Abstract
Land degradation has expanded in the Mediterranean region as a result of a variety of factors, including economic and population growth, land-use changes and climate variations. The level of land vulnerability to degradation and its growth over time are distributed heterogeneously over space, concentrating on landscapes exposed to high human pressure. The present study investigates the level of land vulnerability to degradation in a shrinking urban area (Rome, Italy) at four points in time (1960, 1990, 2000 and 2010) and it identifies relevant factors negatively impacting the quality of land and the level of landscape fragmentation. A multi-domain assessment of land vulnerability incorporating indicators of climate quality, soil quality, vegetation quality and land management quality was carried out based on the Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) framework. The highest rate of growth in the level of land vulnerability was observed in low-density suburban areas. The peri-urban mosaic formed by coastal woodlands and traditional cropland preserved high-quality land with a stable degree of vulnerability over time. Evidence suggests that the agro-forest mosaic surrounding Mediterranean cities act as a “buffer zone” mitigating on-site and off-site land degradation. The conservation of relict natural landscapes is a crucial target for multi-scale policies combating land degradation in suburban dry regions.
Highlights
IntroductionPopulation and economic performance grew rapidly in wealthier countries with a negative impact on both natural landscapes (e.g., forests, shrublands, pastures) and agricultural-specialized areas [1,2,3]
In recent decades, population and economic performance grew rapidly in wealthier countries with a negative impact on both natural landscapes and agricultural-specialized areas [1,2,3]
The increase in the ESAI was primarily due to anthropogenic pressures related to land management and climate change, as indicated by the specific trends in the management quality (MQI) and Climate Quality Index (CQI), growing respectively by 8.8% and 7.2%
Summary
Population and economic performance grew rapidly in wealthier countries with a negative impact on both natural landscapes (e.g., forests, shrublands, pastures) and agricultural-specialized areas [1,2,3]. Land degradation (LD) in the Mediterranean region is a clear example of the multifaceted and spatially-varying interaction between the environmental sphere and the socioeconomic system [11] It corresponds to a long-term loss of ecosystem functions and productivity [2]; the ability to deal with it depends on the technical, economic and human resources of a country, taking into account the fact that “land degradation can only be judged in its spatial, temporal, economic and cultural context” [12]. It is well known how LD processes are changing rapidly over time and space in both direction and intensity [8], reducing the overall quality of land [13] and creating a higher risk of desertification [14]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
