Abstract
The main aim of this study is to assess the benefits provided by the ecosystems of traditional agricultural landscapes (TAL) and compare them to the outputs of large-scale agriculture. Assessment of ecosystem services (ES) was performed in four case-study areas situated in Slovakia, representing different types of TAL: Viticultural landscape, meadow–pasture landscape, and agricultural landscape with dispersed settlements and mosaics of orchards. The methodological approach was focused on assessment of all the principal types of ES—regulation and maintenance, provisioning, and cultural. Differences in the provision of ES due to the impact of different practices and intensities of agricultural landscape management were subsequently assessed and compared. The results show that TAL are generally more diverse and balanced regarding ES provision, mainly because of their varied patterns and their related functions. In particular they play an important role in water retention and the prevention of soil erosion—both important with respect to changes in climate. Modern intensive agriculture is principally able to fulfil the production functions. Support for traditional farming, landscape diversification and small-scale agricultural management is vital for enhancing the values of rural regions. Such measures could become key drivers for sustainable agricultural management in Slovakia, and elsewhere.
Highlights
Agriculture is considered a very important activity worldwide, securing most of the food required by humanity, and having a significant influence on the shape of the landscape and its ability to fulfil various environmental functions and ecosystem services (ES) of benefit to society
This study aims to evaluate the potential of different types of agricultural landscape for the provision of functions and services to society, with regards to landscape utilization and management practices
The results of this study confirm that traditional agricultural landscapes (TAL) provide a wide range of ES due to their diversified spatial and functional patterns, benefiting society and having irreplaceable provisional, ecological, cultural and historical value
Summary
Agriculture is considered a very important activity worldwide, securing most of the food required by humanity, and having a significant influence on the shape of the landscape and its ability to fulfil various environmental functions and ecosystem services (ES) of benefit to society. All of these aspects vary according to the agricultural practices and technologies used [1,2]. Collectivization in Slovakia aimed at large-scale production of crops and meat by merging individual plots and whole agricultural farms, which were managed by centralized planning [3,4] This process has had consequences for the overall landscape structure and quality [5,6].
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