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Forest-Cover Increase Does Not Trigger Forest-Fragmentation Decrease: Case Study from the Polish Carpathians

Author

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  • Jacek Kozak

    (Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland)

  • Elżbieta Ziółkowska

    (Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University in Kraków; Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland)

  • Peter Vogt

    (Joint Research Centre, European Commission; Via Enrico Fermi 2749, I-21027 Ispra (VA), Italy, peter.vogt@ec.europa.eu)

  • Monika Dobosz

    (Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland)

  • Dominik Kaim

    (Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland)

  • Natalia Kolecka

    (Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland)

  • Krzysztof Ostafin

    (Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland)

Abstract

Understanding the causes and consequences of forest-fragmentation changes is critical for preserving various ecosystem services and to maintain biodiversity levels. We used long-term (1860s–2010s) and large-scale data on historical forest cover in the Polish Carpathians to identify the trajectories of forest fragmentation. Past forest cover was reconstructed for the 1860s, 1930s, 1970s and 2010s using historical maps and the contemporary national database of topographic objects. We analyzed forest-cover changes in 127 randomly selected circular test areas. Forest fragmentation was quantified with GuidosToolbox software using measures based on a landscape hypsometric curve (LHC). Despite a general increase in forest cover, forest fragmentation showed divergent trajectories: a decrease between the 1860s and 1930s (in 57% of test areas), and an increase between the 1930s and 1970s and between the 1970s and 2010s (in 58% and 72% of test areas, respectively). Although deforestation typically involves the increasing fragmentation of forest habitats, we found that forest expansion may not necessarily lead to more homogenous forested landscape, due to complex land-ownership and land-use legacy patterns. This is both a challenge and an opportunity for policy makers to tune policies in such a way as to maintain the desired fragmentation of forest habitats.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacek Kozak & Elżbieta Ziółkowska & Peter Vogt & Monika Dobosz & Dominik Kaim & Natalia Kolecka & Krzysztof Ostafin, 2018. "Forest-Cover Increase Does Not Trigger Forest-Fragmentation Decrease: Case Study from the Polish Carpathians," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-24, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:5:p:1472-:d:145115
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xie, Hualin & He, Yafen & Zhang, Ning & Lu, Hua, 2017. "Spatiotemporal changes and fragmentation of forest land in Jiangxi Province, China," Journal of Forest Economics, Elsevier, vol. 29(PA), pages 4-13.
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    Cited by:

    1. Michał Sobala & Oimahmad Rahmonov, 2020. "The Human Impact on Changes in the Forest Range of the Silesian Beskids (Western Carpathians)," Resources, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-20, December.
    2. Claudia Troiano & Maria Buglione & Simona Petrelli & Sofia Belardinelli & Antonino De Natale & Jens-Christian Svenning & Domenico Fulgione, 2021. "Traditional Free-Ranging Livestock Farming as a Management Strategy for Biological and Cultural Landscape Diversity: A Case from the Southern Apennines," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-16, September.
    3. Yue Lin & Wenzhan An & Muye Gan & AmirReza Shahtahmassebi & Ziran Ye & Lingyan Huang & Congmou Zhu & Lu Huang & Jing Zhang & Ke Wang, 2021. "Spatial Grain Effects of Urban Green Space Cover Maps on Assessing Habitat Fragmentation and Connectivity," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-18, October.
    4. Changjun Gu & Pei Zhao & Qiong Chen & Shicheng Li & Lanhui Li & Linshan Liu & Yili Zhang, 2020. "Forest Cover Change and the Effectiveness of Protected Areas in the Himalaya since 1998," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-24, July.
    5. Michał Sobala & Urszula Myga-Piątek & Bartłomiej Szypuła, 2020. "Assessment of Changes in a Viewshed in the Western Carpathians Landscape as a Result of Reforestation," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-17, November.
    6. Dominik Kaim & Elżbieta Ziółkowska & Marcin Szwagrzyk & Bronwyn Price & Jacek Kozak, 2019. "Impact of Future Land Use Change on Large Carnivores Connectivity in the Polish Carpathians," Land, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-13, January.

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