Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 7
Landscape Function Transformations
with Relation to Land-Use Changes
Ivan Bicík, Jirí Andel, and Martin Balej
7.1 Land-Use Analyses and Landscape Assessment
Land-use changes at different scales (from global to local) are a key topic in a
number of scientific branches, such as geography, sociology, economy, landscape
ecology, and others (Himiyama, 2002; Leppers, 2002; Naveh, 1991; Worster, 1985;
Žigrai, 1996). This theme has much to do with the basic challenges brought by
the dynamic changes of modern society. Such challenges include nature-society
interactions, the search for natural resources that would secure adequate nutrition,
population rise, connections between land use and climatic changes and many other
pressing problems (Himiyama, Mather, Bicík, & Milanova, 2005; Turner II et al.
1990).
The study of land-use development in localities and regions gives us the pos-
sibility to understand the most recent developments in interaction between Nature
and Society and to research also the main driving factors influencing directions and
intensity of changes in the landscape. Development of the interrelation between
Nature and Society started in the pre-industrial period. Hampl (1998) described this
phase as a period of determination (distinctive dependence of society on natural
conditions), distinguished by a dominance of residential and productive landscape
functions. The characteristics of the landscape determined its function up to a certain
point. The industrial period followed. Society determines the function of the land-
scape and at the same time becomes an important, even fundamental, factor that
competes with natural conditions (Hampl's phase of competition). Society also puts
pressure on a different land-use structure. In the post-industrial period, the interrela-
tion between Nature and Society achieves a cooperative tendency (Haines-Young &
Potschin, 2003, according to Hampl 1998, the phase of cooperation), so far applied
only in some of the most advanced societies. Multi-functional land use and sustain-
able trajectory of landscape development have been sought (Naveh, 2007). Only on
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