Traditional land-use and nature conservation in European rural landscapes

Europe's countryside is characterised by a rich diversity of cultural landscapes and has been shaped by traditional land-uses. These landscapes provide numerous ecological services, e.g. the support of high levels of biodiversity. However, many traditional land-use systems have been lost or diminished in past decades, as land-uses have polarised either toward extensification and land abandonment or intensification. Remaining traditional land-use systems continue to be at risk. This paper introduces a special issue of six contributions that address land-use and landscape changes across Europe. The paper advocates a double-track strategy in cultural landscape development: first, some remaining traditional land-use systems should be preserved, and new tools for their economic viability be designed. Second, the key elements of traditional land-use that provide ecological services should be identified and integrated into future, more productive land-use systems.