Rural Landscape Management Research Articles

Terrestrial carbon dynamics and economic valuation of ecosystem service for land use management in the Mediterranean region

Land use change is a significant cause of land degradation, resulting in the removal of carbon and its transfer to the hydrosphere or atmosphere, which can have a detrimental impact on essential ecosystem functions and services. In contrast, rural landscapes offer both ecological and economic benefits to people due to their carbon storage properties. This benefit is often evaluated within the framework of Ecosystem Services (ES). The rural landscapes offer unique structures and ecosystem services. The aim of this study is to provide an economic quantification of carbon storage and sequestration in rural landscapes as an ecosystem service and to introduce carbon-based rural landscape management. The study enables the integration of carbon-based strategies and policies by generating quantitative outputs for landscape plans that have not yet been included in the spatial planning hierarchy. The Upper Seyhan Basin (USB), located on the Eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkiye, was modelled using spatiotemporal and economic valuation approaches to assess terrestrial carbon storage and sequestration in this context. The study modelled and mapped the four main terrestrial carbon storage components in the rural landscape: (i) above-ground biomass, (ii) below-ground biomass, (iii) Soil Organic Carbon (SOC), and (iv) dead organic matter carbon. The future land cover of 2055 was modelled using the Multilayer Perceptron (MLP)-Markov Chain (MC) algorithm based on the “Business-As-Usual” (BAU) scenario to determine future carbon sequestration. The Social Cost of Carbon (SCC) was estimated for Turkiye using the Regional Integrated Model of Climate and Economy (RICE) to economically model carbon services. In the final stage of the study, modelling outputs, including carbon storage pools/sinks, projected land cover dynamics, and SCC components, were used within the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model to map the carbon dynamics of the rural landscape at the regional level. This paper demonstrates the role of geospatial modelling and proposes a new planning and design logic that considers carbon-based inputs and global climate change in an appropriate format for land management by bridging the interface between earth sciences and spatial planning. The study results indicate that, the rural landscape in the study area provided an ecosystem service of 70,266 TgC carbon in 2014 with a storage value of USD 222,853,170. For the 2014–2025 projection, an estimated 1.042 TgC of carbon sequestration was valued at USD 6,234,137. The 2014–2055 projection estimated 3.185 TgC of carbon sequestration valued at USD 58,745,265.

Landscape conservation in the natural-rural interface. A social-ecological approach in Natural Parks of Andalusia (Spain)

ContextMultifunctional rural landscapes are social-ecological systems that represent a link between nature and culture. They are characterized by the conservation and protection of ecological processes, natural resources and biocultural diversity. The conservation of these landscapes is mainly based on the establishment of Protected Natural Areas (PAs) whose regulatory schemes have often promoted their degradation.ObjectivesWe evaluate the effectiveness of the conservation strategies of the Natural Park category in the protection and maintenance of rural cultural landscapes. We analyse at a regional and local scale both the dynamics of land-uses and the socioeconomic structure of the local populations involved, identifying the main social-ecological indicators of change in the protected landscape.MethodsWe apply a methodological approach, based on geoprocessing tools and multivariate analysis, to examine social-ecological changes in rural cultural landscapes after the establishment of a network of PAs. The designed method allows us to infer the ecological and socioeconomic resilience of protected landscapes.ResultsConservation efforts have tended to underestimate rural landscapes in favour of natural ones, mainly forest systems, and have not been able to prevent the processes of abandonment and degradation of protected landscapes. A simplification of the land-use systems dependent on traditional farming practices is observed. This implies the loss of both the multifunctionality of rural landscapes and their resilience to environmental changes. The key socioeconomic indicators identified highlight the deterioration of the rurality of protected landscapes.ConclusionsOur social-ecological approach is a useful tool to evaluate the effectiveness of PAs. Protection of landscape is related to the decline of traditional agricultural systems and rewilding through land abandonment. Culturalness is necessary to promote the management and conservation of rural landscapes from a holistic perspective.

