In Slovakia, economic activities such as agriculture, forestry, transport, manufacturing and housing use land and alter its natural state and functions. Land use has impacts on climate change, biodiversity loss, degradation and pollution of water, soils and air.

According to statistical data, in 2009, the total size of the Slovak Republic was 4 903 717 ha. The share of agricultural land was 49.31 % of total land size while the share of forest land was 40.97 % and the share of building areas was 4.69 %. During a longer time period, a trend in the uptake of productive agricultural land was recorded. Together with the changes in land utilisation, areas of individual land categories varied. In the period 2000–2009, the size of agricultural land decreased by about 22 734 ha. On the other hand, the size of forest land increased by about 7 590 ha and built-up areas by about 10 603 ha. (see Figure 1)

Statistical data from the Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre Authority of the Slovak Republic, does not indicate all land changes, e.g. abandoned agricultural land, spatial land distribution. For such purposes, spatial data is needed.

Link to Enviroportal - Environmental Indicators (in Slovak):

http://enviroportal.sk/indikatory/detail.php?kategoria=2&id_indikator=493#

Link to SEA: http://www.sazp.sk/corine

Link to EEA CSI:

http://themes.eea.europa.eu/IMS/ISpecs/ISpecification20041007131735/IAssessment1116504972257/view_content

Link to Enviroportal - Environmental Indicators (in Slovak):

http://enviroportal.sk/indikatory/detail.php?kategoria=124&id_indikator=104

 Economic sectors such as agriculture, industry, transport and a high level of urbanisation are the main driving forces which generate pressure on land use in Slovakia as the abandonment of farmland and pastures, an increment of new forests and increase of built-up areas.

In agricultural areas, land abandonment was mainly caused by changes in the agricultural sector and, more generally, by changes in the country’s economy. Widespread changes in land ownership occurred after 1989: land managed by cooperatives and enterprises returned to private owners, while only a small proportion of them were interested in farming. In the 1990s, socioeconomic changes led to a significant decrease in support and subsidies to agriculture. As a result, some agricultural enterprises (cooperatives) collapsed while others had problems surviving or problems in selling their products. This resulted in the cessation of cultivation in some areas, with the parallel creation of new forests as a natural consequence.

Urban sprawl took place in the surroundings of large cities, due to the development of new housing as well as commercial sites and industrial parks but at the expense of arable land. There was also a recorded land uptake due to the development of the transport network in Slovakia.

Main spatial land cover changes presented in Figures 2 and 3 are linked to:

• restitution of land ownership changed after 1989, the majority of changes are visible over the 1990–2000 period in north-west Slovakia,

• natural disasters (wind storms and forest fires), the crucial damage was caused by the wind storm over the High Tatras territory in 2004,

• urban and transport development, mostly linked to the construction of highways and so-called industrial parks in the period 1990–2009,

• activities related to flood prevention and energy production (river barrage systems), the Gabcikovo barrage system and power plant were completed 1992–1996.

Although the status of soil and land is secured in various policy documents in Slovakia, there is a prospect of further but more moderate development of the transport network, housing, commercial and industrial sites at the expense of arable land.

Using agricultural biomass for energy purposes can contribute to halting the degradation of abandoned areas and use them for agricultural purposes again.

 Land protection has been secured in various policy documents, concepts, strategies and legislative measures in Slovakia. In 2001, the Decree No 1141/2001 on Rules of the State Soil Policy was adopted. The policy appoints the soil as common wealth and heritage for future generations.

The Rural Development Programme of the Slovak Republic 2007–13 includes Axis No 2, Improving the environment and the countryside. The objective of the Axis, Priority No 3 is to maintain and to improve quality of agricultural and forest soil.

The Act No 220/2004 Coll. on protection and use of farmland was adopted in 2004. The Act is aimed on protection of environmental and productive soil functions, sustainable soil management and use. Land-use changes are also affected by nature conservation, spatial planning and EIA legislation. The protection of Natura 2000 sites also secures land protection.