Abandonment: What happens to biodiversity when human land use ends?

Abandonment refers to the process when human activity or management ceases in an area, allowing nature to regain control. Following abandonment, an ecosystem undergoes natural changes in species composition and structure, often developing into a forest over time - a phenomenon called succession.
Over the last century, land abandonment has increased, particularly in parts of Europe. This is driven by factors like rural depopulation, as people move to cities, and modernization in agriculture and forestry, favoring high-intensity practices and making many traditional, low-intensity techniques obsolete.
This change is affecting our biodiversity. And while less human intervention might seem beneficial, this isn’t always the case.
Credits:
Manuscript: Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Pamadillo
Animation: Pamadillo - www.pamadillo.com/
Intro/ending music: Gregor Quendel www.gregorquendel.com/
Middle music: Andreas Raad / @baltimus9000
Project: ROTATE: Application of traditional knowledge to halt biodiversity loss in woodlands
Funding: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic and Norway Grants 2014-2021
Contact: NIBIO researcher Fride Høistad Schei, [e-mail]
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#biodiversity #succession #ecology #forestmanagement

[@malloc7108]

KZbin algorithm suggested this and I really appreciate finding the channel. Thanks for this excellent primer (in English, no less!)

[@inotcare]

the best and most efficient explanation for this topic

[@Trotskers]

Our farm loves your videos!! From NC USA ❤

[@boud86]

This video is both beautiful and informative! Thank you for making it.

[@northware1193]

great video ! thank you :)

[@timkbirchico8542]

Nice vid. I live in the Sierra Nevada of Andalusia. Here, if land is abandoned then it is not watered from the snow fed irrigation channels made by the Moors. The olive, almond, walnut and chestnut trees die back because of the ongoing drought. Therefore species diversity has lowered. I keep my land well watered and have wild flower meadows between the trees. Many species of butterflies, bees, beetles et al enjoy these meadows, many birds and other animals too. Wild boar love to wallow in the muddy land. Ibex graze the slopes above and below. Human interaction is needed on old established and traditionally worked land.

[@andreasmelve3135]

This is very Interesting and it makes sense. How long has it been managed like this? Do you think this land was «desertic» before it was managed?

[@sips3812]

oh, this is super cool! I wish you well, nibio!!!

[@jimurrata6785]

A great example is the exclusion zone around Chernobyl. Though not completely eliminating human habitation, we see species like wolves just doing their thing. It's been 40 years now....

[@nobodysanything2330]

🌳

[@A3Kr0n]

Whatever makes you happy and keeps you out of the bars.

[@Baltimus9000]

🤣

[@oldmanfigs]

Wait till they find out that carbon isn’t a pollutant….🤓

[@kumatmebro315]

AI slop

[@andreasmelve3135]

Its AI?

[@Theorimlig]

This is certainly not AI.

[@Norskinstituttforbiokonomi]

@@Theorimlig you are right (almost). The manuscript (including the research behind it), the illustrations and the animations are made by our project team. However, the voice-over actually IS AI-generated from our manuscript! We tried first with a human voice, but that was more difficult than expected, especially since none of us are native English speakers.