Parametric Reconstruction of Traditional Village Morphology Based on the Space Gene Perspective—The Case Study of Xiaoxi Village in Western Hunan, China

Traditional settlement space contains regional, natural, economic, historical, and cultural characteristics. The spatial texture serves as a material carrier of rural life and production and a vital landscape resource for the traditional villages. Traditional rural settlements have formed relatively unique and stable spatial form genes over time, which contain the “order” and “law” of spatial creation traditionally established in villages. The metropolis erodes traditional village spaces due to fast socioeconomic development and urbanization. In addition, the lack of adequate recognition and continuation of spatial texture in current mainstream village construction planning methods also limits the ability of villages to adapt to environmental changes and promote self-repair and adjustment, which, in turn, causes the gradual disappearance of their distinctive appearance. The reason is the need for more quantitative research and planning on the genes controlling the evolution of spatial texture morphology in traditional villages. They are faced with issues such as blind construction and development, a fracture in the rural characteristic spatial texture inheritance, and a loss of the distinctive vernacular landscape. Adopting an objective and in-depth approach to the cognition of traditional village space texture is an essential demand for the preservation, optimization, and renewal of the spatial appearance of rural settlements. We use the spatial genes of village settlements as its starting point. It then uses the spatial texture of village settlements connected to gene information mining as its specific method. We investigate the autogenous law of traditional village spatial form and determine its application using the CityEngine parametric platform, digitalization, and 3D visualization as the applied technical means. The feasibility and implementation path of the parameterization technique are explored using the traditional village of Xiaoxi in western Hunan Province as an example. We effectively promote the integration of rural spatial landscape resources, feature assessment, optimization guidance, and management control and provide an innovative research perspective and scientific planning path for analyzing the spatial morphological evolution of traditional villages.

Understanding different cultural ecosystem services: An exploration of rural landscape preferences based on geographic and social media data.

Rural landscapes offer a variety of cultural ecosystem services (CESs). However, the relationship between rural landscape characteristics and different CESs is still poorly understood. Therefore, this study explored the rural areas of Huzhou city, China, as a case study to assess the main rural landscape characteristics of different CESs based on public preferences. First, 148 scenic spots were classified into four CESs (physical, experiential, intellectual and inspirational), and the public preferences for each scenic spot were determined by combining tourists' scores obtained from social media and government assessment scores. Then, the landscape characteristic indicators were constructed from the natural, infrastructural and sensory perspectives by combining geographic and social media data. Finally, the random forest model was used to evaluate the public preferences for rural landscape characteristics overall and for different CESs. The word frequency analysis showed that, in addition to the nature landscape, infrastructure and service had a strong influence on public preferences. The relationship with rural landscape characteristics varied across different CESs. For physical CESs, the convenience of infrastructure played a greater role than natural landscape characteristics. Experiential CESs, on the other hand, were affected by natural landscape characteristics themselves. Intellectual CESs had higher requirements for both infrastructure and nature. Inspirational CESs included sensory evaluation indicators, in addition to their focus on natural landscape characteristics and infrastructure, indicating that this category of CESs was more concerned with inner experience. The use of social media data has enriched the dimensions of sensory elements and provided new ideas and information supplements for comprehensively understanding different CESs, thus better supporting the management, planning and protection of rural landscapes.

Designation, Incentivisation and Farmer Participation—Exploring Options for Sustainable Rural Landscapes

This paper explores how policies, management practices and farmer participation can help shape resilient and sustainable rural environments. The key elements of the paper draw together policy initiatives on land designation for conservation, action-based and results-based agri-environment programmes, and locally led and inclusive partnership models. In doing this, the paper explores ways to address environmental decline, while also allowing farmers to farm and for management practices to be developed that farmers can readily endorse. The paper draws from empirical evidence gathered from two case studies in West Ireland. These studies include in-depth interviews, consultations with key stakeholders and an exploration of policy and other documentation associated with the management of rural landscapes. What emerges from the discussion and the field evidence is that, while there can be discontent, even disillusionment with some practices, there are models of great promise evolving. In particular, the research identifies the importance of enabling a space in which a farmer’s knowledge and expertise have due prominence and where they are afforded recognised input in the schemes being developed and promoted. The conclusion of the paper suggests that, while impacts vary, it is clear that combining forces from top-down and bottom-up, allied to locally led decision-making input, provides the Special Areas of Conservation combination whereby landscapes can be both farmed and protected.

