IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v11y2022i11p1987-d964472.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Spatiotemporal Changes (1945–2020) in a Grazed Landscape of Northern Greece, in Relation to Socioeconomic Changes

Author

Listed:
  • Dimitrios Chouvardas

    (Laboratory of Rangeland Ecology, School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Maria Karatassiou

    (Laboratory of Rangeland Ecology, School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Petros Tsioras

    (Laboratory of Forest Utilization, School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Ioannis Tsividis

    (Laboratory of Rangeland Ecology, School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Stefanos Palaiochorinos

    (Laboratory of Rangeland Ecology, School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

Abstract

The spatiotemporal changes of the grazed Greek landscapes in the last 75 years resemble those evidenced in most parts of the northern Mediterranean region, where woody vegetation encroached on open areas changing landscape structure and diversity. These landscape transitions are deeply influenced by demographic and socioeconomic changes that exacerbate the abandonment of traditional management practices including livestock farming and wood harvesting. The aim of this paper was to examine the spatiotemporal changes regarding land use/land cover (LULC) types in a typical grazed landscape of the Lagadas area in northern Greece in the period 1945–2020 and try to associate them with socioeconomic changes. Special attention was given to grassland evolution. Cartographic material in various forms, such as historic (LULC) data sets in shapefile format (1945, 1960 and 1993), recent land use maps (Corine Land Cover of 2018), and satellite images (Google Earth images from 2017 to 2020) was analyzed with Geographic Information Systems software and landscape metrics. Socioeconomic inventory data and grazing animal numbers were also collected and analyzed from diachronic census reports of Greek authorities. Spatiotemporal changes in the Lagadas landscape showed that grasslands, open shrublands and silvopastoral areas decreased during the examined period in favor of dense shrublands and forests, causing a significant reduction in landscape diversity and heterogeneity. Main demographic and socioeconomic drivers were the decrease of the local population, population aging and a significant reduction of employment in the primary economic sector over time. These changes were coupled with reductions in the number of grazing animals (sheep, goats, and cattle), firewood harvesting and charcoal production and were identified as the main reasons for landscape change. Grasslands have become increasingly fragmented and isolated over the years. Future sustainable livestock husbandry in the area is seriously threatened by the ongoing reduction of grasslands and open shrublands.

