Past, current and future trends in Latvian landscapes Inga Rasa University of Latvia

Rural landscape in Latvia is the result of interaction between nature and human and has a particular structure of land-use and settlement dynamics

The image of traditional Latvian landscape often is associated with the rural landscape of the 1 st Latvia’s independence (1918 – 1940)

Basic structure of rural landscape in Latvia formed at the end of 19th century and at the beginning of 20th century: –large forest massives on less fertile soils, –agricultural lands (arable lands, pastures, meadows) with single farmsteads, –wetlands, –unique cultural landscapes (river valleys, lake surroundings)

Since 1920ties the main tendencies are – growth of woodlands and decrease of agricultural lands

Research questions –Changes of rural landscapes in Latvia during the 20 th century –Factors influencing these changes –Current and future trends in rural landscapes

Materials and Methods –Analysis of topographic maps, ortophotos and other cartographic materials by using ArcGIS software –Field work to analyse present tendencies of land-use –Analysis of farmers applications for the EU direct payments (single area payment), to estimate possible changes of rural landscape in future

Study areas

Types of land-use changes 1. Increase and homogenisation of large forest massives Bārta parish at the beginning of the 20 th centuryBārta parish at the end of 20 th century

2. Formation of the mosaic-type landscape instead of agricultural landscape (in morain uplands) Nautrēni parish at the beginning of the 20 th century Nautrēni parish at the end of 20 th century Types of land-use changes

3. Formation of woodland patches and large forest massives (at the margins of rural muncipalities) Vecsaule parish at the beginning of the 20 th century Vecsaule parish at the end of 20 th century Types of land-use changes

4. Changes of unique cultural landscapes (e.g. change of land-use in valley of Gauja river) View from “Gleznotāju kalns” to the valley of Gauja river in 1959 View from “Gleznotāju kalns” to the valley of Gauja river in 2005 Types of land-use changes

Valley of Gauja river at the beginning of the 20th century Valley of Gauja river at the end of the 20th century

Politics - the crucial factor causing changes in rural landscapes during the 20th century Agricultural reforms Afforestation of agricultural lands Deportation of the inhabitants to Russia Elimination of single farmsteads and formation of villages Amelioration of agricultural lands Other factors

Current and future trends in rural landscapes in Latvia Single area payment – a payment for agricultural land, which has mantained in good agricultural and environmental conditions: –Agricultural land is cultivated; –At least yearly pastures, meadows and perennial graslands are cut or pastured; –There are no shrubs or weeds in agricultural land; –Agricultural land is not bogged up or afforested. Single area payment can get for all agricultural land, which corresponds to the receipt conditions.

Farmers application for the EU Single area payment in 2005 (Bārta parish)

Farmers application for the EU Single area payment in 2005 (Nautrēni parish)

Farmers application for the EU Single area payment in 2005 (Vecsaule parish)

Farmers application for the EU Single area payment in 2005 (Gauja national park)

Conclusions In the 20 th century the rural landscape in Latvia has become, on the one hand, more homogeneous, on the other – more heterogeneous With the present land-use tendencies in Latvia, woodlands will increase and the agricultural lands will decrease The main factors influencing these changes are economic, social factors and land owners’ decisions – to use or not to use the agricultural land

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