Seventeenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

In recent decades, agricultural land abandonment has strongly impacted landscape features in many European rural areas. Drivers and consequences of abandonment are now well understood, yet few studies describe what happens to agricultural lands after abandonment. Therefore, to understand how these lands can provide opportunities to develop alternative uses that address environmental, economic, and social challenges faced in rural areas, it is necessary to identify the driving forces leading to different post-agricultural abandonment trajectories. We reviewed the literature of the different trajectories observed after agricultural abandonment and identified their related drivers. From the literature evidence, we developed a conceptual framework illustrating the different trajectories found after abandonment and analysed them in terms of landscape outcomes. For most reported cases, abandoned lands transitioned towards semi-natural landscapes while a minority returned to different agricultural uses. The most common driving force was the withdrawal of land management, where spontaneous vegetation succession processes led to semi-natural landscapes. Quality and state of these landscapes were variable. The development of alternative trajectories was mainly supported by institutional and socio-economic drivers within the biophysical constraints and opportunities of the areas for (re-)afforestation, re-farming, and multi-functional uses after abandonment. Building on evidence across case studies, this research shows that while abandoned lands can provide opportunities to respond to current environmental and climate policy goals, adequate resources with institutional and socio-economic incentives are essential to support land management options that mitigate potential trade-offs and contribute to favourable rural and environmental conditions.