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The Contribution of Environmental and Cultural Aspects of Pastoralism in the Provision of Ecosystem Services: The Case of the Silesian Beskid Mts (Southern Poland)

Author

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  • Anna Salachna

    (Faculty of Materials, Civil and Environment Engineering, University of Bielsko-Biala, 43-309 Bielsko-Biala, Poland)

  • Katarzyna Marcol

    (Institute of Culture Sciences, University of Silesia, Plac Sejmu Śląskiego 1, 40-001 Katowice, Poland)

  • Jan Broda

    (Faculty of Materials, Civil and Environment Engineering, University of Bielsko-Biala, 43-309 Bielsko-Biala, Poland)

  • Damian Chmura

    (Faculty of Materials, Civil and Environment Engineering, University of Bielsko-Biala, 43-309 Bielsko-Biala, Poland)

Abstract

Grazing has proven to be a successful management tool in terms of the maintenance and restoration of biodiversity. Sheep and pastoralism can provide a various set of ecosystem services, i.e., benefits for humans from the environment. The Silesian Beskids, the westernmost part of the Carpathian Mountains, is an area with a long tradition of pastoralism. Since the 13th century, sheep have grazed clearings located in forests and in large areas of grasslands in mountains. In this study, we tried to identify all possible aspects of provisional, regulating and cultural services provided by sheep and the pasturage tradition bearing in mind the specificity of this region. The biodiversity maintenance and habitat creation due to grazing and the cultural values of pastoralism was illustrated using a literature review of data concerning cultural heritage, tourism and education and using our own phytosociological field studies performed in nine vegetation types within grazing sites. In order to examine the impact of grazing, an observation of sheep’s daily grazing activity during the vegetation season using tractive GPS locators was conducted. The results showed that grazing has a positive impact on the maintenance of vegetation including EU-protected habitats. In addition, the pastoral activity introduced to the Beskids by the Vlachs contributed to the development of a specific highlander culture that continues to this day. Not all potential ecosystem services associated with the use of sheep are realized in the study area. Amongst the provisional services, sheep bones are not used while dairy is the most popular followed by meat. In turn, the cultural heritage of pastoralism is one of the most important drivers for the touristic attraction of Silesian Beskid.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Salachna & Katarzyna Marcol & Jan Broda & Damian Chmura, 2022. "The Contribution of Environmental and Cultural Aspects of Pastoralism in the Provision of Ecosystem Services: The Case of the Silesian Beskid Mts (Southern Poland)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:16:p:10020-:d:887119
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Havstad, Kris M. & Peters, Debra P.C. & Skaggs, Rhonda & Brown, Joel & Bestelmeyer, Brandon & Fredrickson, Ed & Herrick, Jeffrey & Wright, Jack, 2007. "Ecological services to and from rangelands of the United States," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(2), pages 261-268, December.
    2. Affek, Andrzej Norbert & Kowalska, Anna, 2017. "Ecosystem potentials to provide services in the view of direct users," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 26(PA), pages 183-196.
    3. Nathan F. Sayre & Diana K. Davis & Brandon Bestelmeyer & Jeb C. Williamson, 2017. "Rangelands: Where Anthromes Meet Their Limits," Land, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-11, May.
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