Geoscience Reference
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2008). Cultural landscape has been many times likened to the mirror reflecting the
state and changes in the society. Changes in society, whether of social, economic,
demographic or political character as well as technological progress are more or less
reflected in the face of the cultural landscape (Lipský, 1995). Characteristic is the
increasing speed and magnitude of the changes. It is a result of the dominant role of
man in cultural landscapes.
Landscapes and landscape structures are changing all the time. It concerns both
natural and cultural landscapes; change is an intrinsic feature of each landscape.
Landscapes have always been adapted to changing needs and technologies (Mander
& Jongman, 2000). Björklund (1996) discusses how to interpret landscape as a
continuous process of flows and interactions between natural and human-induced
processes. The flows are forming and permanently changing landscape structure(s).
Landscape changes are running on very different time scales which range from sec-
onds and minutes to long-term changes lasting hundreds, thousands and even more
years (see Table 2.1).
Disturbances and changes in landscapes are an intrinsic factor of their existence
and development. Since most landscapes are a by-product of human activities they
are particularly vulnerable to changes. This is an important characteristic of cul-
tural landscapes that should not be viewed negatively (Meeus, 1995). In cultural
landscapes the disturbance regime is dominated by changing land-use practices.
Agricultural as well as other cultural landscape types are among those that change
most rapidly. Man is the main driver of changes and developments in cultural
landscapes. He decides on the method of landscape use, spatial arrangement of
ecosystems and their changes. It is significant that anthropogenic processes are
Table 2.1
Time dimensions of landscape-forming processes
Time dimension
Processes
10
6
years Geological platform tectonics; biological species evolution
10
5
years Macroclimatic processes (glacials, pluvials); development of relief
macroforms
10
4
years Macroclimatic processes, macrogeomorphology (secular erosion)
10
3
years Soil formation and development (podsolisation, lateritisation);
geo-hydrological processes, long-term successions
10
2
-10
1
years Processes of sedimentation (coastal, fluvial); biological feedback -
succession after catastrophes and disturbances; biological invasions;
forestry
10
-1
-1 years
Agriculture, horticulture, urbanisation
Months
Biological epidemics (diseases), seasonal climatic and vegetation
changes, species migrations,
gardening, construction
Days to hours
Catastrophes caused by meteorological extremes (floods, typhoons,
gales,
), volcanic activity (eruptions); landslides;
accelerated soil
erosion and sedimentation
...
Minutes to seconds
Earthquake; avalanches; rock caving,
nuclear explosion
Anthropogenic processes are distinguished by italics.
Source: Zonneveld (1995) and Lipský (2000)
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