Mosaic landscapes of SE Poland: should we preserve them?

Agricultural areas of SE Poland are characterised by small, family-owned agricultural holdings. Poland's accession to the EU has resulted in an increased availability of funds needed to change traditional agriculture practices. A question thus arises: should we preserve the economically unfavourable land use mosaic occurring here (more than 30 patches per square kilometre)? The study analyses the structure of the land cover using three test areas covering 100 km(2). The main objective is to propose solutions that should be part of the model procedure within the system of agricultural use of loess areas in the future. The authors also attempts to determine whether traditional agroforestry can be a method for the agricultural use of these areas. Based on an analysis of maps for landforms, geology and land cover and landscape structure, the authors also propose guidelines to be considered in spatial agricultural management. The main output of the paper is a set of several maps together with quantitative descriptions and statistical analysis. The improvement of the area's landscape structure and the reduction of erosion risk, necessitate afforestation encompassing between 4.9 and 6.5% of the test areas. The implementation of land consolidation programmes should preserve the existing land use mosaic (traditional agroforestry) in areas threatened by erosion (9.0-15.4% of the area).