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Afforestation on agricultural land in southern Spain: an important driver to improve forest landscape connectivity

Abstract:

One of the research issues considered in landscape ecology is the fragmentation of landscapes, which is characterised by a great heterogeneity of land uses and shapes. The objective of this study was to investigate changes in landscape fragmentation and connectivity associated with the afforestation on agricultural land in two locations in southern Spain that was promoted by an EU scheme between 1990 and 2018. This was done using the Andalusia Land Cover Databases (1990 and 2018), along with the combination of two approaches with which to determinate the variation of fragmentation (Patch Analyst-ARCgis and LDTtool) and ecosystem connectivity (Graphab software). Afforestation on agricultural land represented significant change in land use in the two locations (Andevalo, Quercus ilex and Q. suber, 22,313.25 ha) and Guadix (Pinus halepensis, 2532.68 ha). Changes in fragmentation metrics reflected that landscape fragmentation increased as a consequence of afforestation, and a significate decrease in mean patch size (MPS) and mean patch edge (MPE) was observed over time in both locations in most land uses. Furthermore, afforestation increased connectivity for forest species, which was reflected in higher values of connectivity metrics (probability of connectivity and flux). The presence of low-cost pathways connecting patches suggested a reduction in the gap-crossing distance between forests, although the increase on fragmentation of forest patches there where an increase in forest connectivity that revealed favourable relationship between afforestation and landscape connectivity functions. The European Community policies aimed at the afforestation of marginal agricultural land could, therefore, play an important role in improving the ecological functions of agricultural landscapes.