evidence: Kosovo is still in the phase of economic recovery. It is one of only four countries in Europe that recorded positive economic growth rates in every year of the crisis period 2008-2012, averaging 4.5%. [...] Kosovo's population continues to grow, and therefore there has been an increase in settlement expansion, and land use changes. In 2012, settlements covered 4.7% of Kosovo's territory, compared with 3.7% in 2002. Agricultural lands decreased from 31.3% of Kosovo's territory in 2002 to 27.8% in 2012 (due to the expansion of settlements). Forest lands increased from 42.1% of Kosovo's territory in 2002 to 44.7% in 2012[6]. [...] In 2012, Kosovo announced the creation of its second national park Bjeshkët e Nemura (62.488 hectares), and it also expanded the territory of its first national park, Sharri. These two actions increased the total share of protected areas in Kosovo from 4.4% to 10.9% of national territory (fig.2)[8]. Besides its two national parks, Kosovo has 97 other Nature Protected Areas of various categories.