Soil fertility evolution and landscape dynamics in a Mediterranean area: a case study in the Sant Llorenç Natural Park (Barcelona, NE Spain)

Nadal, J.; Mañosa, Albert Pèlachs; Molina, David; Soriano, Joan Manuel

doi:10.1111/j.1475-4762.2008.00858.x

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The agricultural abandonment and the expansion of woods and scrubland were the most important changes. This has some positive effects, such as greater CO 2 adsorption (Adams and Piovesan, 2002), increased biodiversity (Benton et al ., 2003), improved regulation of runoff, decreased erosion (García‐Ruiz et al ., 2008; Nadal et al ., 2009), and increased availability of timber, a crucial resource for economic development in Mediterranean mountain areas (Ortuño and Martín‐Fernández, 2006). Plant cover expansion also has negative effects, including a greater risk of the occurrence and spread of fire (Lloret et al ., 2002; Chauchard et al ., 2007), reduced water availability in flat areas (Beguería et al ., 2003), fewer grazing resources, an increase in the imbalance of pastures between summer and winter (Lasanta et al ., 2006, 2009), a reduction of local species (Perry, 1988), and the loss of flora and fauna diversity associated with humanized landscapes (Preiss et al ., 1997; Suárez‐Seoane et al ., 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Land abandonment, landscape evolution, and soil erosion in a Spanish Mediterranean mountain region: The case of Camero Viejo

Vadillo¹,

Lasanta²,

Errea³

et al. 2010

Land Degrad Dev

166

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The Spanish Mediterranean mountains have played an important social and economic role for many centuries. However, since the 1950s these regions have been considered of little economic interest, and this has led to the abandonment of villages, reduced productive activity, and significant changes in the landscape. In the last 50 years the Camero Viejo region (Iberian System, northeast Spain) has been subject to these changes, and was selected as our study area. Landscape evolution and soil erosion, as a result of agricultural abandonment, were studied using different analysis techniques: photointerpretation, geographic information systems and rainfall simulation. The results showed that a large proportion of previously cultivated land has been subject to plant recolonization processes. From 1956 to 2001, woodlands area increased from 10Á1 per cent to 37 per cent, and scrubland increased from 42 per cent to 60 per cent. Changes in landscape structure in the same period suggest that the Camero Viejo is in a transitional stage from a highly humanized landscape to a more natural landscape. Although plant cover expansion is evident on most Camero Viejo hillslopes, in some terraced areas erosion processes are active. The generalized abandonment of agricultural terraces has favored the collapse of the stone walls of the terraces, with sliding of the soil. Surface runoff on abandoned terraces is also important. These erosion processes are related to the hydrological functioning of slopes following abandonment, neglect, and in some areas the intensification of grazing. Terrace destruction has a negative impact on the landscape and represents the loss of fertile soils. Landscape diversity should be preserved as an essential element of the economic potential of the Camero Viejo.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Land abandonment, landscape evolution, and soil erosion in a Spanish Mediterranean mountain region: The case of Camero Viejo

Vadillo¹,

Lasanta²,

Errea³

et al. 2010

Land Degrad Dev

166

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“…Over millennia, the Mediterranean mountain landscape has been occupied by people involved in agriculture and extensive grazing of livestock (Butzer, 2005;Lasheras-Álvarez et al, 2013). Agriculture, livestock grazing and forest management formed a highly integrated and structured landscape mosaic (Farina, 2000), parts of which have high ecological diversity and cultural values, and are consequently protected as natural parks (Lasseur, 2005;Vargas et al, 2008;Nadal et al, 2009) or national parks (Kati et al, 2009;Gracia et al, 2011;Gargamo et al, 2012). The integration between environmental and human management has resulted in some of the landscapes being recognized by United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization as Biosphere Reserves (Anselme et al, 2010;Madruga-Andreu et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Landscape Conservation Measures in Changing Landscape Patterns: A Case Study in Mediterranean Mountains

et al. 2015

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Mediterranean mountain landscapes have high ecological and cultural values. However, since 1950, a large number of these landscapes have been subject to degradation as a consequence of land abandonment. Some regional administrations have enacted measures that favour the regeneration of pasturelands through scrubland clearing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the consequences of clearing and the regeneration of pasturelands on landscape structure and the recovery of extensive livestock in La Rioja. The results indicate that between 1986 and 2011 an area of 29,659 ha was cleared in the mountains of La Rioja, although 62·6% of this was cleared in the period 2000–2011. In 1956, the landscape was dominated by cultivated fields, but by 2001, much of the agricultural area had been abandoned and replaced by scrubland, natural woods and reforested areas. Furthermore, the landscape was more fragmented in 1956 than in 2001. The landscape structure varied following clearing, with a doubling in the number of patches and an increase in heterogeneity. The consequences of clearing have included an increase in the area of pastureland and the number of large animals. In addition, the number of farms has decreased, but their mean size has increased. Clearing is an appropriate way for spatial reorganization in marginal mountain areas. It does not require excessive investment but favours the reintegration of abandoned fields and an increase in pasturelands. The results of this study contribute to the debate about reclaiming mountain landscapes affected by human activities and subject to intense degradation processes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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“…Nadal et al, 2009). Soil salinization is one of the most relevant degradation processes jeopardizing the potential use of European soils.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The local-scale impact of soil salinization on the socioeconomic context: An exploratory analysis in Italy

Salvati¹,

Ferrara²

2015

CATENA

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Soil fertility evolution and landscape dynamics in a Mediterranean area: a case study in the Sant Llorenç Natural Park (Barcelona, NE Spain)

Cited by 13 publications

References 17 publications

Land abandonment, landscape evolution, and soil erosion in a Spanish Mediterranean mountain region: The case of Camero Viejo

Land abandonment, landscape evolution, and soil erosion in a Spanish Mediterranean mountain region: The case of Camero Viejo

The Effect of Landscape Conservation Measures in Changing Landscape Patterns: A Case Study in Mediterranean Mountains

The local-scale impact of soil salinization on the socioeconomic context: An exploratory analysis in Italy

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