Regional landscape transformation and sustainability of the rural homegarden agroforestry system in the Chengdu Plain, China

Traditional rural homegarden agroforestry system in the Chengdu Plain of China, called “Linpan” in Chinese, integrates the ecological functions of the landscape with human production activities. Studying the driving mechanisms of rural landscape changes in the Chengdu Plain is of great significance from stakeholders’ perspective. Taking the Pidu Linpan Farming System (PLFS) in the suburban area of Chengdu (designated as one of China-Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems in 2020) as a case, this study combined remote sensing image analysis, oral history interviews, and focus group interviews to elucidate the driving forces of landscape changes in the PLFS. The results show that tourism development, traffic accessibility, economic demand, and agricultural heritage protection measure are the main driving forces promoting the stability and maintenance of the traditional homegardens. In contrast, population ageing, land circulation, centralized residence, climate change, and living and recreational need are the forces leading to adverse changes in the traditional homegardens. In addition, these driving forces have led to the gradual abandonment of traditional agricultural activities and critical issues related to rural landscape planning and management. The current research indicates that infrastructure construction and increased traditional agricultural income are considered as the best practices of local stakeholders, promoting the development of the protected homegardens of heritage sites and tourist destinations. Finally, we put forward some suggestions to improve and maintain the traditional rural landscape: (1) establishing a benefit-sharing mechanism; (2) establishing a training system with traditional technology and culture; (3) strengthening infrastructure construction; (4) promoting the development of the agricultural industry; (5) improving the cultural quality of farmers; and (6) establishing a management system with legal effects. This research can provide a basis for the formulation of rural landscape planning and the orderly and healthy development of agricultural heritage in Chengdu Plain.

Integrated framework of rural landscape research: based on the global perspective

ContextIn recent years, rural landscapes have played an increasingly important role in the fields of tourism, cultural heritage and ecology. Rural landscape research (RLR), which is characterized by diversity and complexity, has attracted more and more attention from researchers.ObjectivesThis study integrated the main research contents of RLR in the past 30 years by arranging the relevant research results and analyzing the research progress of RLR in order to understand the development trend of RLR, the distribution of research power, research hotspots and frontal research.Methods3740 relevant literatures from 1931 to 2020 were filtrated from the WoS Core Collection Database. Those papers were quantitatively data mined and qualitatively summarized by using Bibliometrics software for mapping and analysis.Results(1) The number of articles related to RLR increased exponentially over time. The average citations per paper increased fastest from 2002 to 2005. According to the characteristics of the number of articles and the average citations per paper, RLR can be divided into three stages from 1990 to 2020: the first stage is from 1990 to 1999; the second stage is from 2000 to 2008; the third stage is from 2009 to 2020. The second stage of RLR has attracted the most international attention among three stages. (2) According to the results of research strength analysis, Europe has a great influence in RLR. The Common Agricultural Policy and the European Landscape Convention are the main driving forces for the change of rural landscape in Europe. (3) At present, the five hotspots of RLR are rural landscape planning and management, cultural ecosystem services, urban-rural conflict, the sustainable development of rural cultural heritage landscape and the impact of landscape structure on habitat.ConclusionsRural landscape research was originally developed based on geography and ecology but has now developed to a comprehensive research direction of multidisciplinary and multi-methods with social, economic, culture and other elements. At present, the object of RLR covers the ecological landscape, production landscape, and cultural landscape of rural landscape system; the content of RLR has shifted from static pattern of rural landscape to dynamic evolution process, urban-rural conflict, cultural ecosystem service and multifunctional landscape trade-off; the research paradigm of RLR has changed from single dimension to multi-dimensional, and combined with “3S” technology and various landscape ecological model software. The correlation and mechanism should be studied between the rural landscape multifunctionality based on the perspective of multidisciplinary research and rural landscape system in the future, and carry out dynamic monitoring and trend simulation, so as to clarify the thinking and paths of rural landscape multi-functional trade-off and guide the sustainable development of rural areas.

Tracing landscape characters through place names in rural Mediterranean

Place names are a linguistic form that people attach to the landscape. Rural landscapes are maybe one of the most refined cultural manifestations revealing a fundamental effort for human existence and locating their actions through place names. In this research, place names were used as a means to explore rural landscape characters of the Serik district in the Turkish Mediterranean. A total number of 1243 place names were subcategorised in four large character groups: natural features, land use, cultural, and visual features and were further analysed into twenty indicative landscape characteristics. The results showed that characteristics of the rural landscape in Serik were dominated by two main components: biophysical features as a response to the natural environment and the position of a locality in relation to maintenance of local livelihoods. In conclusion, the accuracy and validity of place names is still quite precise in the definition of the characters in rural landscapes where intact human-nature relations are unique but whose characters have been under the pressure of fragmentation. Here, the knowledge of multi-layered forms of place names offers a readily available rich inventory that can be applied to the planning and management of rural landscapes,particularly in the absence of other biophysical and cultural data.

