<p>Land use varies across regions due to a mix of ecological, technological, social, and cultural factors that have influenced it over time. The agricultural land census of 1881/1883 reflected land use and its changes, which were shaped by ecological and social factors in Northern Livonia. Relief and soil conditions largely determined land use patterns until the nineteenth century, causing differences between the eastern and western parts of the region. In the nineteenth century, agricultural innovations accompanied the decline of slash-and-burn cultivation. During this transition, periodically cultivated slash-and-burn lands became important sources of land resources, despite unfavorable relief conditions and poor soils. These soils were suitable for flax cultivation, which was the main crop grown for profit. Advancements in agriculture and income from selling flax fiber contributed to the economic success of local peasants, enabling them to purchase land in perpetuity. Rapid changes to long-established land use systems demand additional resources for successful implementation. In nineteenth-century Livonia, lands that were formerly used for slash-and-burn cultivation proved to be valuable resources. The role of these lands in current and future land use, both in Livonia and beyond, requires further research.</p>