European Wood-pastures in Transition: A Social-ecological Approach

Wood-pastures are important elements of European cultural identity and have an exceptional ecological value, yet they are in decline all over Europe. The structure of wood-pastures is strongly influenced by grazing and multiple other land uses and by local and regional environmental conditions.

This book examines the diverse expressions of wood-pastures across Europe. It provides a new perspective, using a social-ecological framework to explore social and ecological values, governing institutions, threats and conservation approaches. It explores the major drivers of decline, which are shown to be related to accelerated cultural, institutional and developmental changes occurring across Europe over the past century. Case studies are included from North-Western, Southern, and Eastern Europe.

Written by renowned scholars and conservationists, the book contributes to developing better, locally adapted conservation policies and management approaches for wood-pastures.

Tibor Hartel is Associate Professor in the Environmental Science Department at Sapientia University of Transylvania, Romania, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Society for Conservation Biology: Europe Section. His research focuses on rural landscapes from Eastern Europe. He studies wood-pastures in Romania and has been involved in a number of management and educational activities targeting wood-pastures and old trees.

Tobias Plieninger is Associate Professor at the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. He is interested in the study of the driving forces, processes and patterns of changes in human-shaped landscapes. His research integrates natural and social science approaches to landscape ecology and conservation.