Land abandoment in Gozo : case study : Nadur

Abstract

The rural landscape in Gozo has been disturbed and changed by human activities for several centuries. In some areas, urbanization and recreational activities have superseded agricultural practices. On other areas agricultural land has been left unused and abandoned. Employment opportunities in other sectors, land fragmentation due to the law of inheritance, low income, the physical conditions of the land and climatic factors have led to this land abandonment. The majority of farmers are part-timers earning most of their income from off-farm work. Consequently part-time farmers have a limited time to dedicate towards the cultivation of agricultural land. The land abandonment process can have several consequences. Land abandonment has led to the loss of the rural landscape value. It has also been found that man-managed biodiversity has decreased because species that depend on the traditionai pattern of land use disappear. The problem of soil erosion has been further increased especially on dry sloped areas because terraced walls are no longer maintained and because the change in the soil properties increases surface runoff. Land owners would restore this agricultural land if a profitable use for land is expected. It is not enough therefore to urge that land be rehabilitated. Plans need to be made to ensure environmental protection when land is abandoned. Appropriate management policies to encourage sustainable development can diminish land abandonment on a long-term basis.