Landscape Works. Balancing Nature and Culture in the Pantelleria National Park

Traditional agricultural practice and peculiar geographical features in the Mediterranean basin have not only moulded cultural and heritage values, but also created the conditions for the development of habitats to be protected. Therefore, Landscape proves a suitable concept both for the enhancement of cultural features and for nature conservation. The aim of this work is to apply the landscape approach to the Pantelleria National Park, providing the opportunity to reflect upon and discuss whether and how to encompass rural landscape planning and management within the broader context of natural values, offering a frame of reference for the zoning of the future Park Plan. Specifically, the research aims to define zoning categories, typical to protected areas planning, using criteria related to landscape features and patterns, environmental quality, traditional agriculture, architectural heritage. Established in 2016, the Pantelleria National Park is the most recent Italian National Park and the first one in Sicily. The Park covers 79% of the island, encompassing two sites of Community Importance as well as one Special Protection Area belonging to the Natura 2000 network. Pantelleria is a microcosm gathering a great variety of natural and human-made landscapes characterized by high levels of complexity embodying the antagonism of two protected ‘noble interests’: Nature and the environment on the one hand, Culture framed as traditional rural practices on the other. The main challenge of the new-founded National Park is to combine quality and values relating to the domain of Nature, which is expanding, with those expressed by Culture, represented by a wide array of historical rural values at risk due to ongoing abandonment of most remote areas.

Perceived benefits from reclaimed rural landscapes: Evidence from the lowlands of the Po River Delta, Italy

The attention towards residents’ perceptions of ecosystem services for an efficient management of rural landscapes is gaining momentum. One noteworthy aspect is the identification of links between perceived supply and societal demand of ecosystem services, as they can disclose leverages to improve rural policies. The objectives of this study are: i) to assess residents’ perceptions of ecosystem services attributed to typical landscape elements; and ii) to characterise the perception of different groups of residents. We present the results from a residents’ survey based on a phone-questionnaire carried out in a reclaimed coastal area, where vulnerabilities such as anthropic impact legacies and natural hazards are exacerbated. The aim of the questionnaire concerns the collection of information regarding people perception of benefits attached to a set of rural landscape elements and demand for services. The results show that awareness of regulating functions, the presence of disservices and the link with local food production relate with residents’ perception of benefits from landscapes. Furthermore, we note that local landscape and the meaning attributed to historical land reclamation initiatives has a lasting influence on the perception of ecosystem services and that of such perceptions are significant for the design of land use policies.

Modelling the Impacts of Habitat Changes on the Population Density of Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis) Based on Its Landscape Preferences

The dramatic decline of the abundance of farmland bird species can be related to the level of land-use intensity or the land-cover heterogeneity of rural landscapes. Our study area in central Europe (Hungary) included 3049 skylark observation points and their 600 m buffer zones. We used a very detailed map (20 × 20 m minimum mapping unit), the Hungarian Ecosystem Basemap, as a land-cover dataset for the calculation of three landscape indices: mean patch size (MPS), mean fractal dimension (MFRACT), and Shannon diversity index (SDI) to describe the landscape structure of the study areas. Generalized linear models were used to analyze the effect of land-cover types and landscape patterns on the abundance of the Eurasian skylark (Alauda arvensis). According to our findings, the proportions of arable land, open sand steppes, closed grassland patches, and shape complexity and size characteristics of these land cover patches have a positive effect on skylark abundance, while the SDI was negatively associated with the skylark population. On the basis of the used statistical model, the abundance density (individuals/km*) of skylarks could be estimated with 37.77% absolute percentage error and 2.12 mean absolute error. We predicted the skylark population density inside the Natura 2000 Special Protected Area of Hungary which is 0–6 individuals/km* and 23746 ± 8968 skylarks. The results can be implemented for the landscape management of rural landscapes, and the method used are adaptable for the density estimation of other farmland bird species in rural landscapes. According to our findings, inside the protected areas should increase the proportion, the average size and shape complexity of arable land, salt steppes and meadows, and closed grassland land cover patches.

