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

This study presents a spatio-temporal analysis of phytotoponyms as indicators of historical vegetation change in the Silesian region, focusing on correlations between toponym density and both current and natural forest cover. Using geographic information systems (GIS), kernel density estimation (KDE) and historical maps, we identified patterns in the distribution of toponyms in relation to deciduous and coniferous forest types. A positive correlation was found between the density of deciduous phytotoponyms and the natural occurrence of deciduous stands, suggesting historical continuity. However, no significant statistical relationship was observed between the location of deciduous phytotoponyms and current deciduous stands, which we argue may be due to the fragmentation of these forests over time. Conversely, the density of conifer phytotoponyms showed a strong negative correlation with both current and natural conifer stands, indicating that areas with a higher density of conifer toponyms are associated with a reduced presence of conifer forests. We propose that this pattern is primarily a result of industrial forestry practices. In addition, a significant correlation was found between the location of conifer phytotoponyms and the distance from current conifer stands, with these toponyms often located further from existing conifer patches. Temporal analysis revealed a shift in toponym creation, with deciduous names dominating earlier periods and a marked increase in coniferous names during industrial afforestation, particularly after 1949. These results underline the usefulness of phytotoponyms in reconstructing historical forest dynamics and highlight their potential as tools for understanding long-term vegetation change and anthropogenic influences on forest management. • Deciduous phytotoponym density aligns positively with current forest stands. • Fragmentation disrupts links between deciduous phytotoponyms and forests. • Coniferous phytotoponyms negatively correlate with current stand density. • Coniferous phytotoponyms often distant from current industrial plantations. • Coniferous names prevalence increased with industrial afforestation shifts.