ABSTRACT
As agricultural productivity expanded, natural landscapes were converted to rural landscapes composed of cultivated fields, pastures, settlements and patches of nonarable habitats. Agricultural activity is focused on production; therefore, all available resources were used to maximize yields. The environmental considerations became an important issue during the formulation of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the 1990s by the European Union (EU) within the context of Agenda 2000, issued in 1997, which included a revised EU policy on development. The most important achievement of the new CAP is its recognition of landscape properties for the sustainable development of agriculture. More intensive agricultural production results in higher yields, which in turn provide opportunities for improved economic revenue. The same is true for elaboration of operational guidelines for managing biogeochemical barriers, e.g., instructions on management practices for shelterbelt maintenance.
