Ecology and long-term land-use, palaeoecology and archaeology – the usefulness of interdisciplinary studies for knowledge-based conservation and management of cultural landscapes

Abstract

Natural and cultural heritage management is dependent on knowledge about present species and habitats and presence of cultural heritage sites, respectively. Knowledge about long-term development helps to identify factors explaining both biodiversity and cultural heritage and to predict future changes based on changes in, for example, climate or grazing regimes. In the present interdisciplinary study, vegetation surveys, pollen analysis from a bog and soil profiles within archaeological localities, archaeological test-excavations and historical data have been combined to elucidate cultural landscape development in an upland landscape of Erdalen in Stryn, western Norway. Activity in what is now the summer farm area started in the Bronze Age, followed by clearance and grazing in the Early Iron Age. After a period of reduced activity, most of the valley seems to have been utilised for summer farming in the Late Iron Age and first part of the Medieval Period. A regression period, probably related to the Black Death, is followed by new activity with extensive woodland clearings from the seventeenth century, whereas recent changes have resulted in increased tree cover. The investigations show a close relationship between land-use practices, presence of grassland species and vascular plant species richness. They also show the importance of continued management for existence of semi-natural habitats in the future, and for the visibility of archaeological sites.

Application of palaeoecology for peatland conservation at Mossdale Moor, UK

“…There has been a recognition amongst palaeoecologists that the long-term datasets generated through palaeoecological techniques could be of use in nature conservation (Birks, 1996, Birks, 2012, Willis et al, 2010, Davies and Bunting, 2010, Froyd and Willis, 2008, Hjelle et al, 2012. Palaeoecology can provide the long-term ecological background needed to answer questions about changes during recent times of principal interest to conservationists Daniell, 2011, Seddon et al, 2014).…”

Examining change in complex social-ecological systems using multiple long-term records: the New Forest – a case study

“…-in the investigation of long-term system change and the extent to which modern-day landscapes are a product of past land use and management strategies (e.g. Hjelle et al [34], Sigurmundsson et al [54], McCune et al [63], Feurdean et al [64], Almeida et al [65]).…”

“…Hjelle et al [34] and Nielsen et al [35] highlight the role of pollen-based reconstructions of cultural landscapes in conservation science. Pollen data have been used extensively to examine long-term vegetation patterns, reconstruct cultural landscapes, identify anthropogenic impacts on vegetation, and provide baseline data for the sustainable management of natural and semi-natural landscapes (e.g.…”

Natural and cultural heritage in mountain landscapes: towards an integrated valuation

“…In Norway, unprotected regions tend to be better monitored than protected areas, which are assumed to be free of threat (Blindheim et al 2011). The best documented site is the NP (1951) NP (2003) Part of NP (1998) LCA (2003) LCA (2001) LCA ( Hjelle et al (2012). Cairngorms NP; this was most recently designated as a NP and the designation was accompanied by a major review of the area's resources (Shaw and Thompson 2006).…”