Land Use Changes in Europe

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiv

   PDF

2. Land Resources, Land Use and Projected Land Availability for Alternative Uses in the EC

   • J. Lee

   Pages 1-20

3. Trends in the Transformation of European Agriculture

   • J. Kostrowicki

   Pages 21-47

4. Future Land Use Patterns in Europe

   • F. M. Brouwer, M. J. Chadwick

   Pages 49-78

5. The Role and Impact of Biophysical Determinants on Present and Future Land Use Patterns in Europe

   • W. H. Verheye

   Pages 79-97

6. Atmospheric Methane: Estimates of Its Past, Present and Future and Its Role in Effecting Changes in Atmospheric Chemistry

   • I. Aselmann

   Pages 99-126

7. Perspectives on a Changing Hydroclimate: Land Use Implications

   • M. Falkenmark

   Pages 127-151

8. Dynamics in Land Use Patterns: Socio-Economic and Environmental Aspects of the Second Agricultural Land Use Revolution

   • P. Nijkamp, F. Soeteman

   Pages 153-175

9. Climatic Change and Land Use Impact in Europe

   • G. P. Hekstra

   Pages 177-207

10. Climatic Changes and Land Use Potential in Europe

    • M. L. Parry, T. R. Carter

    Pages 209-231

11. Environmental Constraints on Agricultural Production

    • N. Brink

    Pages 233-252

12. Potential Effects of Climate and Land Use Changes on the Water Balance Structure in Poland

    • L. Ryszkowski, A. Kedziora, J. Olejnik

    Pages 253-274

13. Soil Erosion, Soil Degradation and Climatic Change

    • J. de Ploey, A. Imeson, L. R. Oldeman

    Pages 275-292

14. Salinization Potential of European Soils

    • I. Szabolcs

    Pages 293-315

15. Changes in Rates of Weathering and Erosion Induced by Acid Emissions and Agriculture in Central Europe

    • T. Paces

    Pages 317-323

16. Potential for Acidification of Forest Soils in Europe

    • M. Posch, L. Kauppi

    Pages 325-350

17. Historical Land Use Changes and Soil Degradation on the Russian Plain

    • N. A. Karavayeva, T. G. Nefedova, V. O. Targulian

    Pages 351-377

18. Historical Land Use Changes: The Netherlands

    • H. N. van Lier

    Pages 379-401

19. Historical Land Use Changes: Sweden

    • S. Anderberg

    Pages 403-426

20. Historical Land Use Changes: Poland

    • J. Okuniewski

    Pages 427-440

The patterns of land use that have evolved in Europe reflect the boundaries set by the natural environment and socio-economic responses to the needs of the population. Over the centuries man has been able to overcome increasingly the constraints placed on land use by the natural environment through the development of new technologies and innovations, driven by an increasing population and rising material expectations. However, activities are still ultimately constrained by natural limitations such as climatic characteristics and associated edaphic and vegetational features. A major problem for land management, in its broadest sense, can be a reluctance to foresee the consequent ecological changes. This means that mitigating strategies will not be implemented in time to prevent environmental degradation and social hardship, although in many parts of Europe, over some centuries, demands have been met in a sustainable way, by sound, prudent and temperate expectations that have dictated management regimes. The management of land in Europe has always been a complex challenge: land is the primary, though finite resource. DeciSions regarding the use of land and manipulation of ecosystem dynamics today may affect the long-term primary productivity of the resource. Decisions to change land use may be virtually irreversible; urbanization is an illustration of the influence of population density on the land resource.

• environment
• ecotoxicology

• Agricultural Economics Research Institute, The Hague, The Netherlands

  F. M. Brouwer

• Stockholm Environment Institute at York, York, UK

  A. J. Thomas, M. J. Chadwick