SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL TRENDS IN LAND-USE CHANGES OF CENTRAL EUROPEAN LANDSCAPES IN THE PAST 170 YEARS: a CASE STUDY FROM THE SOUTH-EASTERN PART OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC

A quantitative evaluation of the dynamics and trends in changes of typical Central European landscapes in the Czech Republic is presented in this paper for the period 1836-2006. This study applied the technology of geographical information systems (GIS) to explore land-use changes using computer-aided analysis of historical and contemporary large-scale topographic maps. The area of study in the south-eastern part of the Czech Republic covers 4,187 sq. km. The analysis of a number of landscape changes from 1836 to 2006 showed that for 56% of the study area, the land-use did not change and thus the landscape remained stable. This quantitative approach, based on computer-aided interpretation of old and contemporary maps, provides valuable results relevant for planning processes and nature conservation for the changing cultural landscapes of Central Europe.