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Greenways as Linear Components of Green Infrastructure in Rural Agricultural Landscapes of South-Western Slovakia

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7275/fabos.646

Publication Date

2016

Abstract

Greenways are important linking elements of green infrastructure systems in rural cultural landscapes. Their significance markedly increases in agricultural landscapes, since green networks and systems are very often limited to linear structures in this particular type of landscape. Greenways can therefore be crucial green infrastructure components in intensively farmed arable-land matrixes. The uniqueness of the presented research consists in the focus on sustainability and resilience benefits provided by greenways in agricultural landscapes. Greenways and green infrastructure improve the overall environmental resilience of farmed landscapes towards climate change and extreme environmental events, such as long lasting drought and erosion of fertile topsoil by strong wind or rainstorms. Moreover, it facilitates and enhances wildlife migration in the landscape and increases the overall landscape and species biodiversity. All these positive environmental benefits lead to more sustainable agricultural landscapes. Additionally, greenways, thanks to their linear spatial structure, surface compactness and multifunctionality, do not threaten the food system resilience of the landscape.

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