Landscape changes in the Lófő clearing (Bükk Mts., Hungary)

Abstract

Around the 18th century the Bükk Mountains still had intact forest cover. The first forest cutting plans were brought about during the end of the 1700s, planned forest management in the Bükk came to exist during these times. Our objective is to present the land cover and land use history from the 18th century to date of the wood pasture Lófő Clearing situated in the South Bükk. The Lófő Clearing has reached its greatest extension in the mid-20th century with 87,6 hectares, due to the nation-wide programme that encouraged the establishment of mountain pastures in the 1920s. With the prohibition and cessation of livestock grazing in forests (due to the spread of large scale agriculture) the clearing has shrunk to 39 hectares. Although the clearing is managed by mowing and grazing, the 21,7 hectares wood pasture, that is subject to nature conservation and landscape protection, is under afforestation due to lack of management, therefore it is degrading. Maps of orienteers (from various years between 2001 and 2016) show this progress well. As the special habitat form of wood pasture is still recognizable, and the process of shrub encroachment could still be stopped, the valuable patches could be preserved. To reconstruct and maintain the desired quality of the area for the long run cattle or sheep grazing would be necessary, mixed with a moderate mowing.