Influence of land use changes on road network and channel level in Uszwica catchment in 1975–2015 (Polish Western Carpathians)

The impact of land use changes (LULC) on road network and channel level on the period 1975–2015 were studied in the Uszwica catchment (22.7 km2 ) in the Polish Western Carpathians. This period covers the transformation of the Polish economy from a communist system to a free-market economy after 1989. The analysis of aerial photos using GIS technics indicates that during the investigated period the forest area increased by 25 % and the cultivated land area decreased by 88 % in the Uszwica catchment. The population density increased from 90 to 116 people · km–2, while employment in agriculture decreased from 51.6 % to 4.2 %. As a result of forest succession and cultivated land abandonment the density of used roads and the roads that have connection with stream decreased by 27 % and 8 %, respectively in the Uszwica catchment. The fluvial system of Uszwica channel was strongly influenced by LULC changes. This has led to initiated channel incision by about 1 cm · year–1 after 1989.

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Opracowanie rekordu ze środków MNiSW, umowa Nr 461252 w ramach programu "Społeczna odpowiedzialność nauki" - moduł: Popularyzacja nauki i promocja sportu (2021).