Understanding Dynamics of Land Cover Changes Using GIS Technique in a River Catchment with High Altitude Differences – an Analysis from Kosovo

Abstract

This article analyses Land Cover Changes in the Lumbardhi of Prizreni (LP) River catchment in southern Kosovo. As a landlocked country, Kosovo has highly diverse landform features. LP River catchment is located in Sharri's transboundary high mountain range and the southern part of Dukagjini Plain. In the last two decades, the landscape has experienced a transformation in land cover changes, especially in the increasing of artificial surfaces in the plains. Using GIS techniques, data were calculated for the selected years, and their dynamics were visualised for the last two decades. The analysis shows a decrease in agricultural land and complex cultivation patterns (-806 ha), an increase in artificial surface, especially discontinuous urban fabric (+354 ha), and small changes in forest and seminatural areas, which are primarily included in "Sharri" National Park.