Land cover types and changes in land use in Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina) over the period 2000-2018

Abstract

Republic of Srpska (RS) covers an area of 24,666 km2 or about 48.5% of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s territory. Spatial and environmental changes accelerated due to dynamic historical period upon the RS formation and the following development period. The extent of these changes can be determined by comparing satellite images obtained from different acquisition periods. By processing images, with the support of geographic information systems, it is possible to create a database that aims to analyze spatial processes in a specific area in order to determine quantitative and qualitative parameters. In this way, the trends of spatial development (e.g. excessive logging, land cover damage, water pollution, etc.) and potentially vulnerable components of the environment can be monitored. The data for Bosnia and Herzegovina were collected from CORINE Land Cover (CLC) database for 39 European countries. The CLC is a project launched by the European Environment Agency (EEA) more than thirty years ago with the aim of collecting, coordinating and ensuring the consistency of information on natural resources and the environment. The goal of the paper is to identify land cover types and determine environment changes in the territory of Republic of Srpska over the period 2000–2018 as a consequence of the land use conversion.