Land use - State and impacts (Estonia)

Built environment indicators

Area of built-up land

Figure 1. Area of built-up land. Source: Estonian Environment Information Centre www.keskkonnainfo.ee 

Area of mining activities

Figure 2. Area of mining activities. Source:  Estonian Environment Information Centre www.keskkonnainfo.ee 

Restored area indicator

Area of recultivated mining land

Figure 3. Area of recultivated mining land. Source:  Estonian Environment Information Centre www.keskkonnainfo.ee 

Agricultural area indicators

Sown area

Figure 4.  Sown area. Source: Estonian Environment Information Centre www.keskkonnainfo.ee 

Area of fallow land

Figure 5. Fallow land. Source: Estonian Environment Information Centre www.keskkonnainfo.ee 

Natural and semi-natural area indicator

Forest stands older than 100 years

Figure 6. Forest stands older than 100 years Source: Estonian Environment Information Centre www.keskkonnainfo.ee 

Read more:  Estonian Environment Information Centre www.keskkonnainfo.ee 

Land-cover changes 2000-2006

The Corine Land Cover (CLC) Change 1990-2000 database shows that the total area of detected changes was 1 215 km², around 2.7 % of Estonian territory; most of the changes are in agricultural, forest and semi-natural areas. Changes occurred mostly within the first-level class, for example, changes from pasture to complex cultivation patterns within agricultural areas. As a result of the land reform, this decade could be characterised by less activity in the agricultural sector and more active forestry – clear cuts. Changes in other categories were minimal. 

Assessing the CLC Change 2000-2006 database statistics, the total area of detected changes was 1 041 km², about 2.3 % of Estonian territory. Most of the changes were to forest and semi-natural areas. Transitional woodland on mineral land showed the greatest increase of 658 km². This change was mostly from forests and shows the extent of clear-cuts.

Changes from agricultural landscapes to transitional woodland have decreased in comparison to the previous period.

Just more than 218 km² of transitional woodland has changed to forests that show reafforestation of previously clear-cut areas. This is a situation where land cover only changes temporarily – from forest to clear-cut areas and back again to forest – without changes in land use.

The percentage increase of soil sealing has not been significant – less than 0.5 % of mainland territory – but unlike the changes in forests these change are irreversible. Arable land taken for house-building cannot be returned to agricultural use.

Read more: Estonian environmental review 2009 http://www.keskkonnainfo.ee/publications/4263_PDF.pdf