Indicator 11.32 Soil sealing index

This indicator measures the coverage of the soil surface with impervious materials, hence indicating imperviousness. The aggregation of imperviousness values to reference units, such as urban areas, floodplains, coastal zones or protected areas, is performed using the integrated spatial data platform of the EEA.

The indicator is used to monitor progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 11 on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, and towards Sustainable Development Goal 15 on protecting, restoring and promoting sustainable use of land. SDG 11 is embedded in the European Commission’s priorities under ‘A new era for European Defence and Security’, ‘Supporting people, strengthening our societies and our social model’, ‘Sustaining our quality of life: food security, water and nature’ and ‘Protecting our democracy, upholding our values’. SDG 15 is embedded in the European Commission’s priorities under ‘Sustaining our quality of life: food security, water and nature’.

Data for the Soil sealing index are obtained from the European Environment Agency (EEA) and are based on data from the Imperviousness High Resolution Layer, a product of the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service. The Soil sealing index shows the area of soil per inhabitant that is covered with impervious materials due to development and construction, such as buildings and constructions, and completely or partially impermeable artificial materials such as asphalt or glass. The value is expressed in square metres per inhabitant. Data are disseminated every three years, and the time series for the indicator starts in 2006. Data for Bosnia and Herzegovina are presented within the methodological framework of the EU SDG indicators. Progress is not calculated for this indicator on the BHAS EU SDG portal. No appropriate numerical target value has been established that could be directly applied to the value of the Soil sealing index expressed in square metres per inhabitant.

No specific national target value has been established for Bosnia and Herzegovina for this indicator. The Soil sealing index is used to monitor the extent and changes in the area of soil covered with impervious materials per inhabitant.