TRENDS OF SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA IN PERIOD 2000-2018

Abstract

Trends of spatial development in Bosnia and Herzegovina in period 2000-2018 Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has undergone significant changes in land use during the last 20 years. According to CORINE Land Cover (CLC) artificial areas have increased spatial coverage, forests and semi-natural areas as well, while agricultural land has decreased. It is to be expected that such trends will continue, having in mind demographic processes, urbanization processes, infrastructure and economic projects, etc. The CLC project has started about 40 years ago and coordinated by the European Environment Agency (EEA). BiH has been participating in the project since 2000. Every six years, new data are pubished in form of land cover types and changes comparing to the previous period, so that trends in spatial development can be followed. In this regard, there are already four databases in BiH: for 2000, 2006, 2012 and the most recent for 2018. Data are obtained mainly by satellite image processing and divided into three levels: the first level contains 5 main classes (artificial surfaces, agricultural areas, forests and seminatural areas, wetlands and water bodies), the second level has 15 subclasses and the third level, the most detailed, has 44 subclasses. At the third level, there are distinction between similar land cover types, e.g. continuous and discontinuous urban areas or between broadleaved and coniferous forests, etc. This has resulted in a unique database that aims to determine the state and trends of spatial development, which is useful for creating strategic plans: in the field of spatial planning, forestry, agriculture, natural resources managemant, environment, etc.