Determination of Land Cover and Land Use Changes on the Island of Lošinj Based on Digital Orthophoto Analysis

In this research, land cover changes in the southern part of the island of Lošinj in the period from 1968 to 2024 were analysed using remote sensing methods and geographic information systems (GIS). The aim of the research was to determine patterns of vegetation cover changes, identify the causes of these changes, and predict possible future trends in landscape development. The analysis was conducted on publicly available digital orthophoto maps (DOP5) from 1968 and 2024, downloaded from the Geoportal of the State Geodetic Administration (DGU) (Geoportal DGU 2025). The images were georeferenced in the official HTRS96/TM coordinate system and were visually interpreted and vectorised in the ArcGIS program. Cartographic representations were created for both years, and spatial and attribute data were compared to quantify the changes. The results showed a significant increase in the area of Aleppo pine ( Pinus halepensis Mill.) forest, which increased from about 200 ha in 1968 to almost 800 ha in 2024. At the same time, the area under indigenous vegetation that consists of Quercus ilex and associated species doubled while agricultural areas almost disappeared. Anthropogenic impact is evident in the expansion of settlements and transport infrastructure to an area twice the size in 2024, but also in the neglect of former agricultural areas that are now overgrown with vegetation. The obtained data confirm the trend of reforestation and natural vegetation succession, which can be linked to historical processes of afforestation, depopulation and reduction of land use intensity. GIS tools have proven to be crucial in the analysis of spatial changes and provide a reliable basis for future planning and sustainable management of the island.