Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Overall, the largest changes in land-cover structures (be they followed from the
point of view of macrostructure - three categories, or complete structure with eight
categories) were realised during the years 1948-1990. From a total of 21 BTU in
three monitored sample areas, 13 of them reached changes in at least one category
by more than 50% of its dimension in the previous time horizon. This occurred in
all four BTUs in the Bílina area, in five BTUs in the Petrovice area and in four
BTUs in the Trebenice area! In the oldest period of similar fundamental changes,
such changes occurred only in four BTUs; then, in the period 1990-2000, only in
two BTUs in the Bílina area. So we can conclude that the process of landscape
changes in Czechia was by far the most intense during the communist regime (see
for example Bicík & Jancák, 2002). It was also similar in all three monitored sample
areas.
It is characteristic that there were fundamental changes of landscape functions in
sample areas in individual BTUs several times. After all, only in four BTUs in all
three monitored periods is there the same type of change of land-cover macrostruc-
ture. It is always type - + +, which is the most frequent trend in the entire BTU set in
Czechia (portion in individual periods of this type in Czechia was 46.5, 90, 32.4%).
Should we attempt to summarise the evaluation of changes in land-cover
macrostructure, it is necessary to emphasise, that the different development in the
three sample areas from the point of view of land-cover macrostructures, has been
successfully proven. Furthermore, this differentiated development was characterised
also by a different intensity of this development. These changes are the result of
economical-social development of the entire republic. The impact on sample areas
is most of all different agricultural function in all three sample areas. Also, pro-
found were the changes in coal-mining extent and industry development mainly
in the Bílina area, and related population concentration in this region. Finally yet
importantly, the trend of the last 18 years also became evident. After long dis-
cussions, the agrarian policy of Czechia was accepted. It supports agriculture and
countryside (both EU and national programs) naturally in a multi-functional coun-
try landscape (for more, see Bicík, Chromý, Jancák, & Janu 2002). And it is also
evident in researched sample areas.
Acknowledgements The research presented was supported by the project Czech Borderland after
Schengen: a Distinct, Oscillating and/or Transit Area? (No. IAA311230901) supported by the
Grant Agency of the Czech Republic.
Notes
1. For comparison, the ratio of agricultural workers (2001) was, in Ústí nad Labem district 3.1%
and Czechia 4.4%; the ratio of those economically active in industry 37.5 vs. 37.7%; those
commuting out of their residential areas 31.8 vs. 32.9%; inhabitants over the age of 60, 16.7
vs. 18.3% and ratio of recreational houses to total number in Ústí district 12.2% and in Czechia
13.8%.
2.
In the Bílina area, seven settlements disappeared as a result of brown coal mining between the
years 1964-1970. In the Petrovice area three settlements disappeared after the Second World
War and three others are almost without any permanent population (under five inhabitants in
2001) - the result of undersettlement.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search