Agricultural Land Abandonment

Agricultural land abandonment is increasingly a global land-cover change phenomenon that has strong implications for the environment (e.g., biodiversity, carbon sequestration, novel ecosystems, wildfires) and societal well-being (livelihood, agricultural landscapes). Agricultural land abandonment is often referred to as the cessation of farming and giving away land for natural succession, such as grasses, shrubs, and trees on former agricultural lands, but may also result in land degradation. Agricultural land abandonment can be a more complex land-change transition, including the cessation of agricultural activity in favor of land uses other than agricultural ones, such as forestry, construction of dwellings, game reserves, and tourism. Studies have shown that agricultural land abandonment often is driven by rational decision-making and profit maximization, including weighing up opportunity costs and alternative livelihood strategies. However, the conditions of institutions, which are supposed to govern land use, and the personal characteristics of those involved in agricultural activities, are playing a vital role in the decision of abandonment. It should also be noted that the decision on abandonment or maintenance of farming can be quite complex and driven by non-economic factors, such as personal predisposition to farming, education, ethnicity, religion, age, and availability of successors. The progress of studying land abandonment and existing research gaps are highlighted in the text.