Abstract
The landscape dynamics, changes of its quality and structure are crucial for understanding past, present and future possibilities and trends in studied ecosystems. The objective of this article is to show partial results of a long-term project, which is focused on analysing landscape dynamics in protected areas in Czechia (National parks - NP, Protected landscape areas - PLA) and selected Natura 2000 sites. Šumava NP and PLA is the biggest area that has been investigated in the project so far.
Land cover changes were evaluated in four periods (1950, 1990, 2004, 2016) and furthermore, we analysed anthropogenic pressure on landscape and fragmentation in the same periods. Based on our results, the extensification of landscape dominated.
Afforestation (forest area increased from 60.5% to 73%) mainly of meadows and a decrease in arable land area took place and were the most common processes. From the 1990s (in PLA even earlier), the area has been affected by human activities, especially by recreation.
Area and length of recreational infrastructure were multiplied from 1990 to 2016 (polygons 3x; lines 2.6x) and built-up areas increased as well. Development of road infrastructure and barriers caused an increase of landscape fragmentation.