# Intensity and Driving Forces of Land Abandonment in Eastern Poland
## 4 Discussion
The analyses show that counties with a higher intensity of land abandonment usually absorbed the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funds to a smaller extent (Figure 13). This is clear in the case of instruments aimed at changing (improving) the structure of agricultural production and agrarian structure (Table 4). On the other hand, instruments related to the improvement of productivity and profitability as well as socio-demographic characteristics are used effectively in counties with a low and medium intensity of land abandonment. The lowest absorption of CAP funds was observed in counties located close to large cities (Lublin, Chelm, and Lubartow counties) or counties with significant shares of protected areas and forests (Wlodawa and Bilgoraj counties). It should be mentioned that in the case of Lubelskie Voivodship in the period 2004-2010, the average payments for one ha under individual programs was as follows: pro-environmental instruments (180 EUR), improvement of agrarian structure (60 EUR), improvement of socio-economical features (90 EUR), improvement of technical infrastructure (110 EUR), modernization of agricultural production (452 EUR), and improvement of profitability (35 EUR) [48]. Together with the Single Area Payment Scheme (about 200 EUR per ha per year), on average, a farmer in Lubelskie Province received a total of about 2500 EUR per ha during this period. Therefore, the funds that can be obtained by individual farmers are not large (less than 2700 EUR per average farm per year). Family farms cannot further develop, for example by purchasing equipment or improving the conditions for agricultural production (fertilization, terracing). The amount of the CAP payments is therefore not an incentive for continuing land cultivation. Figure 13: Correlation between the absorption of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) financial instruments (mean of the classes in Table 4) and intensity of land abandonment (1990–2018). Detailed analyses show that more than 10% of arable land was excluded from agricultural use in Susiec District during the last 50 years. The dynamics of this process have reduced but the process continues. Land relief, on the other hand, has an impact on the process of agricultural abandonment. This process is clearly more intensive in areas with greater slope angles. Land is excluded from agricultural use most often in areas with 7-12\({}^{\circ}\) slopes. Areas with greater slope angles are largely forested, hence land abandonment is less intensive there. A very distinct influence of land relief (primarily slope angles) on present-day land-use in the loess areas in SE Poland was indicated by [PERSON] and [PERSON] [52]. The role of slope angle and elevation above sea level on the spatial distribution of forests was also noted in research conducted in China, Germany, Czech Republic, and many European countries [17; 53; 54]. The soil type had the greatest influence on the exclusion of land from agricultural production in Susiec District. This process occurred with a lower intensity on fertile soils (complexes 2 and 3, Luvisols and Cambisols) than on poor soils (complexes 5 and 6, sandy Podzols). [PERSON] et al. [55] found a clear relationship between changes in the forest cover and soils in north-eastern Germany. Reforestation processes occurred primarily within less productive sandy soils. The same patterns were found by [PERSON] et al. [20]. [PERSON] and [PERSON] [47] identified poor soil quality as a significant factor influencing land abandonment. Poor soils mean low crop yields, which lead to low profits for the farmers. On the other hand, studies in Malopolska made by [PERSON] and [PERSON] [56] indicated that top quality arable soils were also converted to non-agricultural use. More than half of the area of Susiec District is covered by forests. The results of the analyses above indicate that a large part of the areas excluded from agricultural use are located close to the forest boundary.