Publication: "Tracing vegetation changes through the testimony of early settlers: A spatio-temporal analysis of plant-based place names as ecological evidence".

In a scientific article published in Global Ecology and Conservation, a team from the PAS Botanical Garden in Powsin presents an innovative approach to studying the history of Silesia's plant cover. The authors used so-called phytotoponyms, or place names derived from plant names and forest types, to trace changes in the landscape over the centuries. By analyzing the relationship between the distribution of local names and the actual and potential extent of deciduous and coniferous forests, the researchers proved that local naming reflects key environmental and anthropogenic changes. The results of the work show, among other things, how intensive forest management and industrialization have affected the species composition of forests and the landscape of Silesia, and that phytotoponyms can be a valuable tool for reconstructing historical vegetation.

We encourage you to read the full article available in open access:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425001532