40
D. Kirschke et al.
tructure. Consequently, land use conflicts evolve, and these conflicts may change
over time and are driven by various factors. A study by Kirschke et al. (2013)
gives a comprehensive overview on land use and land use change in Europe and
the main economic drivers behind, bringing together theoretical approaches from
regional economics, economic geography, agricultural economics, environmental
and resource economics, and infrastructure planning.
Our paper is based on these general findings and specifically looks into new
developments in German agricultural land use. Are there new trends for agricultural
land use change in the new millennium and, if so, what are the new conflicts and
drivers?
In Sect. 3.2, we briefly sketch out the background for our discussion, addressing
general land use trends in Germany after reunification. We will then discuss ongoing
and new conflicts in agricultural land use in recent years in Sect. 3.3. The section
focusses on rising land prices, deteriorating environmental indicators, and land use
structure. In Sect. 3.4, we will look at major drivers behind this development which,
basically, reflect market forces and a new policy framework. We will discuss international agricultural price developments, technological developments, Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reforms, the Renewable Energy Act (REA), and particularities
related to German reunification. Some concluding remarks are given in Sect. 3.5.
3.2 General Land Use Trends
Land use in Germany is characterized by industrial development and high population density, but also by agriculture. In the “Land use and cover area frame survey
(LUCAS)”, Eurostat (2012) has compared land use in EU member states. They
find a higher share of human settlements and transport infrastructure in Germany as
compared to the EU average. Also, the forest share in Germany (33%) is lower than
in the EU (37%). However, the share of permanent grassland is somewhat higher
(22% as compared to 19%), and the share of arable land is considerably higher (32%
as compared to 23%).
Overall trends in land use have been similar in Germany and the EU. According
to the “Coordination of information on the environment (CORINE)-Project” there
has been a continuous decline of agricultural areas and a continuous increase of areas
for human settlements and transport infrastructure. Table 3.1 shows a more detailed
picture of land use change in Germany from 1992 to 2015/16.
According to Table 3.1, areas for human settlements and transport infrastructure have considerably increased since reunification, but this trend has come down
in the recent period. This picture holds for both human settlements and transport
infrastructure individually. For industrial areas and recreation areas there has been
an increasing demand over the whole period whereas changing trends can rarely be
identified.
D. Kirschke et al.
tructure. Consequently, land use conflicts evolve, and these conflicts may change
over time and are driven by various factors. A study by Kirschke et al. (2013)
gives a comprehensive overview on land use and land use change in Europe and
the main economic drivers behind, bringing together theoretical approaches from
regional economics, economic geography, agricultural economics, environmental
and resource economics, and infrastructure planning.
Our paper is based on these general findings and specifically looks into new
developments in German agricultural land use. Are there new trends for agricultural
land use change in the new millennium and, if so, what are the new conflicts and
drivers?
In Sect. 3.2, we briefly sketch out the background for our discussion, addressing
general land use trends in Germany after reunification. We will then discuss ongoing
and new conflicts in agricultural land use in recent years in Sect. 3.3. The section
focusses on rising land prices, deteriorating environmental indicators, and land use
structure. In Sect. 3.4, we will look at major drivers behind this development which,
basically, reflect market forces and a new policy framework. We will discuss international agricultural price developments, technological developments, Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reforms, the Renewable Energy Act (REA), and particularities
related to German reunification. Some concluding remarks are given in Sect. 3.5.
3.2 General Land Use Trends
Land use in Germany is characterized by industrial development and high population density, but also by agriculture. In the “Land use and cover area frame survey
(LUCAS)”, Eurostat (2012) has compared land use in EU member states. They
find a higher share of human settlements and transport infrastructure in Germany as
compared to the EU average. Also, the forest share in Germany (33%) is lower than
in the EU (37%). However, the share of permanent grassland is somewhat higher
(22% as compared to 19%), and the share of arable land is considerably higher (32%
as compared to 23%).
Overall trends in land use have been similar in Germany and the EU. According
to the “Coordination of information on the environment (CORINE)-Project” there
has been a continuous decline of agricultural areas and a continuous increase of areas
for human settlements and transport infrastructure. Table 3.1 shows a more detailed
picture of land use change in Germany from 1992 to 2015/16.
According to Table 3.1, areas for human settlements and transport infrastructure have considerably increased since reunification, but this trend has come down
in the recent period. This picture holds for both human settlements and transport
infrastructure individually. For industrial areas and recreation areas there has been
an increasing demand over the whole period whereas changing trends can rarely be
identified.