The challenges and possibilities in the reconstruction of non-forest woody vegetation: A case study of the hermit beetle microhabitat in the Poodří region, Czechia

Abstract

Non-forest woody vegetation such as copses, orchards, hedges, alleys, riparian vegetation, and isolated trees is a key-stone ecological, economic, and cultural landscape feature of agricultural landscapes. The analysis of its history is a precondition for the understanding of local management, traditional knowledge and practices, as well as human-nature relations. It is also key for its successful conservation and the conservation of biological species depending on its existence. The reconstruction of its historical development, however, brings a number of challenges arising from a lack of archival sources, its sketchy depictions on historical maps, and limited possibilities for its interpretation on the basis of aerial photographs. Attempts at the reconstruction of non-forest woody vegetation have been therefore few and most have utilized only cartographic sources and aerial photographs. This study shows what we can learn about non-forest woody vegetation history from archival records and how such findings can help to interpret, complement, and correct findings obtained from other sources. Unlike maps and aerial photographs, archival records can also shed light on tree and landscape management practices, motivations, and preferences of local actors. This is especially important for the correct understanding of the historical changes of anthropogenic landscape features such as non-forest woody vegetation. The use of historical methods and archival records would greatly benefit nature conservation and landscape planning.