Country fact sheet

September 2017

Photo: © Toni García, My City/EEA

Land cover 2012

Malta

Malta

1

Land cover 2012 Overview of land cover & change 2006-2012 Concerning the land cover development, there occurs no significant changes which would be detectable in the frame of the Corine CLC mapping methodology. The only exception is the formation of a dump site over former semi-natural land, which was observed north-eastern from capital city of Valletta. This conversion is located just beside the location of similar conversion, which was observed during the previous period 2000-2006. Also that one was the only conversion in the period 2000-2006 in the country. This development in last two mapping periods means a stabilization compared to period 1990-2000, during which some land cover development, represented mostly by urban sprawl had been observed in Malta. 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 Malta: 6

30%

Arable land 0,6%

51%

Forestland 1%

16%2% Wet.

0,1%

1.1. Land cover 2012[% of total]

-20

0

20

1.2. Net change in land cover 2006-2012 [ha]

-0.4

-0.2

0.0

0.2

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 93 2 160 2 50 8 0 0 316

Consumption of initial LC 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0

Formation of new LC 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0

Net Formation of LC 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0

Net formation as % of initial year 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0

Total turnover of LC 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0

Total turnover as % of initial year 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1

Land cover 2012 93 2 160 2 50 8 0 0 316

Malta

2

Land cover trends comparison 2000-2006 vs. 2006-2012

0.00%

0.01%

0 2 4

2000-2006

2006-2012

2.4. Annual land cover change[ha/year, % of total area]

0 2 4

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

-4 -2 0 2 4

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] 1 3

Annual land cover change as % of initial year 0.00% 0.01%Land uptake by artificial development as mean annual change [ha/year] 1 3

Agricultural land uptake by urban and infrastructures development as mean annual change [ha/year] 0 0

Net uptake of forests and semi-natural land by agriculture as mean annual change [ha/year] 0 0

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] 0 0

Dry semi-natural land cover net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] -1 -3

Wetlands & water bodies net formation as mean annual change [ha/year] 0 0

0

2

4

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

Malta

3

Artificial surfaces sprawl (2006-2012)

0.01

%

0.03

%

0

2

4

2000-2006 2006-2012

3.8. Artificial land take [ha/year,

% of initial year]

Dump site extension near Valletta

Compared to the previous period, the area of urban land extension is larger, however, as well as in the 2000-2006, it is also represented by only one change polygon, located north-east from the capital city of Valletta. Also the character of this conversion is the same, which means a conversion of semi-natural vegetation to dump site. This development means slowdown of the certain artificial development, which was observed in the country during the period 1990-2000.

80%

9%

7%4%

3.9. Artificial surfaces 2012 [% of total area]

0 2 4

3.10. Artificial land take 2006-2012 [ha/year]

0

2

4

Con

tinu

ous

urba

n fa

bric

Dis

cont

inuo

usur

ban

fabr

ic

Ind

ustr

ial o

rco

mm

erci

alun

its

Roa

d an

d ra

ilne

twor

ks a

ndas

soci

ated

land

Por

t ar

eas

Airpo

rts

Min

eral

extr

actio

n si

tes

Dum

p si

tes

Con

stru

ctio

nsi

tes

Gre

en u

rban

area

s

Spo

rt a

ndle

isur

e fa

cilit

ies

3.11. Mean annual artificial change by class [ha/year]

2000-2006

2006-2012

Malta

4

Agriculture (2006-2012)

No changes in agricultural land

The agricultural land of Malta consists predominantly of agricultural land with significant areas of natural vegetation and, to a lesser extent, of complex cultivation patterns, with only negligible share of arable land and vineyards. No changes of agricultural land have been detected in the frame of the CLC 2006-2012 change mapping.

2111%

2210.4%

2427%

24392%

4.12. Agricultural areas 2012 [% of total area]

0

0.1

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

rypl

anta

tion

s

Oliv

e gr

oves

Pas

ture

s

Ann

ual/

perm

anen

tcr

ops

Com

plex

cul

t.pa

tter

ns

Agr

icul

ture

with

nat

. ve

g.

Agr

o-fo

rest

ryar

eas

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

0

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

Malta

5

Forest & nature (2006-2012)

4%

83%

13%

Wet. 0,4%

5.15. Forest & nature areas 2012

[% of total area]

Forest

Semi-natural vegetation

Open spaces/ bare soils

Wetlands

Water bodies

Consumption of semi-natural land by dump site

Natural areas in Malta are characterised by dominant share of semi-natural vegetation (represented by sclerophyllous vegetation), followed by sparsely vegetated areas. The only change of natural land cover which has been observed during 2006-2012 is circa 20 hectares uptake of sclerophyllous vegetation area by extension of a dump site near the capital city Valletta. Similar uptake in the same location had been observed also in previous period, however, its extension was smaller – 7 hectares.

-0.3

8%

-20

-10

0

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

-4

-2

0

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

Malta

6

Annex: Land cover flows and trends Land cover flows 2006-2012

100%

6.18. Consumption of land cover2006-2012 [% of total change

area]

100%

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

lcf3100%

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

Malta

7

Artificial areas

Semi-natural

vegetation100%

7.21. Consumption by artificial land take2006-2012 [% of total]

Dump sites100%

7.22. Formation by artificial land take2006-2012 [% of total]

0.01%

0.03%

0 2 4

2000-2006

2006-2012

7.23. Net formation of artificial area [ha/year, % of initial year]

-2 0 2 4

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 urbanareas (cons.)

lcf13 Development of green urbanareas (form.)

lcf21 Urban dense residential sprawl

lcf22 Urban diffuse residential sprawl

lcf31 Sprawl of industrial & commercialsites

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

Malta

8

Agriculture

8.25. LC consumed by agriculture 2006-2012 [% of total]

8.26. Formation of agricultural land from non-agriculture 2006-2012 [% of total]

8.27. Consumption of agricultural land

by non-agriculture 2006-2012 [% of total]

8.28. Formation of non-agricultural landfrom agriculture 2006-2012 [% of total]

0 0

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

Malta

9

0 0

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

0 0

lcf13 Development of green urban areas

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 continuous agriculture

(cont. agri. cons.)

lcf523 Conversions from agriculture-nature mosaics to continuous agriculture

(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

Malta

10

Forest & nature

10.33. LC consumed by forest & nature2006-2012 [% of total]

10.34. Formation of forest & nature land from non-forest /nature 2006-2012

[% of total]

Sclerophyllous veg.100%

10.35. Consumption of forest & nature landby non-forest/nature 2006-2012 [% of

total]

Dump sites100%

10.36. Formation of non-forest/nature landfrom forest & nature 2006-2012 [% of total]

Conifer. forest31%

Mixed forest68%

10.37. Forested land 2012 [% of total area]

0 0

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]

Malta

11

Sclerop.veget.86%

Sparsely veg. areas14%

11.39. Dry semi-natural areas 2012 [% of total area]

0 2 4

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]

Salines100%

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]

0 0

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

Malta

12

-4 -2 0

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

Malta

13

CLC Changes 2006-2012

CLC Changes 2000-2006

Malta

14

Drivers of change 2006-2012

Drivers of change 2000-2006

Malta

15

Artificial sprawl 2006-2012

Artificial sprawl 2000-2006

Malta

16

Agriculture 2006-2012

Agriculture 2000-2006

Malta

17

Forest and nature 2006-2012

Forest and nature 2000-2006