It is widespread phenomenon with a variety of economic and social causes. Land abandonment has led to a dramatic decline in farmed areas in many parts of Europe as largely self-sufficient rural communities have collapsed or contracted.
Lack of active management, often results in the regrowth of tall grasses, scrub and eventually forest. The structure of the landscapes and the effects on plants and animals are the most common issues.
Abandonment is largely an economic event, as farmers abandon farmland when it no longer yields a positive economic return, or when the farming system is no longer viable when faced with new forms of competition.
A decline in agricultural production may have had the perverse effect of rendering part of farmland inactive and in poor agricultural and environmental condition.
This means, in general, negative repercussions on soil quality and fertility, as well as for some wildlife dependent on farmland or high nature value grasslands. Cropland abandonment may threaten cultural landscapes and biodiversity.
Land abandonment also associated with development. Generally, people move from uplands and bad lands to lowlands and industrialized ranges.
However, in many countries land may be abundant, it is not necessary idle, and it may provide incomes to many people for subsistence farming and other livelihood activities, by providing areas for hunting and gathering, cutting building materials and fuel wood, and grazing livestock.
Land abandonment
