Mapping and typology of unused lands in the territory of the town Kutná Hora (Czech Republic)

Abstract

The paper presents results of the field mapping of abandoned lands in the administrative district of the city of Kutná Hora in the Central Bohemia, comprising 7 cadastral territories stretching over a total area of 33 square kilometres. Field mapping on the scale 1 : 10,000 was effectively corrected on the basis of the intepretation of detailed aerial photographs. The present survey provides a simple typology of all mapped areas of abandoned lands according to their origination, age and the character of their current vegetation communities. The results confirm a high diversity and relatively high share of abandoned lands in suburban landscape. They cover more than 17% of the surveyed territory and can particularly be found on the outskirts of the city, forming a transition from cityscape to rural landscape. They originated in all 3 defined time periods: before 1990, 1990-2000 and after 2000. Post-agrarian categories represent more than 63%, post-mining 10% and post-industrial 8% of all abandoned lands. The lands have crucial ecological and social functions. Their mapping and documentation can form an interesting basis for nature and landscape protection, as well as for the territorial and landscape planning.