Land-use changes and their impact on land degradation in the context of sustainable development of the Polish Western Carpathians during the transition to free-market economics (1986-2019)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyse land use and land cover in three catchments of the Polish Western Carpathians, using good practice guidance for estimating land degradation in the context of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Orthophotomap analysis indicates that the vast majority of changes, especially those related to the withdrawal of agriculture, have resulted in land improvement. Relatively minor changes leading to land degradation were associated with pressure from increasing population due to settlement development as well as the conversion of forested areas into grassland. The latter was dominant in the higher mountain catchments.