Jan Skaloš

Methodology for mapping non-forest wood elements using historic cadastral maps and aerial photographs as a basis for management.

The objective of this study was to test a method for analysing long-term structural changes in non-forest wood elements, using a newly developed classification system and relevant landscape characteristics. Although these non-forest wood elements are biotopes that have positive effects for the ecological stability of the landscape little is known about their long-term dynamics. The newly developed knowledge of the historical impact of various landscape management practices on non-forest wood elements can be applied in landscape planning procedures (e.g. planning ecological networks) in order to ensure relevant landscape management in the future. The method was applied in two contrasting study sites, Honbice (244 ha) and Krida (268 ha), located in east Bohemia and north Bohemia, in the Czech Republic. The study was based on old cadastral maps (from 1839 to 1843), black and white aerial photographs (from 1938, 1950, 1966, 1975 to 2006) and field control data from 2006. At the Honbice study site, the proportion of non-forest wood elements increased from 2.0 to 2.9% of the study site, due to large plantations of scattered vegetation in the open landscape. On the other hand, more than half of the wood vegetation in the village was cut down between 1966 and 2006. In addition, the relative length of the tree alleys decreased from 0.021 km ha(-1) to 0.018 km ha(-1) between 1950 and 1966. At the Krida study site, there was a significant increase in non-forest vegetation (from 2.4 to 8.2%), due to abandonment of the landscape (former military area). As the village disappeared, the total amount of scattered vegetation grew, due to the natural succession process. The relative length of the tree alleys decreased from 0.009 km ha(-1) to 0.005 km ha(-1). The method that was applied and based on the analysis of long-term structural changes in non-forest wood elements, using a (newly developed) classification system and relevant landscape characteristics has proved to be a suitable procedure for making a detailed description of long-term structural changes in non-forest wood elements in the landscape. The detailed classification system can be used most efficiently when it is applied to rather small territories. Some characteristics display a similar ability to describe changes in non-forest wood structures (e.g. relative length, proportion of the category).

Spatio-temporal dynamics of wood-pastures in lowland and highland landscapes across Czechia

Wood pastures represent grasslands, managed by grazing and characterised by scattered woody vegetation, recognised for their ecological, agricultural and socio-cultural roles, and are among the oldest land-use types in Europe. Rapid decline in their area all across Europe has been observed recently, sparking the appearance of a number of related studies. But these trends differ for each country and period, and more detailed analyses are needed to distinguish the character, drivers and the consequences of the changes on a general and local scale, Thus, the present study was aimed at analysis of spatio-temporal dynamics of wood pastures in Czechia between the beginning of the nineteenth century and the present moment, and of the importance of integrated influence of natural factors as a driver. For this purpose, 30 cadastral districts from five types of natural landscapes (GTNL) of Czechia were analysed for changes between the beginning of the nineteenth century and the present, using ArcGIS tools and statistical analysis. Upon the conducted analysis, the general decrease of area of wood pastures was observed, but the dynamics differed depending on the integrated natural characteristics of each group. Sinks of lost and sources of gained wood pastures were defined. Persistent patches had a small share within both present and historical areas. Trends in this dynamic differ statistically for each GTNL. The scale of these changes also depends on this factor. However, the character of overall changes appeared to be defined more by political circumstances in many cases.

Indicators for Built-up Area Monitoring – A Case Study of the Czech Republic and the EU

Abstract The present research is focused on built-up area (BUA) monitoring. The continental landscape is becoming a limited resource in today’s world, much the same as some materials and energy resources. The goal was to design simple indicators that are compatible with environmental indicators used in the analysis of material and energy flows. We have consequently proposed the indicators BUA per person and gross domestic product (GDP) demands for total BUA. We have used these indicators to evaluate the development in the Czech Republic and the situation in the EU-27 countries. The development in the Czech Republic shows a moderately smooth decrease in the BUA per person indicator value. The GDP demands for BUA indicator showed that the cessation of economic growth after 2008 slowed the process of decoupling of GDP from the BUA. Despite the low GDP in the Czech Republic, the indicator GDP demands for BUA attains lower values than for Austria or Belgium.

European wood-pastures in transition – a social-ecological approach

Wooded-pastures are dynamic silvo-pastoral ecosystems combining principally grass-herb and forest communities. They are important not only from an environmental, but also from a social point of view. This book focuses on wood-pastures in Europe, where they constitute important habitats in the European landscape, providing many important production and non-production functions. The wide variety of definitions of wooded-pastures reflects their considerable variability within and among countries. It also reflects the large range of perceptions and people’s access to wooded-pastures which vary with regard to the changing needs of society and to the specific management of these habitats. One of the most important features of wooded-pastures is their multifunctional character. They are not only ecologically significant ecosystems in the landscape, but they also represent significant socio-ecological systems reflecting long-term relationships between society and nature. But wooded-pastures are subjected to various threats: for instance the recent departure from traditional forestry and farming practices has led to the extension of successional vegetation, which in turn has led to the gradual disappearance of wooded-pastures (Hartel and Plieninger 2014).