Scholarly record

ANALYSIS OF LAND USE CHANGES IN AREAS OF NATURAL MEADOWS AND PASTURES IN LATVIA

Vivita Puķīte, Dainora Jankauskiene, Sergio Antonio Neves Lousada

Abstract

Nature of Latvia is very diverse, and one of its most valuable land uses is natural meadows. A natural meadow is a bio-top of grasslands that has formed as a result of long-term grazing or mowing without artificial fertilization and without intensive soil cultivation. Such meadows are not sown with grass their species composition has developed naturally, and rare plant species are also often found there. They are not only part of a beautiful landscape, but also an important ecosystem that provides a habitat for many rare and protected plant and animal species, as well as contributing to property management. Land use in Latvia are regulated by several normative documents that set requirements for property development planning and design. Unfortunately, these natural meadows and pastures are becoming increasingly rare today as people's land management habits change. Therefore, the aim of the research is to analyze area changes of meadow and pasture as land use area changes and the possibilities for their development. The research used the descriptive research method to investigate the theoretical aspects of natural meadows and pastures and other conditions related to the development of these territories, based on normative documents, scientific knowledge and real facts. The research used descriptive analysis of statistical data to analyze land use areas, including natural meadows and pastures, in order to provide proposals for the development of these areas. The results of the research showed that the development opportunities of natural meadows and pastures depend on the demand for the type of property management. When planning meadows and pastures, it is important to take into account the characteristic indicators of the land unit and the established land use restrictions. The main conclusion of the research is that meadows and pastures as land uses in Latvia are important not only due to the aspect of agricultural production, but also in terms of biodiversity, cultural heritage and landscape preservation. However, they are highly endangered, and unless targeted measures are taken, the area of these territories will continue to decrease. Therefore, it is essential to support management, promote the creation of legislative and financial mechanisms, and increase public awareness about the values of natural meadows and pastures.

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Dimensions ID: pub.1198570167

DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgem2025v/3.2/s11.29

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