Impact of land cover change on ecosystem service supply in mountain systems: a case study in the Cantabrian Mountains (NW of Spain)

Abstract

Land abandonment and the loss of traditional farming practices are thought to control land cover dynamics, and hence the ecosystem service supply in traditionally managed mountain landscapes. We evaluate the impact of land cover changes in Cantabrian Mountains (NW Spain), over 1990-2012, on the potential supply capacity of ecosystem services (regulating, provisioning, and cultural) at both regional and local scales. We also analyze trends in the use of ecosystem services at the local scale. Land cover changes were estimated from CORINE Land Cover database. Patterns of potential ecosystem service supply were assessed by applying an ecosystem service supply capacity matrix and trends in their actual use by using field data. Main trajectories of land cover change encompassed woody vegetation spread in semi-natural open systems and agricultural expansion in the most suitable areas. The capacity of landscape to provide ecosystem services improved during 1990-2012 at both scales. We detected trade-offs between the potential supply of ecosystem services associated to natural systems and those linked to traditional land uses, at both regional and local scales. Changes in the potential supply of ecosystem services matched trends in ecosystem service use. This study could help develop future scenarios to address upcoming challenges in ecosystem service supply.

Una revisión sobre las tierras abandonadas en España: de los paisajes locales a las estrategias globales de gestión

“…Estos cambios de paisaje tienen enormes implicaciones en el suministro de servicios ecosistémicos a la sociedad (Morán-Ordoñez et al, 2013;García-Llamas et al, 2019;van Leeuween et al, 2019). De ahí, que la gestión de las tierras abandonadas sea una cuestión crucial, mucho más en España, por la amplia extensión que ocupan, especialmente en áreas de montaña y ambientes semiáridos.…”

“…El abandono de tierras constituye un proceso por el que los ecosistemas y paisajes modifican su capacidad para proporcionar bienes y servicios a la sociedad (Pereira et al, 2005;Kozak et al, 2017;García-Llamas et al, 2019). Sus causas son muy diversas y sus implicaciones ambientales, paisajísticas y socioeconómicas son múltiples (Keenleyside y Tucker, 2010;Lasanta-Martínez, 2014;Alonso-Sarria et al, 2016).…”

Naturalización de un paisaje cultural pirenaico: los bancales de Bestué (Huesca)

“…La revegetación y homogeneización del paisaje puede tener algunos efectos positivos, entre los que hay que incluir la mejor conservación del suelo en relación con menores volúmenes de escorrentía y tasas de erosión, la mayor regulación de los recursos hídricos, la expansión de la fauna que requiere grandes espacios naturales, la mejora de la biodiversidad, al menos a corto y medio plazo, y el incremento del secuestro de carbono (Keesstra et al, 2018;García-Llamas et al, 2019;Pereira y Navarro, 2015).…”

The Role of Small Farm Activities for the Sustainable Management of Agricultural Landscapes: Case Studies from Europe

“…Moreover, mapping the diversity of landscapes in terms of composition or farming practices insufficiently considers the variety of cultural value of these landscapes [49]. Heterogeneous agricultural areas with complex cultivation patterns and with land principally occupied by agriculture, with significant areas of natural vegetation, have been found to be decreasing in area in many European countries over the last decades, with no differences found between the former Eastern Bloc countries or Mediterranean ones [50]. Farmers face very restricted marketing opportunities, and some local farmers are found in an economic deadlock of relying on common agricultural policy (CAP) subsidies as a main source of income [51].…”