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

B. Baran-Zgłobicka & W. Zgłobicki 2010. Forest patches in agricultural landscapes (loess areas of SE Poland)
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Wilczyce area was characterised by a more intensive agricultural activity connected with the
existence of vast ecclesiastical estates in this area.
From the perspective of ecology, the current structure of forest patches is not favourable
because forested areas are small and diverse in shape. On the other hand, forests in gullies and
on steep slopes represent the only forest enclaves in the agricultural landscape. Such a situation
clearly indicates the role of geodiversity as a determinant of biodiversity.
In some cases, however, the changes in usage structure were not determined by nature-related
factors. In Wąwolnica, considerable deforestation took place within the medium slopes, whereas
in the case of steep slopes the forestation area represented less than 50% of the previously
deforested areas. At the same time, some changes in the agricultural character of land use are
necessary in some parts of the analysed areas – most importantly in order to limit the threat of
erosion.
References
Baran-Zgłobicka B., Zglobicki W. 2004: Structure of the agricultural loess landscape (on the
example of the western fragment of the Naleczow Plateau). Fizyčna geografija ta
geomorfologija. Mižvidomčyj naukovyj zbirnik, 46: 12-18.
Bork H.-R. 1989. Soil erosion during the past Millennium in Central Europe and its significance
within the geomorphodynamics of the Holocene. Catena Supplement, 15: 221-131.
Dotterweich M. 2008. The history of soil erosion and fluvial deposits in small catchments of
central Europe: Deciphering the long-term interaction between humans and the
environment. Geomorphology, 101: 192-208..
Kucharczyk M. 1992. Roślinność i flora. Kazimierski Park Krajobrazowy. In: Tadeusz Wilgat
(Ed.) System obszarów chronionych województwa lubelskiego. UMCS, TWWP, LFOŚN,
Lublin: 76-81.
Nogaj-Chachaj J. 2004: O roli człowieka w przekształcaniu środowiska przyrodniczego w
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Przez pradzieje i wczesne średniowiecze. Wydawnictwo UMCS, Lublin: 63-72.
Table 1: Relief and land use within test areas
Wąwolnica Wilczyce
Forms of relief
Bottoms of valleys 9 18
Gentle slopes (3-6 o ) 20 17
Moderate slopes (6-12 o ) 16 23
Steep slopes (> 12 o ) 9 4
Gullies 6 4
Plateau tops 42 34
Land use
Arable lands 55 63
Orchards 3 14
Plantations 5 0.5
Grasslands/pastures 14 7
Forests 18 9
Wastelands 2 2
Built-up areas 4 4.5
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.