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Patterns of afforestation on abandoned agriculture land in Latvia

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Abstract

Abandonment of agriculture land and subsequent natural afforestation have been common features of the contemporary Latvian rural landscape, particularly in the period since 1990. This process affects the structure, ecology and visual qualities of the landscape. The study examines spatial characteristics of afforestation in relation to various environmental factors. The study was conducted in the central part of Latvia, where there is abundant abandoned agriculture land and a great variety of spatial afforestation patterns. The most typical patterns in this area were linear, mosaic, and continuous afforestation, as well as development of afforestation from the forest edge. The results of the study show that the spatial patterns of natural afforestation of abandoned agriculture fields can be very diverse, and do not follow the classical secondary succession model. Afforestation can be delayed by a dense cover of herbaceous vegetation for a period of up to 20 years. There are many interacting factors that affect succession and development of afforestation patterns, such as soil properties, size and configuration of fields, previous land use and also the random nature of plant colonization by seed. Further studies on afforestation patterns would help to understand better their ecological, economic and social effects as well as to determine optimal solutions for the use of abandoned agriculture land.

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Notes

  1. Remote sensing images produced using digital camera Vexcel “UltraCamX” (216 megapixels), at the flight height of 7,000 m.

  2. GPS—Magellan.

  3. ICP—International Cooperation Programme.

  4. GIS softwere ESRI Arc Map 9.2.

  5. PCA softwere PC ORD 5.10.

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported by the European Social Fund within the project (Support for Doctoral Studies at University of Latvia) as well as by the Latvian Council of Science (project No. 6198). We thank Dr. Geogr. Inese Silamikele for great support in field work in describing herbaceous vegetation and Arnis Gailis from the State Forest Service, who provided us with valuable information on dispersal of the seeds of the tree species. Furthermore, we would like to thank all the local people and experts interviewed who contributed with information on the former land use of the study sites and shared their views on potential use of the abandoned land in future.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Latvia, Alberta iela 10, Riga, 1010, Latvia

    Anda Ruskule, Olǵerts Nikodemus, Zane Kasparinska & Raimonds Kasparinskis

  2. Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, Kronvalda bulvaris 4, Riga, 1586, Latvia

    Guntis Brūmelis

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  1. Anda Ruskule
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  2. Olǵerts Nikodemus
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  3. Zane Kasparinska
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  4. Raimonds Kasparinskis
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  5. Guntis Brūmelis
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Correspondence to Anda Ruskule.

Additional information

IUFRO Landscape Ecology International Conference “Forest Landscapes and Global Change: New Frontiers in Management, Conservation and Restoration” Bragança, Portugal—September 21–27, 2010.

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Ruskule, A., Nikodemus, O., Kasparinska, Z. et al. Patterns of afforestation on abandoned agriculture land in Latvia. Agroforest Syst 85, 215–231 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-012-9495-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-012-9495-7

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