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Exploring Long-Term Impact of Grazing Management on Land Degradation in the Socio-Ecological System of Asteroussia Mountains, Greece

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  • Costas Kosmas

    (Laboratory of Soils and Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, Athens 11855, Greece)

  • Vassilis Detsis

    (Department of Home Economics and Ecology, Harokopio University, Venizelou 70, Athens 17671, Greece)

  • Mina Karamesouti

    (Laboratory of Soils and Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, Athens 11855, Greece)

  • Kate Kounalaki

    (Laboratory of Soils and Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, Athens 11855, Greece)

  • Penny Vassiliou

    (Laboratory of Soils and Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, Athens 11855, Greece)

  • Luca Salvati

    (Consiglio per la Ricerca e la sperimentazione in Agricoltura (CRA), Via della Navicella 2-4, I-00186 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

The socio-ecological system dominated by pastureland in the Asteroussia Mountains (Crete, Greece) was analyzed over a long time interval (1945–2010) to identify the most relevant system’s characteristics and changes. Vegetation cover and land-uses have been quantified by analyzing aerial photographs exploring the whole study period. Soil characteristics have been assessed by carrying out an extensive field survey for the last reference year (2010) and by estimating the average soil loss for the past period using the PESERA soil erosion model validated by field measurements. Based on environmental, social and economic attributes, three major periods characterizing the socio-ecological system of Asteroussia Mountains have been distinguished. During the first and second period, the land was satisfactorily managed with moderate–low soil erosion rates despite the adverse (prevailing) soil, topographic and climate conditions for vegetation growth. The third time interval featured a rapid growth in the livestock density causing increased soil erosion rates, loss in plant productivity, and a generalized over-exploitation of natural resources. As a consequence, the desertification process has significantly increased in the last period. The analysis of the long-term evolution of socio-ecological system provided evidence to understand the main drivers of land degradation and to recommend mitigation policies specifically addressing Mediterranean pastureland.

Suggested Citation

  • Costas Kosmas & Vassilis Detsis & Mina Karamesouti & Kate Kounalaki & Penny Vassiliou & Luca Salvati, 2015. "Exploring Long-Term Impact of Grazing Management on Land Degradation in the Socio-Ecological System of Asteroussia Mountains, Greece," Land, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:4:y:2015:i:3:p:541-559:d:52101
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Thanasis Kizos & Tobias Plieninger & Harald Schaich, 2013. ""Instead of 40 Sheep there are 400": Traditional Grazing Practices and Landscape Change in Western Lesvos, Greece," Landscape Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(4), pages 476-498, August.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Eppinga, Maarten B. & de Boer, Hugo J. & Reader, Martin O. & Anderies, John M. & Santos, Maria J., 2023. "Environmental change and ecosystem functioning drive transitions in social-ecological systems: A stylized modelling approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    3. Marina Fischer-Kowalski & Markus Löw & Dominik Noll & Panos Petridis & Nikolaos Skoulikidis, 2020. "Samothraki in Transition: A Report on a Real-World Lab to Promote the Sustainability of a Greek Island," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-23, March.
    4. Xinhai Lu & Yanwei Zhang & Chaoran Lin & Feng Wu, 2021. "Evolutionary Overview and Prediction of Themes in the Field of Land Degradation," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-23, March.
    5. Maria Tsiouni & Stamatis Aggelopoulos & Alexandra Pavloudi & Dario Siggia, 2021. "Economic and Financial Sustainability Dependency on Subsidies: The Case of Goat Farms in Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-15, July.

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