scholarly journals ASPECTS OF WOODY VEGETATION PRESENCE INFLUENCE ON THE CZECH AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE FUNCTIONALITY

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johana Zacharova
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Woody Vegetation ◽  
Landscape Functionality

scholarly journals Non-Forest Woody Vegetation (Scattered Greenery) Case Study of the Samopse Settlement, Czech Republic

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 214
Author(s):  
Zuzana Vondra Krupkova
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Spatial Arrangement ◽  
Woody Vegetation ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
The Past ◽  
Collective Farming ◽  
Level Of Knowledge ◽  
Landscape Ecological ◽  
Development And Management

The development and management of the Czech landscape has been influenced by several key factors in the past. One important factor is the development of society, particularly political changes and ecological development. Others include the level of knowledge and understanding of technologies, scientific knowledge and the non-productive importance of the landscape, as well as the attitude of society and individuals towards the landscape. In the past, non-forest woody vegetation was a standard part of the European agricultural landscape and formed its typical appearance. The onset of collective farming during the second half of the twentieth century resulted in transforming the landscape into open fields without permanent vegetation. The landscape became everyone’s and no-one’s and was subject to orders, tasks and plans. The key goal of this article is to evaluate non-forest woody vegetation from a landscape-ecological aspect and compare the occurrence of non-forest woody vegetation in four landscape types. The submitted study presents various types of non-forest woody vegetation, the species present in elements of scattered greenery and the spatial arrangement depending on the method of management and use of the territory.

scholarly journals Species composition and diversity of non-forest woody vegetation along roads in the agricultural landscape

2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Attila Tóth ◽  
Gabriel Kuczman ◽  
Ľubica Feriancová
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Occurrence Frequency ◽  
Woody Vegetation ◽  
Allochthonous Species

Abstract Non-forest woody vegetation represents an important component of green infrastructure in the agricultural landscape, where natural and semi-natural forest cover has only a low land use proportion. This paper focuses on linear woody vegetation structures along roads in the agricultural landscape and analyses them in three study areas in the Nitra Region, Slovakia. We evaluate species composition and diversity, species occurrence frequency or spatial distribution, their structure according to relatively achievable age and origin. For the evaluation of occurrence frequency, a Frequency Factor was proposed and applied. This factor allows a better comparison of different study areas and results in more representative findings. The study areas were divided into sectors based on visual landscape features, which are easily identifiable in the field, such as intersections and curves in roads, and intersections of roads with other features, such as cadastral or land boundaries, watercourses, etc. Based on the species abundance, woody plants present within the sectors were categorised into 1) predominant, 2) complementary and 3) mixed-in species; and with regard to their origin into 1) autochthonous and 2) allochthonous. Further, trees were categorised into 1) long-lived, 2) medium-lived and 3) short-lived tree species. The main finding is that among trees, mainly allochthonous species dominated. Robinia pseudoacacia L. was the predominant tree species in all three study areas. It was up to 4 times more frequent than other predominant tree species. Introduced tree species prevailed also among complementary and mixed-in species. Among shrubs, mainly native species dominated, while non-native species had a significantly lower proportion and spatial distribution. Based on these findings, several measures have been proposed to improve the overall ecological stability, the proportion and spatial distribution of native woody plant species. The recommendations and measures aim at enhancement of native species biodiversity, landscape identity and character, in order to meet the main landscape and biodiversity challenges identified in key biodiversity and landscape policies of Europe.

Transforming the Rural Agricultural Landscape Through Groundwater Optimisation: Exploring A Chinese-South African Partnership

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nirmala Dorasamy ◽  
Olayemi Bakre
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Subsistence Farming ◽  
Water Shortages ◽  
Subsistence Farmers ◽  
Farming Communities ◽  
Standards Of Living ◽  
Kwazulu Natal

The majority of the South African rural populace is directly or indirectly engaged in agricultural practices to earn a livelihood. However, impediments such as climate change, water shortages, and inadequacy of institutional support have undermined these once thriving subsistence farming communities. Furthermore, poor leadership in hydrology, coupled with a lack of depth in skills at all government levels to facilitate the understanding of the importance of groundwater, has made it near impossible for subsistence farmers to benefit optimally from groundwater. The 2012 drought experienced in South Africa paralysed several subsistence farming communities in KwaZulu-Natal. To revamp subsistence farming and assist these farmers across South Africa, the Department of Water and Sanitation launched interventions, but despite the enormous resources expended, indicators (e.g. unsustainable farming practices, poor crop yield, pitiable living conditions, and poor standards of living) provide evidence that these interventions have not yielded the desired results. This paper seeks to suggest practicable interventions aimed at reducing the vulnerability of subsistence farmers in KwaZulu-Natal. The study pursued a qualitative approach in that it solicited the views of experts on groundwater and in related fields to gain an in-depth perspective. Some of the core challenges undermining the sustainability and growth of subsistence farming in the study area were found to be the inadequacy of experts on groundwater, water shortages, institutional deficiencies, lack of political will, and lack of coordination among stakeholders. Pragmatic recommendations are made to address these challenges, among other things to encourage a South African-Chinese partnership in the hydrology sector.

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