Long-Term Assessment of Spatio-Temporal Landuse/Landcover Changes (LUCCs) of Ošljak Island (Croatia) Using Multi-Temporal Data—Invasion of Aleppo Pine

The karst landscapes of the Mediterranean are regarded as some most vulnerable, fragile, and complex systems in world. They hold a particularly interesting group small islands with distinctive, recognizable landscape. Republic Croatia (HR), which has one indented coasts world, is known for them. In this paper, we analyzed spatio-temporal changes (STCs) landscape Ošljak Island, smallest inhabited island HR. Landuse/landcover change (LUCC) analysis been conducted from 1944 to 2021. methodology included acquisition multi-temporal data, data harmonization, production landuse/landcover (LU/LC) maps, selection optimal environmental indicators (EIs), simulation modeling. total, eleven comparable LU/LC models have produced, moderate accuracy. STCs quantified using nine EIs. dominant processes that influenced identified. results shown that, recent decades, undergone transformation was manifested through (a) pronounced expansion Aleppo pine; (b) deagrarianization, led secondary succession; (c) urban sprawl, functional significant detected afforestation pine. Namely, 77-year span, pine expanded intensively an area 11.736 ha, created model 2025, pointed possibility continued Specific guidelines management new transformed proposed. This research provides user-friendly methodological framework can efficiently monitor LUCCs smaller case when geospatial scarce satellite imagery coarser resolution cannot be used. Moreover, it gives insight into availability quality