Contribution of Traditional Farming to Ecosystem Services Provision: Case Studies from Slovakia

Špulerová, Jana; Petrovič, František; Mederly, Peter; Mojses, Matej; Izakovičová, Zita

doi:10.3390/land7020074

Cited by 31 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…Fig 3 shows the condition attributes that determine the delivery of this ecosystem service. Soil condition and the presence of semi-natural areas within or in the vicinity of the agricultural fields are key for the delivery of this service [ 34 , 35 ]. Additionally, livestock can affect this service by altering the structural condition of soils [ 36 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of the relationships between agroecosystem condition and the ecosystem service soil erosion regulation in Northern Germany

et al. 2020

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Ecosystems provide multiple services that are necessary to maintain human life. Agroecosystems are very productive suppliers of biomass-related provisioning ecosystem services, e.g. food, fibre, and energy. At the same time, they are highly dependent on good ecosystem condition and regulating ecosystem services such as soil fertility, water supply or soil erosion regulation. Assessments of this interplay of ecosystem condition and services are needed to understand the relationships in highly managed systems. Therefore, the aim of this study is twofold: First, to test the concept and indicators proposed by the European Union Working Group on Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES) for assessing agroecosystem condition at a regional level. Second, to identify the relationships between ecosystem condition and the delivery of ecosystem services. For this purpose, we applied an operational framework for integrated mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services. We used the proposed indicators to assess the condition of agroecosystems in Northern Germany and regulating ecosystem service control of erosion rates. We used existing data from official databases to calculate the different indicators and created maps of environmental pressures, ecosystem condition and ecosystem service indicators for the Federal State of Lower Saxony. Furthermore, we identified areas within the state where pressures are high, conditions are unfavourable, and more sustainable management practices are needed. Despite the limitations of the indicators and data availability, our results show positive, negative, and no significant correlations between the different pressures and condition indicators, and the control of erosion rates. The idea behind the MAES framework is to indicate the general condition of an ecosystem. However, we observed that not all proposed indicators can explain to what extent ecosystems can provide specific ecosystem services. Further research on other ecosystem services provided by agroecosystems would help to identify synergies and trade-offs. Moreover, the definition of a reference condition, although complicated for anthropogenically highly modified agroecosystems, would provide a benchmark to compare information on the condition of the ecosystems, leading to better land use policy and management decisions.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of the relationships between agroecosystem condition and the ecosystem service soil erosion regulation in Northern Germany

et al. 2020

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“…It expresses a set of conditions which create suitable conditions for individual human activities and human life on Earth without significant disruption with respect to threats to components, bonds, and processes in the landscape. Specifying limits results from the purpose of the landscape (from the abiotic, biotic, and socio-economic characteristics of the landscape), as well as from legislative regulations and standards [21][22][23].…”

Section: The Development Of a Landscape Ecological Plan In The Model mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…with respect to threats to components, bonds, and processes in the landscape. Specifying limits results from the purpose of the landscape (from the abiotic, biotic, and socio-economic characteristics of the landscape), as well as from legislative regulations and standards [21][22][23]. The limits are conditioned by the characteristics of the landscape elements.…”

Section: The Development Of a Landscape Ecological Plan In The Model mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Integrated Approach to Landscape Management —Experience from Slovakia

Izakovičová¹,

Miklós

Miklósová

et al. 2019

Sustainability

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The integrated approach to landscape management is generally accepted, but its application is not on the desired practical level. Sectoral approaches to decision-making and planning processes still dominate. The presented paper concerns selected aspects of integrated landscape management in Slovakia. This paper reflects the present state of the long-term effort and experiences of the authors in the integration of ecological knowledge in landscape management tools. The basic methodological procedure needed to achieve this goal consists of analysis, mutual comparison, and confrontation of the existing principles and tools used in applied landscape ecology, as well as in legislation and planning practice. The landscape ecological base for the implementation of scientific achievements in landscape management consists of two methods: landscape ecological planning and ecological network planning. These two methods were implemented into the legislation and practice of nature conservation, physical/territorial planning, watershed management, land arrangement projecting, forestry planning, and flood prevention management. Such systematic landscape ecological regulations in planning practice can be considered the basis for sustainable development.

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“…A broad range of European agricultural landscape types (EALs) represent a specific time-limited pattern of landscapes that express a unique sense or spirit of place. They are also cherished due to their biological or anthropogenic values [3][4][5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Small Farm Activities for the Sustainable Management of Agricultural Landscapes: Case Studies from Europe

Slámová

Belčáková

2019

Sustainability

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In Europe, a broad variety of agricultural landscape types have originated as a result of traditional farming activities and landscape diversity maintenance over centuries. The rapid development of socio-economic activities during the twentieth century caused significant loss of traditional rural landscapes. Traditional/historical European agricultural landscape types (EALs) represent a type of cultural landscape with many specific unique cultural, historical, and biodiversity patterns. Despite their high value, maintenance in practice is lacking. European farmers and landowners need to learn how to implement innovative multifunctional farming techniques within these landscapes. An online interactive educational tool of the ERASMUS+ FEAL project (FEAL: multifunctional Farming for the sustainability of European Agricultural Landscapes) deals with these topics. Case studies from the FEAL project showed the best examples of sustainable agricultural management practices in different types of EALs. The aim of this article was to evaluate case studies within coordination of information on the environment (CORINE) Land Cover (CLC) 2012 classes representing traditional land use forms, nature and landscape protection areas, and ecologically important areas, as well as High Nature Value (HNV) farmland. Results based on 28 case studies from five European countries interpreted the positive external effects of farms on values of EALs. A prevailing number of farms exhibited a coincidence between CLC 2012 classes with traditional land use forms and HNV farmland and protected areas. Regarding land cover classes with traditional land use forms, key words selected by farmers gave importance to recreation and tourism, furthering of biodiversity, direct sale, social farming, renewable energy, and traditional building. The highest frequencies of the key words were achieved in CLC 2012 classes concerning (to some degree) natural and semi-natural ecosystems.

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Contribution of Traditional Farming to Ecosystem Services Provision: Case Studies from Slovakia

Cited by 31 publications

References 70 publications

Assessment of the relationships between agroecosystem condition and the ecosystem service soil erosion regulation in Northern Germany

Assessment of the relationships between agroecosystem condition and the ecosystem service soil erosion regulation in Northern Germany

The Integrated Approach to Landscape Management —Experience from Slovakia

The Role of Small Farm Activities for the Sustainable Management of Agricultural Landscapes: Case Studies from Europe

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