The «5t.era» project bridging research with application for the management of the cinque terre rural landscape

The «5t.era» project bridging research with application for the management of the cinque terre rural landscape

Kırsal Alanlarda Peyzaj Karakter Analizi “Kastamonu-Gölköy ve Yakın Çevresi Örneği”

Peyzajların planlanması ve yönetimi konuları Avrupa Peyzaj Sözleşmesi (APS)‘nde gözden geçirilmiş ve peyzaj karakter alanlarının belirlenmesinin gerekliliği vurgulanmıştır. Kırsal alanlarda sürdürülebilir kalkınmanın sağlanması, kaynak değerlerinin doğru yönetimi ve kullanım stratejilerinin belirlenebilmesi için yerel düzeyde Peyzaj Karakter Tip (PKT)‘lerin belirlenmesi büyük önem taşımaktadır. Kırsal yerleşimlerin karakter tespiti ve sürdürülebilirlik yaklaşımı ile değerlendirilmesini amaçlayan bu çalışmada Kastamonu-Gölköy yerleşiminin ve yakın çevresinin sahip olduğu peyzaj değişkenleri haritalandırılarak, Peyzaj Karakter Analizi (PKA) yaklaşımı ile incelenmiştir. Bu amaçla, alana ait jeoloji, büyük toprak grupları, jeomorfoloji, eğim grupları ve alan kullanımı haritaları Coğrafi Bilgi Sistemleri (CBS) yazılımı ile sayısallaştırılmış ve sentezlenerek karakter tipleri belirlenmiştir. Çalışma sonucunda 133 adet peyzaj karakter tipi tespit edilmiştir. Elde edilen karakter tiplerinin ülkesel ve yerel düzeyde gerçekleştirilen kırsal planlama ile peyzaj yönetimi çalışmalarında altlık görevi göreceği ve peyzaj politikalarının oluşturulmasına katkı sağlayacağı düşünülmektedir.

Pratiche e progettualità di rigenerazione e welfare: il “Premio triennale Giulio Andreolli – Fare paesaggio”

The “Premio Triennale Giulio Andreolli – Fare Paesaggio” was born in 2016 with the aim of en-hancing landscape experiences in the European Alpine area. It is divided into three sections: plan-ning and programming initiatives, architectural and landscape interventions and education and par-ticipation actions. The success of the award shows the growing and transversal interest in landscape issues, both at in-stitutional and professional level, in the context of spontaneous and “bottom-up” initiatives. One emergent aspect of interest during the various editions is the birth of a large number of activi-ties related to the management of traditional rural landscape, and oriented to the knowledge of terri-tories and to the involvement of the inhabitants. These local communities are often engaged in new organizational methods, driven by sincere enthusiasm and civic sense. That is the reason why one of the most interesting elements emerging from the award experience must be sought in this intertwining between popular initiatives and both professional and institu-tional approaches. Bounding this reflection to the regeneration-driven production, which is the main topic of this issue, it is possible to isolate, among the many cases nominated for the award, some interesting experienc-es in which, with different outcomes, designers and clients have dealt with contemporary architec-ture, touching important themes related to the transformation of alpine landscapes.

Pattern identification and analysis for the traditional village using low altitude UAV-borne remote sensing: multifeatured geospatial data to support rural landscape investigation, documentation and management

• Low-altitude multispectral UAV imagery provides an effective way for landscape investigation at multiple spatial scales. • High resolution and multispectral data captures multiple features of landscapes to facilitate the refined landscape detection. • Object oriented image analysis with heritage landscape structure regulation to achieve hierarchical targeted landscape classification. • Quantitative analysis to unveil the structure and spatial pattern of the landscapes in the traditional village; Spatial pattern of landscapes is viewed as the fabric and structure of traditional village. Accurate detection and analysis for the landscapes pattern plays key role in understanding the sociocultural milieu and human-natural relations. Current methods perceive their problems. Pedestrian survey is labor and time consuming. Meanwhile, the derived data tend to be subjective, qualitative and monotonous, which can hardly be used for further analysis. Remote sensing technique has been successfully applied in the field of heritage protection for its ability in object detection. But these methods are limited by visiting circle, spatial resolution and data richness. Therefore, the scientific methods of landscape pattern detection, documentation and analysis for the traditional village has long been under discussion. By taking Baojiatun castle village as a case study, the present paper aims to detect and analyze spatial pattern of traditional village by the geospatial data from a low altitude UAV-borne remote sensing. A four-leveled hierarchical landscape recognition scheme and the corresponding landscape category regulation were established. Based on the derived data and the established scheme, a three-level classification model was construct by using Object-Oriented Image Analysis method (OBIA) method and machine learning classifiers (Random Forest classifier and SVM classifier). The model was proven to be accurate and stable by ten-fold cross validation, and five major heritage landscape elements of the village were finally extracted. Furthermore, spatial pattern characteristics and distribution differences of targeted landscapes were unveiled based on distance statistics and clustering analysis. Lastly, further discussion is fostered, which focuses on the usefulness of remote sensing technique in the field of heritage landscape investigation, documentation and management.

