Landscapes Forest and Global Change - ESA - Escola Superior ...

B. Bożętka 2010. Recent relations between forestry and agriculture in Poland
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landscape (Kostrowicki 1959). Villages frequently formed by a dispersed settlement pattern;
surrounded by rather small, long and narrow fields; with the presence of diverse eco-margins
and forests in a distance can give a short characteristic. Farms in Poland are small; majority
possesses their land in separated plots, 18% of them in more than 6 parts (The Country Program
of Rural…, 2009).
To a lesser degree, fragmented territorial structure is also found in the Polish forest
cover. Altogether with a predominance of poor biotopes, a relatively young age of trees and
uneven afforestation, it poses serious difficulties for maintenance of ecological functions.
Forestry is the second land- use function in the country, the Poland’s forest cover reached
29.0% of the total area in 2009 (Stat.Yearb.Rep. 2010). This insufficient quantity is
accompanied by natural and anthropogenic hazards (Liro 1998). It has been estimated that about
70% of a forest cover is formed by tree stands designated for complete felling sites. In addition,
forests demonstrate a depleted species composition and a simplistic structure, where biotic
components are not adjusted to existing habitats (Smykała 1993, after Rykowski 2003). In
general, woodlands have been highly fragmented and are retained now in the areas featured by
the worst agricultural qualities. The greatest amounts of forests are found in the west, north,
and south-east of the country (The Lubuskie Region [c. 50 %], Pomerania and Podkarpackie).
3. Large-scale spatial processes and land-use tendencies in the rural areas
3.1. Land- use tendencies
The Polish rural landscape has encountered high dynamics of land-use changes for the
last twenty years. An analysis of statistical data and relevant literature (e.g. Ciołkosz, Poławski
2006) allows identifying main directions of the transformation: 1. sharp decrease in meadows
and pastures, 2. steady decrease in arable fields, 3. steady increase in forested areas, and 4.
dynamic increase in built areas. Many authors (ibidem) stress instability of land- use in Poland;
however, agriculture and forestry still are dominant.
3.2. Agricultural areas
A steady decline of agricultural land has been noted at least since 1930s (Ciołkosz,
Poławski 2006), but after the political turnover in 1989, the process accelerated again. The loss
coincides with transformation of agriculture in Poland.
Incoming market requirements caused a systematic decrease in the amount of farms and
led to abandonment of land having poor soil conditions, which are being partially afforested.
However, the percentage of fallow and uncultivated land has been declining since a period
2000- 2002 (11.9 % in 2000) and in 2008 accounted for 3.8 % (Environment, 2010).
Simultaneously, strong demands for housing sites lead to designation of thousands ha for
residential areas. Shrinking of agricultural land is accompanied by decrease in diversity of crop
and breeding varieties and by strong limitation of pasture. These sharp changes are softened by
environmental instruments acquired after UE accession, but polarization between highproductive
areas and abandonment of land takes place. Contrary to arable fields, meadows and
pastures, the area of orchards increases and is occupied by modern, larger farms (Kulikowski
2007). The Country Program of Rural Development 2007-2013 confirms further steady decline
in the total agricultural land. Its statements allow also to anticipate growing importance of land
consolidation and size polarization of farms (e.g. a further loss of medium-size enterprises).
3.3. Forest areas
In contrast to agricultural land, the amount of forest areas systematically grows.
Dynamic post-war reforestation was strongly connected with an ownership structure- new
forests emerged mostly on the state’s grounds and therefore the northern, north-western and
south-eastern parts of Poland show the highest rate of a new forest cover. Distinctively, the
availability of uncultivated land during the last two decades does not correspond with the need
to improve environmental and ecological functions of the rural areas. A forest cover should be
especially strengthened in central and eastern parts of the country, where it suffered advanced
Forest Landscapes and Global Change-New Frontiers in Management, Conservation and Restoration. Proceedings of the IUFRO Landscape Ecology
Working Group International Conference, September 21-27, 2010, Bragança, Portugal. J.C. Azevedo, M. Feliciano, J. Castro & M.A. Pinto (eds.)
2010, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal.