We produced the first spatially explicit, cross-border, digital map of long-term (160 years) land use in the Carpathian Ecoregion, the Hungarian part of the Pannonian plains and the historical region of Moravia in the Czech Republic. We mapped land use in a regular 2 × 2 km point grid. Our dataset comprises of 91,310 points covering 365,240 km² in seven countries (Czechia, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine and Romania). We digitized three time layers: (1) for the Habsburg period, we used maps of the second Habsburg military survey from years 1819–1873 at the scale 1:28,800 and the Szatmari's maps from years 1855–1858 at scale 1:57,600; (2) The World Wars period was covered by national topographic maps from years 1915–1945 and scales here ranged between 1:20,000–1:100,000; and (3) the Socialist period was mapped from national topographic maps for the years 1950–1983 at scales between 1:25,000–1:50,000. We collected metadata about the years of mapping and map sources. We used a hierarchical legend for our maps, so that the land use classification for the entire region consisted of 9 categories at the most general level and of 22 categories depending on the period and a country.

Research Highlights: Data of advanced-age provenance tests were reanalyzed applying a new approach, to directly estimate the growth of populations at their original sites under individually generated future climates. The results revealed the high resilience potential of fir species. Background and Objectives: The growth and survival of silver fir under future climatic scenarios are insufficiently investigated at the xeric limits. The selective signature of past climate determining the current and projected growth was investigated to analyze the prospects of adaptive silviculture and assisted transfer of silver fir populations, and the introduction of non-autochthonous species. Materials and Methods: Hargreaves’ climatic moisture deficit was selected to model height responses of adult populations. Climatic transfer distance was used to assess the relative drought stress of populations at the test site, relating these to the past conditions to which the populations had adapted. ClimateEU and ClimateWNA pathway RCP8.5 data served to determine individually past, current, and future moisture deficit conditions. Besides silver fir, other fir species from South Europe and the American Northwest were also tested. Results: Drought tolerance profiles explained the responses of transferred provenances and predicted their future performance and survival. Silver fir displayed significant within-species differentiation regarding drought stress response. Applying the assumed drought tolerance limit of 100 mm relative moisture deficit, most of the tested silver fir populations seem to survive their projected climate at their origin until the end of the century. Survival is likely also for transferred Balkan fir species and for grand fir populations, but not for the Mediterranean species. Conclusions: The projections are less dramatic than provided by usual inventory assessments, considering also the resilience of populations. The method fills the existing gap between experimentally determined adaptive response and the predictions needed for management decisions. It also underscores the unique potential of provenance tests.

The main purpose of the present study was to monitor actual contamination levels and execute a comparative assessment of results in a mid-sized Hungarian city for two different years. The first citywide soil investigations were completed in 2011. In 2018, the most prominent properties (pH, CaCO₃, texture, and trace metals Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were reanalyzed and were supplemented with mesofauna on selected sites. The available trace metal elements of urban soils showed the following tendency in 2011: Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd > Cr = Ni = Co. In 2018, the previous order changed to Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Cd = Ni = Co. Cd and Pb enrichments were found, especially near the M7 motorway. The comparison between 2011 and 2018 revealed soil contamination was, on average, higher in 2011. Soil microarthropod communities were sampled and assessed using abundance data and diversity measurements. Soil biological quality was evaluated with the help of the Soil Biological Quality (QBS-ar) index. Acari and Collembola appeared to be the most abundant, ubiquitous taxa in the samples. Simultaneously, important groups like Symphyla, Protura, and Chilopoda were completely absent from the most polluted sites. For the most part, lower taxa richness, diversity, and QBS-ar index were observed with higher available Cu Zn, and Pb concentrations.

Landscape is a dynamic, multi-layered, spatial–temporal system. It mirrors the results of human–nature interactions, encompassing both material and perceived reality. Landscape assessment requires transdisciplinarity that we achieve by discussing and combining three approaches: landscape character assessment (LCA), historic land-cover (LC) change analysis and narratives of local residents on landscape perception. The Austro-Hungarian transboundary study area around Lake Fertő, a world heritage cultural landscape, was divided by a state border after First World War. It provides a good example for the divergent evolution of the same biophysical landscape due to the different political and socio-economic influences. Results of the study highlight methodological issues concerning the combination of quantitative and qualitative data and the inclusion of local knowledge in the LCA. The historical cartographic analysis presents the significant differences in LC transition processes in the Austrian and the Hungarian sides of the area, resulting in dissimilarities in landscape character. The study shows the differences in landscape conceptualization and the perceptions of landscape researchers and local residents. Mutual understanding helps communication to preserve the unique landscape qualities and avoid landscape degradation by enhancing environmental awareness and facilitating common landscape management strategies.