International Archives of Photogrammetrv and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXII Part 7C2, UNISPACE III, Vienna, 1999
67
I5PR5
V®y
UN ISP ACE 111 - ISPRS Workshop on
“Resource Mapping from Space”
9:00 am -12:00 pm, 22 July 1999, VIC Room B
Vienna, Austria
ISPRS
of all by collectivisation of agriculture in the 50’s.
Industrialisation has also developed spatially in two poles of the
Slovak economy and administration: Bratislava and Kosice.
Chemical industry (Slovnaft and CHZJD or Istrochem)
prevailed in Bratislava, while ironworks and metallurgical
complex seats in Kosice (VSZ).
These developmental poles were linked with each other by two
important axes running mainly along the valley of the Vaii and
Hron. The central and upper parts of the Vah valley experienced
important spatial changes, apart from industrialisation and
urbanisation, namely the ones connected with the construction
of water power stations and water reservoirs.
Industrialisation of the Upper Nitra region based in energy
production (lignite mining and thermal powder station) and in the
Hron valley based in metallurgy (aluminium works in Ziar nad
Hronom) caused even environmental problems and losses in
forest management.
Collectivisation of agriculture initiated in the 50’s, first of all in
lowlands, continued into the basin and mountain localities until
the 1970s. The structure of small-size plots of fields and
meadows was replaced by large fields, mainly arable land,
while the share of meadows and natural vegetation on the
meadow or balks dropped. Large scale production invaded also
the viticulture, orchards and hop-gardens.
Recreation activities and tourism became the objects of interest
in the 70’s and 80’s. Tourist and leisure facilities sprang on the
shores of large water reservoirs (Sirava, Liptovska Mara.
Domasa) and in attractive mountain areas (the Tatra Mts., Low
Tatra Mts., and Slovenskv raj Mts.). Leisure activities
concerned also the hinterland of big towns. Along with
recreation and weekend huts in the forests and near water
streams (the Little Carpathians, the Danube, Slovenske
Rudohorie Mts.) large hobby-gardening communities with tiny
garden, vineyard, and orchard plots or complex cultivation
patterns (hinterland of Bratislava and Kosice).
In the structure of forest landscape in lower mountains the
broad-leaved forest prevails. The Zahorska nizina lowland with
its pine forests on sand substrate is an exception. In higher and
cooler positions there are mixed forests and in the highest
positions the coniferous forests prevail. While forest
management strictly observe the criteria of exploitation (regular
alternation of clearings and forest growths) until the late 1980s,
the nineties brought about extensive cleared spaces. The highest
positions of mountain regions over the upper timber line
remained almost unchanged. The dwarf pine stands and alpine
meadows are strictly protected in National Parks or in protected
landscape areas (Feranec et al. 1999).
4 Description of landscape changes in the period 70’s -
90’s
The area of the identified landscape changes is 315 660.0 ha
representing 6.4 % of the total area of the country
(4 905 174.3 ha, see Tab. 2, Fig. 1). Spatial distribution of all
types of changes is shown on Fig. 2 a-h.
1. Intensification of agriculture
Changes of pastures and forest to arable land, arable land to
vineyards, fruit trees and berry plantations to heterogeneous
agricultural areas and the like, occupy the area of 108 153.2 ha
(34.3 % of the total area of changes) which is the most
extensive type of landscape change identified in study period in
Slovak Republic. The declines of heterogeneous agricultural
areas and pastures in favour of arable land and pastures in
favour of heterogeneous agricultural areas represent the decisive
share in these changes. Areas of characterised type of change
are situated in the southern parts of the Danube Lowland and
the East Slovakian Lowland, central and northern parts of
Slovak Republic.
2. Extensification of agriculture
This ripe of change was identified on 74 330.6 ha (23.5 % of
the total area of changes and the 3 rd biggest change). Change of
heterogeneous agricultural areas and arable land to pastures,
arable land to heterogeneous agricultural areas, and permanent
crop areas to arable land are decisive in extensification of
agriculture. These areas dominated in central, northern, and
eastern parts of Slovak Republic.
3. Urbanisation (industrialisation)
The change was identified on 14 989.6 ha (4.7 % of the total
area of changes). Decline of arable land, heterogeneous
agricultural areas and forests in favour of artificial surfaces
occupy the largest areas within this type of changes. Its
occurrence is linked mainly to the principal urbanising axes of
Slovak Republic (Vah, Nitra, Hron valleys and Gabcikovo
hydroelectric power plant).
4. Enlargement or exhaustion of natural resources
Change of landscape which documents the enlargement of
mineral extraction sites by 1 048.3 ha (0.3 % of the total area of
changes). It represents enlargement of surface mining areas of
stone, gravel, sand, and various mineral ores at the cost of
forests, arable land, pastures, and heterogeneous agricultural
areas.
5. Afforestation
Landscape change identified on 13 106.7 ha (4.2 % of the total
area of changes). Areas of grown over forest clearings,
heterogeneous agricultural areas and pastures are the prevailing
examples of this type of change.
6. Deforestation
The second most extended type of landscape change identified
on 94 934.6 ha (30.1 % of the total area of changes). This
change is the result of the anthropogenic impact and natural
disasters in forests. Manifestation of these changes was
identified on satellite images by means of forest dear-cuts and
decline of forest at the cost of heterogeneous areas, arable land
and pastures..
7. Other antropogenic causes
Landscape changes identified only on 9 097.4 ha (2.9 % of the
total
identified
change)
which
compared to
the previous
types is the
smallest
area. Part of
Unchanged
area
93.6P/0
Changed
Fig. 1 Total unchanged and
changed area of Slovak Republic
