Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
analysis in Lower Austria shows an example where changes, especially concerning
landscape structure, are less serious and historical and actual land cover and land
use are rather equal (Lettner in prep.). In the Seewinkel, reasons for this broad
change are intensification of agriculture and regulation of water level with drains
and ditches (Draganits et al., 2006). This regulation can also be seen in increasing
area of artificial water courses. Also reduction of open water courses appears along
with this regulation and drawdown of groundwater level in the Seewinkel. This is
especially relevant for ecological issues, for example occurrence and stability of
shallow lakes associated with habitat quality of these lakes depend on the ground-
water level. These dramatic changes led to one of the major problems of nature
conservation today: appropriate areas and remnant biodiversity hot spots becom-
ing smaller, more isolated and increasingly abandoned. These hot spots are always
linked to special structures and types of landscapes and ecosystems respectively.
Although more small conservation areas have a greater diversity then one large area
(Higgs & Usher, 1980), undersized areas are more and more problematic. Especially
undisturbed resting areas for migratory birds play a major role in the ecosystem of
the Seewinkel (Steiner & Parz-Gollner, 2003).
9.6 Conclusions
To conclude, the former quadrinominal field-grassland-fen-water landscape has
changed to a crop-viticulture landscape but still remnants of the former extensive
land-use system are present. In case of a probable extensification of agricultural
areas on marginal sites in a changing regional economic system these remnants
could be a starting point for renaturation of parts of the area. The analysis of the
DTM shows, that there will be enough additional potential lake areas for tempo-
rary filling-up. This potential will make it possible to re-establish a large and highly
diverse connected landscape between Austria and Hungary in the future.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Flora Hejas for translating the Hungarian signatures,
Christa Renetzeder and Anna Herman for helpful discussions and the European Union and Land
Burgenland for financing this study, which was part of the INTERREG-project “SISTEMaParc”.
References
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Antrop, M. (2005). Why landscapes of the past are important for the future.
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Baudry, J. (1989). Interactions between agricultural and ecological systems at the landscape level.
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