CHANGES IN THE LANDSCAPE DURING THE LAST 200 YEARS IN THE REGION OF THE ZALA VALLEY AND EFFECT ON THE ECONOMIC-ACTIVITY OF THE AREA

The economic changes in Hungary in recent years, which are still not c omplete, have changed the picture of the landscape. and the practice o f land use in certain areas. To examine the effects of these changes, land use in the central part of the Zala Valley-including 14 settlemen ts is studied-going back over the last 200 years. The rates of change in the natural vegetation (forests and meadows) and changes in arable farming and horticulture, and the settlements' environment and develop ment are considered. The emphasis will be on the examination of change s in quality of the soils of arable fields, by evaluating and comparin g maps, contemporary documents and the available results of tests. The erosion of the organic content of the soils, their physical character istics and the effect of land use at a given period are considered. On the basis of this evaluation, new alternative economic strategies in the environment of the given settlement are suggested, with emphasis o n the following: maintenance of the balance of economy and environment ; reduction of problems of crisis areas and moderation of advantageous differences; better use of natural resources; strengthening of the ag ricultural heritage.