Assessing ecosystem services of abandoned agricultural lands: a case study in the forested zone of European Russia

The massive abandonment of arable land in Russia the 1990s had a heavy impact on country’s land-use structure. cessation cultivation leads to decrease provisioning ecosystem services within landscape, while creating an opportunity enhance supply diverse regulation services. Consideration this is increasingly important for environmental management and landscape planning. In article, we present approach assessing benefits ecosystems developing abandoned lands forested zone European Russia. proposed methodology established land-cover based framework – assessment matrix. For purposes, at different stages vegetation recovery succession (ruderal, grassland small-leaved forest) are considered as types. Four classes regulating subject qualitative analysis: chemical composition atmosphere, control erosion rates, soil quality pollination. An exemplary application case study area located Moscow Region presented article. results revealed association between stage which corresponds with time since natural higher levels carbon sequestration, more effective mitigation, increased pollinator abundance. Cropland was proven be recipient provided by ecosystems. Thus, return all uncultivated fields agricultural use will cause substantial ecological value area.