Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Ever since the Stone Age, nature and man have collaborated in the change in the cultural
landscape with all its components. The basis for the function of this circulation is partly about
how and to what extent man uses nature's resources, and partly how nature itself responds to
the changes. Through a more intensive rationalization of agriculture, the result has been a
more open landscape in Skåne, Sweden. Despite its strong character, this has resulted in a
problematic landslide that affects arable land. Valuable topsoil is transported away, some crop
reduction occurs, and various animal species find it more difficult to find protection in this
type of environment. In order to gain a better understanding of the connection and the
problem, the structural properties of shelterbelts and the qualities of plant material have been
studied. Shelterbelts in Skåne and Sweden as a whole, is not a particularly established
tradition but is well used in Denmark. The historical use of shelterbelts has mainly revolved
around reducing erosion and topsoil erosion by establishing them along arable land. The
results from above-named plantings have had a positive effect on those problems.
The agricultural landscape plays an important role in the protection of biodiversity, where this
type of structural planting could be a good way to achieve interaction between animals and
help preserve biodiversity. Thus, this study intends to link a vegetative windbreak in the form
of a shelterbelt and examine ways to support biodiversity. As a result of this literature study,
two plant lists have been compiled. The first one with plant choices that are suitable for
shelterbelts and the other second one brings up choices that interface with the biodiversity.
Furthermore, a blueprint has been made as suggestion for how a shelterbelt could be
structured and composed.