Estimation of Forest Land-Cover Change in Romania, between 1990 and 2006

Abstract

The main goal of this study was to estimate the changes in land cover in the period 1990-2006 in Romania by using Corine Land Cover products, based on satellite images from three different years: 1990, 2000 and 2006. Two major land cover-change types were considered: from forest to other land-cover (i.e. by deforestation) and from different land covers to forest (i.e. by afforestation). Using the CLC model, 5197.4 ha affected by deforestation or afforestation in decade 1990-2000 and 941.3 ha between 2000 and 2006 were identified. The product accuracy has a high influence on detected area affected by land-cover change. Due to the fact that CLC model has a low resolution, the results presented give only a partial picture of land cover change by deforestation and afforestation in Romania.