of agricultural land from [% of total] non-agriculture 2006-2012 [% of total]
Water Complex Non- bodies cultivation irrigated 1% patterns arable 5% 1% Natural grassland Peatbogs 29% 34%
Inland marshes 4% Sparsely Moors and vegetated heathland Pastures areas 32% 94% 0.4%
8.27. Consumption of agricultural land 8.28. Formation of non-agricultural land by non-agriculture 2006-2012 [% of total] from agriculture 2006-2012 [% of total]
Disc. urban Bare rock fabric 2% 3% Construct. 8%
Sport/ leisure 12%
Transition. woodland/ Pastures shrub 100% 76%
8.29. Main annual conversions between 8.30. Mean annual conversion between agriculture and forests & semi-natural land arable land and pasture [ha/year] 2006-2012 [ha/year]
-100 0 100 200 300 -40 -20 0
Conversion from forest to agriculture 2000-2006 2006-2012 Extension of pasture, set aside and fallow land Conversion from dry semi-natural & natural land to agriculture
Conversion from wetlands to agriculture Conversion from pasture to arable and permanent crops Withdrawal of farming with woodland creation
Withdrawal of farming without significant woodland creation
8 Iceland
9.31. Mean annual agriculture internal 9.32. Mean annual conversions between agriculture conversions [ha/year] and other LC types [ha/year]
lcf411 Uniform extension of lcf13 Development of green urban set aside fallow land and areas pasture 2000-2006
2006-2012 lcf412 Diffuse extension of set lcf2 Urban residential sprawl aside fallow land and pasture 2000-2006
lcf421 Conversion from arable 2006-2012 lcf3 Sprawl of economic sites and land to permanent irrigation infrastructures perimeters
lcf511 Intensive conversion from forest lcf422 Other internal to agriculture conversions of arable land
lcf431 Conversion from olives lcf512 Diffuse conversion from forest to groves to vineyards and agriculture orchards lcf521 Intensive conversion from semi- lcf432 Conversion from natural land to agriculture vineyards and orchards to olive groves lcf522 Diffuse conversion from semi- lcf433 Other conversions natural land to agriculture between vineyards and orchards lcf523 Conversions from agriculture- lcf441 Conversion from nature mosaics to continuous permanent crops to agriculture (cont. agri. cons.) permanent irrigation perimeters lcf523 Conversions from agriculture- nature mosaics to continuous lcf442 Conversion from agriculture (cont. agri. form.) vineyards and orchards to non-irrigated arable land lcf53 Conversion from wetlands to lcf443 Conversion from olive agriculture groves to non-irrigated arable land lcf54 Conversion from developed areas to agriculture lcf444 Diffuse conversion from permanent crops to arable land lcf61 Withdrawal of farming with woodland creation lcf451 Conversion from arable land to vineyards and orchards lcf62 Withdrawal of farming without significant woodland creation lcf452 Conversion from arable land to olive groves lcf81 Water bodies creation
lcf453 Diffuse conversion from arable land to permanent crops lcf913 Extension of water courses
lcf461 Conversion from pasture to permanent irrigation perimeters lcf92 Forests and shrubs fires
lcf462 Intensive conversion from pasture to non-irrigated arable land and permanent lcf93 Coastal erosion crops
lcf463 Diffuse conversion from pasture to arable and lcf99 Other changes and unknown permanent crops (agri. cons.)
lcf47 Extension of agro- lcf99 Other changes and unknown forestry (agri. form.)
0 10 20 30 -100 0 100 200 300
9 Iceland
Forest & nature
10.33. LC consumed by forest & nature 10.34. Formation of forest & nature land 2006-2012 [% of total] from non-forest /nature 2006-2012 [% of total] Disc. urban fabric Natural Pastures 0.1% grassland 17% 15% Industrial/ Water Moors and Sport/ commercial bodies heathland leisure 28% 33% 2% 1%
Transition. woodland/ shrub 18%
Sparsely Beaches, vegetated dunes, areas sand plains Construct. 6% Bare rock 3% 53% 24%
10.35. Consumption of forest & nature land 10.36. Formation of non-forest/nature land by non-forest/nature 2006-2012 [% of from forest & nature 2006-2012 [% of total] total] Disc. Broad- Industrial/ Port areas Sea and urban leaved commer. 1% ocean fabric Water forest Mixed 1% Airports 1% 1% Mineral bodies 2% forest 1% 0.5% extraction 0.3% Complex 0.4% cultivation Peatbogs Natural patterns Construct. 4% 29% grassland 11% 24% Inland Sport/ marshes leisure 4% 11%
Sparsely Non- vegetated irrigated areas Pastures arable 1% 69% 1%
Beaches, Moors and dunes, Transit. heathland sand plains wood. 38% 1% 0,1%
10.37. Forested land 2012 10.38. Main trends in woodland & forests [% of total area] consumption/formation 2006-2012 [ha/year] 0 200 400
Consumption of forest land by urban sprawl
Transit. Broad- Conversion from forest to woodland leaved agriculture shrub forest 43% 43% Recent fellings and transitions
Withdrawal of farming with woodland creation
Forest creation, afforestation Mixed Conifer. forest forest Conversion from transitional 10% 4% woodland to forests
Forest creation over wetlands
10 Iceland
11.39. Dry semi-natural areas 2012 11.40. Main trends in dry semi-natural land [% of total area] consumption/formation 2006-2012 [ha/year] Glaciers Natural and grass. 0 2000 4000 perpetual 3% snow Consumption of dry semi-natural 12% land cover by urban sprawl
Sparsely Moors Conversion of semi-natural land vegetat. and cover to agriculture areas heath. 15% 40% Forest creation, afforestation over dry semi-natural land
Withdrawal of farming without woodland creation Bare Beaches, rock dunes 26% and sand Decrease of permanent snow and plains glaciers 4%
11.41. Wetlands & water 2012 11.42. Main trends in wetlands & water [% of total area] consumption/formation 2006-2012 Coastal Sea and [ha/year] Estuaries lagoons ocean 1% -250 0 250 3% 0.02% Inland Water marshes Consumption of wetlands by bodies 4% urban sprawl 13% Conversion of wetlands to Water agriculture courses 7% Forest creation and afforestation over wetlands Intertidal Withdrawal of farming without flats woodland creation 6% Peatbogs 66% Salt Net water bodies creation marshes 0.3% Net wetlands creation
11.43. Mean annual conversions of forest & other woodland [ha/year]
2000-2006 lcf13 Development of green urban areas
2006-2012 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 0 200 400 600
11 Iceland
12.44. Mean annual conversions of dry semi-natural LC [ha/year]
lcf13 Development of green urban areas
lcf2 Urban residential sprawl 2000-2006 lcf3 Sprawl of economic sites and infrastructures 2006-2012 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.)
-5000 -2500 0 2500 5000
12.45. Mean annual conversions of wetlands and water LC [ha/year]
lcf13 Development of green urban areas 2000-2006
2006-2012 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.)
-3000 -1500 0 1500 3000
12 Iceland
CLC Changes 2006-2012
CLC Changes 2000-2006
13 Iceland
Drivers of change 2006-2012
Drivers of change 2000-2006
14 Iceland
Artificial sprawl 2006-2012
Artificial sprawl 2000-2006
15 Iceland
Agriculture 2006-2012
Agriculture 2000-2006
16 Iceland
Forest and nature 2006-2012
Forest and nature 2000-2006
17