seminatural

Seminatural is a term used in ecology and landscape management to describe landscapes and ecosystems that are partly natural but shaped or maintained by human activity. It refers to areas where natural processes operate under ongoing human influence, often through long-standing traditional or low-intensity practices.

The concept is used across disciplines such as conservation biology, geography, and land-use planning. In many regions, seminatural habitats arise where people have managed land for centuries—grazing, mowing, coppicing, hedgerow maintenance—creating mosaics that sustain substantial biodiversity compared with intensively managed or fully natural sites. The degree of human involvement can vary, from occasional disturbance to regular agricultural intervention, but the aim is often to preserve ecological values while accommodating human needs.

Typical seminatural examples include extensively managed grasslands (hay meadows and pastures), hedgerows and wood-pasture landscapes, traditional orchards, and coastal or wetland reserves maintained by periodic flooding, grazing, or mowing. These systems often support native flora and fauna adapted to disturbance and seasonal cycles, including pollinators, ground-nesting birds, and soil organisms.

Challenges include changing agricultural practices, urban expansion, and climate change, which can erode seminatural features. Conservation approaches emphasize low-impact management, landscape connectivity, restoration of traditional practices, and integration into broader land-use planning. In summary, seminatural denotes landscapes that sit between wild nature and fully artificial habitats, holding important ecological and cultural values.