Suggested Citation

  • Dimitrios Chouvardas & Maria Karatassiou & Petros Tsioras & Ioannis Tsividis & Stefanos Palaiochorinos, 2022. "Spatiotemporal Changes (1945–2020) in a Grazed Landscape of Northern Greece, in Relation to Socioeconomic Changes," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-22, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:11:p:1987-:d:964472
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/11/1987/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/11/1987/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Vincenzo Cribari & Michael P. Strager & Aaron E. Maxwell & Charles Yuill, 2021. "Landscape Changes in the Southern Coalfields of West Virginia: Multi-Level Intensity Analysis and Surface Mining Transitions in the Headwaters of the Coal River from 1976 to 2016," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-32, July.
    2. García-Ruiz, J.M. & Lasanta, T. & Nadal-Romero, E. & Lana-Renault, N. & Álvarez-Farizo, B., 2020. "Rewilding and restoring cultural landscapes in Mediterranean mountains: Opportunities and challenges," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    3. Antonio Santoro & Martina Venturi & Francesco Piras & Beatrice Fiore & Federica Corrieri & Mauro Agnoletti, 2021. "Forest Area Changes in Cinque Terre National Park in the Last 80 Years. Consequences on Landslides and Forest Fire Risks," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-15, March.
    4. Petros A. Tsioras & Mahmoud Khooshdohbat & Mehrdad Nikooy & Ramin Naghdi & Mahmoud Heidari, 2022. "The Impact of Body Posture on Heart Rate Strain during Tree Felling," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-15, September.
    5. Lluis Parcerisas & Joan Marull & Joan Pino & Enric Tello & Francesc Coll & Corina Basnou, 2012. "Land use changes, landscape ecology and their socioeconomic driving forces in the Spanish Mediterranean coast (the Maresme County, 1850-2005)," Working Papers in Economics 273, Universitat de Barcelona. Espai de Recerca en Economia.
    6. Anna Sidiropoulou & Maria Karatassiou & Georgia Galidaki & Paraskevi Sklavou, 2015. "Landscape Pattern Changes in Response to Transhumance Abandonment on Mountain Vermio (North Greece)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(11), pages 1-22, November.
    7. Laurence Delattre & Marta Debolini & Jean Christophe Paoli & Claude Napoleone & Michel Moulery & Lara Leonelli & Pierre Santucci, 2020. "Understanding the Relationships between Extensive Livestock Systems, Land-Cover Changes, and CAP Support in Less-Favored Mediterranean Areas," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-20, December.
    8. Juliana Mio de Souza & Paulo Morgado & Eduarda Marques da Costa & Luiz Fernando de Novaes Vianna, 2022. "Modeling of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) Change Based on Artificial Neural Networks for the Chapecó River Ecological Corridor, Santa Catarina/Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-23, March.
    9. Delgado-Artés, Rafael & Garófano-Gómez, Virginia & Oliver-Villanueva, José-Vicente & Rojas-Briales, Eduardo, 2022. "Land use/cover change analysis in the Mediterranean region: a regional case study of forest evolution in Castelló (Spain) over 50 years," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    10. Stamatia Nasiakou & Michael Vrahnakis & Dimitrios Chouvardas & Georgios Mamanis & Vassiliki Kleftoyanni, 2022. "Land Use Changes for Investments in Silvoarable Agriculture Projected by the CLUE-S Spatio-Temporal Model," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-23, April.
    11. Georgios Mamanis & Michael Vrahnakis & Dimitrios Chouvardas & Stamatia Nasiakou & Vassiliki Kleftoyanni, 2021. "Land Use Demands for the CLUE-S Spatiotemporal Model in an Agroforestry Perspective," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-16, October.
    12. Diogenis A. Kiziridis & Anna Mastrogianni & Magdalini Pleniou & Elpida Karadimou & Spyros Tsiftsis & Fotios Xystrakis & Ioannis Tsiripidis, 2022. "Acceleration and Relocation of Abandonment in a Mediterranean Mountainous Landscape: Drivers, Consequences, and Management Implications," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-23, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Dimitrios Fotakis & Ilias Karmiris & Diogenis A. Kiziridis & Christos Astaras & Thomas G. Papachristou, 2024. "Social-Ecological Spatial Analysis of Agroforestry in the European Union with a Focus on Mediterranean Countries," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-25, July.
    2. Konstantinos Chontos & Ioannis Tsiripidis, 2023. "Open Habitats under Threat in Mountainous, Mediterranean Landscapes: Land Abandonment Consequences in the Vegetation Cover of the Thessalian Part of Mt Agrafa (Central Greece)," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-22, April.
    3. Petros A. Tsioras & Christina Giamouki & Maria Tsaktsira & Apostolos Scaltsoyiannes, 2023. "What the Fire Has Left Behind: Views and Perspectives of Resin Tappers in Central Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-16, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Dimitrios Chouvardas & Maria Karatassiou & Afroditi Stergiou & Garyfallia Chrysanthopoulou, 2022. "Identifying the Spatiotemporal Transitions and Future Development of a Grazed Mediterranean Landscape of South Greece," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-22, November.
