Satellite imagery reveals: Forest-covered areas in Estonia declined by 191,752 hectares

According to data from the European Space Agency and European Environment Agency, land categories across Estonian municipalities and cities have changed across 259,416 hectares over five years. Artificial surfaces have grown by 4,645 hectares, while forest-covered areas have declined by 191,752 hectares. Only five municipalities have actually experienced growth in forest-covered land.

Data from map layers created through cooperation between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Environment Agency (EEA) reveal a worrying picture of landscape changes in Estonia: over five years, land categories have changed across a total of 259,416 hectares in Estonian municipalities and cities.

Vegetation retreating, artificial surfaces expanding

The most striking trend is a significant decline in forest-covered areas – totalling 191,752 hectares. At the same time, artificial surfaces, which include roads, buildings, and other human-made surfaces, have increased by 4,645 hectares. This means that urbanisation and changes in land use have left a strong mark on the natural landscape.

Only five exceptions across Estonia

Only five municipalities stand out across the entire country where forest-covered land has actually grown during the observed period. In all other municipalities and cities, the picture is the opposite – forest coverage and woodland area have declined.

Satellite-based monitoring systems enable local authorities and nature conservation planners to gain a precise overview of how the landscape is changing. As a result of cooperation at the European level, the map layer that was created is open to all those interested in examining changes in their own regions more closely.