| Abstract [eng] |
The aim of the dissertation is to determine the significance of the influence of natural and anthropogenic destabilisation of the landscape on the ecological compensation function and its quality. Land cover change due to human influence has a direct impact on the state of landscape structure and the quality of its ecological compensation function. In this thesis, based on the conducted research, the processes of land cover destabilisation in the territory of Lithuania due to human economic activities are analysed - the direction of changes, frequency and overall instability of the territory over 23 years. To assess the naturalness of land cover in Lithuania, the internationally recognised Hemeroby naturalness index, which has not been applied in Lithuania before, is used, which indicates the naturalness of the territory. The methodology used to identify the process of landscape instability is based on the analysis of three indicators of land cover change - the direction of change, the amplitude of change and the frequency of change. Over the 23-year period under assessment, two directions of landscape instability can be distinguished in the country: 39.80% of the territory has experienced destabilisation in the direction of anthropogenisation, especially in the major cities and in areas favourable to farming. Deforestation, replacement of natural areas by agricultural land and urbanisation were the most frequent destabilising factors. |