    2. Konstantinos Chontos & Ioannis Tsiripidis, 2023. "Open Habitats under Threat in Mountainous, Mediterranean Landscapes: Land Abandonment Consequences in the Vegetation Cover of the Thessalian Part of Mt Agrafa (Central Greece)," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-22, April.
    3. Ruiz-Martinez, I. & Martinetti, D. & Marraccini, E. & Debolini, M., 2022. "Modeling drivers of farming system trajectories in Mediterranean peri-urban regions: Two case studies in Avignon (France) and Pisa (Italy)," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    4. Anna Sidiropoulou & Dimitrios Chouvardas & Konstantinos Mantzanas & Stefanos Stefanidis & Maria Karatassiou, 2022. "Impact of Transhumant Livestock Grazing Abandonment on Pseudo-Alpine Grasslands in Greece in the Context of Climatic Change," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-18, November.
    5. Diogenis A. Kiziridis & Anna Mastrogianni & Magdalini Pleniou & Spyros Tsiftsis & Fotios Xystrakis & Ioannis Tsiripidis, 2023. "Simulating Future Land Use and Cover of a Mediterranean Mountainous Area: The Effect of Socioeconomic Demands and Climatic Changes," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-23, January.
    6. Apostolos P. Kyriazopoulos & Maria Karatassiou & Zoi M. Parissi & Eleni M. Abraham & Paraskevi Sklavou, 2022. "Effects of Ski-Resort Activities and Transhumance Livestock Grazing on Rangeland Ecosystems of Mountain Zireia, Southern Greece," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-13, September.
    7. Sergio Elías Uribe-Sierra & Pablo Mansilla-Quiñones & Alejandro Israel Mora-Rojas, 2022. "Latent Rural Depopulation in Latin American Open-Pit Mining Scenarios," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-23, August.
    8. Julio Plaza Tabasco & Héctor S. Martínez Sánchez-Mateos, 2021. "Integration Versus Fragmentation, the Role of Minor Rural Networks in Rural Cultural Landscapes. A Study-Case in Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-20, April.
    9. Marcela Prokopová & Luca Salvati & Gianluca Egidi & Ondřej Cudlín & Renata Včeláková & Radek Plch & Pavel Cudlín, 2019. "Envisioning Present and Future Land-Use Change under Varying Ecological Regimes and Their Influence on Landscape Stability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-24, August.
    10. Xinbei Huang & Chengming Ye & Hongyu Tao & Junjie Zou & Yuzhan Zhou & Shufan Zheng, 2024. "Integrating Future Multi-Scenarios to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Ecological Restoration: A Case Study of the Yellow River Basin," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-19, July.
    11. Beichen Ge & Congjin Wang & Yuhong Song, 2023. "Ecosystem Services Research in Rural Areas: A Systematic Review Based on Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-18, March.
    12. Tatiana Montenegro-Romero & Cristián Vergara-Fernández & Fabian Argandoña-Castro & Fernando Peña-Cortés, 2022. "Agriculture and Temperate Fruit Crop Dynamics in South-Central Chile: Challenges for Fruit Crop Production in La Araucanía Region, Chile," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-12, May.
    13. Bonoua Faye & Guoming Du & Edmée Mbaye & Chang’an Liang & Tidiane Sané & Ruhao Xue, 2023. "Assessing the Spatial Agricultural Land Use Transition in Thiès Region, Senegal, and Its Potential Driving Factors," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-20, March.
    14. Yang Yi & Chen Zhang & Jinqi Zhu & Yugang Zhang & Hao Sun & Hongzhang Kang, 2022. "Spatio-Temporal Evolution, Prediction and Optimization of LUCC Based on CA-Markov and InVEST Models: A Case Study of Mentougou District, Beijing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-23, February.
    15. Diogenis A. Kiziridis & Anna Mastrogianni & Magdalini Pleniou & Elpida Karadimou & Spyros Tsiftsis & Fotios Xystrakis & Ioannis Tsiripidis, 2022. "Acceleration and Relocation of Abandonment in a Mediterranean Mountainous Landscape: Drivers, Consequences, and Management Implications," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-23, March.
    16. Justyna Wójcik-Leń & Przemysław Leń, 2021. "Evaluation of the Symmetry of Statistical Methods Applied for the Identification of Agricultural Areas," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-13, June.
    17. Hana Vavrouchová & Antonín Vaishar & Veronika Peřinková, 2022. "Historical Landscape Elements of Abandoned Foothill Villages—A Case Study of the Historical Territory of Moravia and Silesia," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-18, October.
    18. Yusong Xie & Katsue Fukamachi & Wen Wang & Shozo Shibata, 2023. "Exploring Land Use Management Strategies through Morphological Spatial Patterns Using a Climate–Socioeconomic-Based Land Use Simulation Modeling Framework," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-24, September.
    19. Shengqiang Yang & Donglin Li & Heping Liao & Lin Zhu & Miaomiao Zhou & Zhicong Cai, 2023. "Analysis of the Balance between Supply and Demand of Arable Land in China Based on Food Security," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-16, March.
    20. George Kefalas & Konstantinos Poirazidis & Panteleimon Xofis & Stamatis Kalogirou, 2018. "Mapping and Understanding the Dynamics of Landscape Changes on Heterogeneous Mediterranean Islands with the Use of OBIA: The Case of Ionian Region, Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-33, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:11:p:1987-:d:964472. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.