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We are pleased to announce the latest article by Dr. Katarzyna Mięsiak-Wójcik (Department of Hydrology and Climatology, UMCS), which has been published in the prestigious journal Ecological Indicators:
Mięsiak-Wójcik K., Turczyński M., 2024. Quality indexes of land ownership and land cover as indicators of small lake catchment degradation. Ecological Indicators, 166, 112482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.112482 (Open Access)
Changes in land ownership, which typically lead to alterations in land cover and progressive fragmentation of catchments, are becoming an increasingly significant challenge for implementing pro-environmental measures. Such processes often result in difficulties in organizing and executing effective conservation strategies, particularly in areas of high environmental value. Our study, conducted in the central part of the West Polesie Transboundary Biosphere Reserve, assessed the impact of land ownership on the environmental status of small, but highly valuable, lake catchments.
The study involved a detailed analysis of 5661 plots, for which ownership types were determined, and 2502 subdivisions, where land cover forms were examined. The results of these analyses were evaluated by experts using a modified Stapel scale, leading to the development of two qualitative indicators: Land Cover (Lc) and Land Ownership (Lo). These indicators are crucial for assessing the impact that land ownership structure and land cover types have on the environmental quality of the studied catchments.
The Lc index values ranged from -0.18 to +1.97, while the Lo index values ranged from -1.87 to +2.00. To facilitate the assessment, an average land quality index (LQ) was also introduced, allowing for a random evaluation of the environmental quality of the analyzed catchments. The LQ index values ranged from -1.02 to +1.99, corresponding to areas of very good and very poor environmental quality, respectively.
The analyses revealed that particularly degraded catchments are characterized by a large number of private plots, significantly affecting land fragmentation and hindering effective environmental protection. In the five analyzed catchments, the number of private plots ranged from 505 to 719, with an average size ranging from 0.19 to 1.10 hectares. Furthermore, it was found that the most unfavorable land ownership conditions and land cover structures were present in the catchments of the Poleski National Park – an area with the highest protection status, underscoring the severity of the issue.
The results of this study suggest that the proposed assessment system can be a valuable tool in the preliminary analysis of actual and potential threats to lake catchments. It not only enables the identification of threats but also guides the determination of possible directions for conservation actions and their feasibility. Implementing such an approach can significantly enhance the effectiveness of protecting valuable ecosystems, particularly in areas where land ownership structures pose a significant challenge. In the face of increasing pressure from human activities, such tools are crucial for ensuring the sustainability and protection of these exceptional natural areas.
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