Land-use evolution and degradation in Lesvos (Greece): A historical approach

An analysis has been undertaken of the land-use evolution in the island of Lesvos for the last 5000 years, based on historical and archaeological docu ments and recent soil and vegetation survey data. A series of maps were com piled using historical documents for the period from 3300 BC to 1886 BC and vegetation field survey data for the period from 1886-1996. A soil survey (scale 1:50 000) was conducted in 1996 in order to relate the land-use chan ges to the present physical environment. Cultivation of the land started around 3300 Be and intensified during the 1 8th century BC. During the Roman period forests were already significantly reduced to satisfy the increasing demands for agricultural products, timber and heating. In the Byzantine period (4th-15th century), vineyards and pas tures expanded, mainly by clearing the forests. Olive plantations increased during the 13th century, motivated by the allocation of subsidies. During the first centuries of the Ottoman period, there was a further expansion of olive groves and pastures by reducing forests, while vineyards declined. G reat changes occurred in the last century in the geographical distribution and the total area occupied by the various types of land use. Olive groves significantly expanded and were redistributed covering more fertile and pro ductive land on hilly areas by clearing mainly pine forests, Oak forests in creased on previous pasture areas. Today, pasture is the main type of land use in hilly areas. These previousl y forested areas have been cleared without any accompanying measures agains t soil erosion. This highly degraded land with shallow and severely eroded soils is not able to sustain any profitable agricultural use or natural for est. However, areas cultivated with olives remained sustainable for more th an seven centuries without being significantly degraded. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.