Forest cover changes in the northern Carpathians in the 20th century: rates, factors and consequences

Forest cover has been increasing since the 19th century in a number of mountain areas in Europe. We present results of several case studies from the northern Carpathians - forest cover change and possible factors of the forest increase and its consequences to mountain landscapes. Different source data were used to map forest areas. Map overlays and statistical analysis were used to estimates rates of change and assess influencing factors. Forest cover was significantly increasing through the 20th century – in the Pieniny Mts. with rates exceeding 1% annually. In the Beskidy Mts., lower rates of forest cover increase were detected for the last two decades of the 20th century. In general, forest cover rates were higher at higher elevations and on steeper slopes. In Chornohora Mts. forest cover increase contributed to a significant advance of the timberline – on average 50m upwards in 70 years. It was found that the rate of timberline advance was negatively correlated to the intensity of persistent grazing. That finding supports views on a slow decline of the Carpathian agriculture, related land abandonment and forest increase throughout at least last 100 years. The consequence of forest cover increase is the decrease of fragmentation of forested landscapes in the northern Carpathians, and the increasing dominance of forests in the higher and steeper mountain areas. The process may contribute to higher water retention and soil protection. While it is also beneficial for e.g. large mammal species, like bears or wolves, it leads also to the loss of valuable cultural landscapes of the past.