Contribution of Traditional Farming to Ecosystem Services Provision: Case Studies from Slovakia

Jana Špulerová, František Petrovič, Peter Mederly, Matej Mojses and Zita Izakovičová
Additional contact information
Jana Špulerová: Institute of Landscape Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 254, Štefanikova 3, 814 99 Bratislava, Slovakia
František Petrovič: Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 1, 949 01 Nitra, Slovakia
Peter Mederly: Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 1, 949 01 Nitra, Slovakia
Matej Mojses: Institute of Landscape Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, branch Nitra, Akademická 2, 949 01 Nitra, Slovakia
Zita Izakovičová: Institute of Landscape Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 254, Štefanikova 3, 814 99 Bratislava, Slovakia

Land, 2018, vol. 7, issue 2, 1-24

Abstract: The main aim of this study is to assess the benefits provided by the ecosystems of traditional agricultural landscapes (TAL) and compare them to the outputs of large-scale agriculture. Assessment of ecosystem services (ES) was performed in four case-study areas situated in Slovakia, representing different types of TAL: Viticultural landscape, meadow–pasture landscape, and agricultural landscape with dispersed settlements and mosaics of orchards. The methodological approach was focused on assessment of all the principal types of ES—regulation and maintenance, provisioning, and cultural. Differences in the provision of ES due to the impact of different practices and intensities of agricultural landscape management were subsequently assessed and compared. The results show that TAL are generally more diverse and balanced regarding ES provision, mainly because of their varied patterns and their related functions. In particular they play an important role in water retention and the prevention of soil erosion—both important with respect to changes in climate. Modern intensive agriculture is principally able to fulfil the production functions. Support for traditional farming, landscape diversification and small-scale agricultural management is vital for enhancing the values of rural regions. Such measures could become key drivers for sustainable agricultural management in Slovakia, and elsewhere.

Keywords: traditional agricultural landscapes; traditional farming; ecosystem services; biodiversity; Slovakia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:7:y:2018:i:2:p:74-:d:152107

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