Evolution of Agricultural Landscape Elements in Córdoba (2005–2025) Using Orthophotos and GIS: Dynamics, Losses and Opportunities under the CAP Framework

The Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, 2023-2027 reinforces the relevance of agricultural landscape features such as hedges, linear plantations, isolated trees, groves and islands of vegetation. In this way, these elements are no longer considered marginal spaces without agricultural value but rather form part of an essential and valued green infrastructures.

This work focuses on the study of the evolution of these landscape elements and potential areas for the assessment of their status in the agricultural area of the municipality of Córdoba (Spain). Thus, a comparison has been made between the situation in 2005 and the current situation to assess if:

1- Changes in land use during this period may have influenced the increase/decrease in landscape elements.

2- Different interventions carried out within the region have increased the number of these elements.

The work was carried out by analysing freely available information such as orthoimages from the National Aerial Orthophotography Plan (IGN) comparing them with GIS products from the Geographic Information System for Agricultural Parcels (SigPac, 2001). In addition, other GIS products (IGN) from previous years were consulted in order to carry out checks on the evolution of the elements.

The comparison showed a decrease in potential areas corresponding to pre-existing inactive hydrographic network. However, the appearance of new gullies was also recorded, compensating for the lost surface area. In the case of unproductive strips, the total balance resulted in a decrease of surface area.

In the case of groups of woody vegetation developed in the inactive hydrological network, there was an increase in pre-existing groups and new ones were inventoried in areas where this type of vegetation did not previously exist (a great part in the network of new gullies inventoried). Regarding linear plantations, almost the entire recorded length was maintained, in addition to an increase of almost the same length as a result of new plantations. In the case of hedgerows, replanting initiatives and some natural developments compensated for the disappearance of some areas due to agricultural activity and the natural death of vegetation.

Main conclusions of this analysis suggest:

1- The increase of surface and technification of olive cultivation favoured the disappearance of some landscape elements.

2- Gullies and linear structures are potential elements to develop and increase natural vegetation.

3- The municipality of Cordoba still shows high potential to implement vegetation-based measures to improve ecosystem services.

 

References

Ayuntamiento de Córdoba. (2008). Proyecto de Diversificación del Paisaje Rural de la Campiña del TM Córdoba. Concejalía de Medio Ambiente.

Guzmán et al.2022. Land Use Policy, 116, 106065.

 

Acknowledgements: Grant PID2023-146177OB-C21 and C22 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and “ERDF A way of making Europe”, by “ERDF/EU”.