Capturing spatial patterns of rural landscapes with point cloud

AbstractOver the past few decades, rural landscapes have been the subject of increasing international cultural heritage research, and one of the most important issues under investigation at both theoretical and pragmatic levels concerns how to identify the spatial character of rural landscapes for conservation purposes. This article establishes an innovative approach adopting a cultural landscape perspective with the support of point cloud technologies to capture spatial patterns of rural landscapes. This approach was explored by reference to Tunpu villages in Guizhou, China—these being a specific kind of military fortress settlement. Cultural landscape values and landscape characters of Tunpu villages were identified using historical research and document analysis. Aerial and terrestrial photogrammetry and laser scanning systems were combined to collect and process spatial information at environmental, village, and architectural scales. Point cloud models can quantitatively represent villages' spatial patterns and inform the interpretation of their heritage significance. We conclude that the strengths of point cloud technologies could meet the requirements of rural landscape heritage documentation from a cultural landscape perspective. This mixed‐technology approach could also greatly improve the efficiency and precision of traditional rural landscape documentation, which has the potential to change methodologies applied to rural landscape research and management.

How Does the Presence of Livestock Influence Landscape Preferences? An Image-Based Approach.

The European Landscape Convention (ELC) emphasises that the public should be extensively involved in the processes of landscape protection, planning and management. In spite of the emerging interest in the relationship between animals and landscapes in the study of animal geography, little is known about the influence of the landscape-animal component on public aspirations and the values attributed to landscape. We conducted a survey in the form of an image-based questionnaire in order to evaluate the influence of certain animal species, in this case livestock, on landscape preferences. The results show that all grazing animals have a positive impact on landscape preferences, although some species seem more popular than others. The preference for scenes with animals decreases, however, when compared with scenes with other landscape features (vegetation, traditional buildings or water). Significant differences in preferences for scenes with animals were observed according to certain sociodemographic variables such as gender, familiarity with the landscape and direct involvement in livestock farming. Of the groups surveyed, livestock farmers showed the strongest preferences for the scenes with animals. The findings of this study can be applied within the citizen participation policies encouraged by the ELC, as well as in the protection, management and planning of rural landscapes in which livestock is an appreciable feature.

Frozen Histories or Narratives of Change? Contextualizing Land-Use Dynamics for Conservation of Historical Rural Landscapes.

Current research has identified extensive changes in land-use structure and land management of Central European rural landscapes due to shifting political and economic trajectories. These changes are exemplified by diverse processes of agricultural intensification, privatization and land fragmentation, land abandonment and overall changes in modes of production. The extensive record of these historically specific processes has posed a fundamental challenge for rural landscape conservation, which is addressed in this paper. First, we identify the key contradictions in rural landscape conservation, which include (i) conservation based on cultural versus environmental/ecological values, (ii) conservation based on spatial landscape patterns versus individual landscape features, and (iii) conservation based on the preservation of past landscapes versus conservation that also address the processes of change. Subsequently, we use a case study of an existing open-air museum in Zubrnice, northern Czechia, to analyze and discuss these dichotomies. In this regional case study, we first contextualize the land-use/land-cover change (LULC) reconstructed from old maps using a thorough archive (documentary proxies) and field research (survey of agrarian terraces, clearance cairns, and remnants of orchards) that enabled the construction of a narrative of specific landscape structures and features. Finally, we integrate the collected data with a novel methodological approach that allow for the spatial identification of the landscape segments that represent the narratives of historical change in modes of rural production and are therefore suitable for integration within the existing open-air museum to improve its conservation and education status.

Production innovation and environmental protection in the management of rural landscapes: the UNESCO vineyard landscapes of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato

In Italy, the landscape appears more and more as the essential element of a sustainable economic development linked to environmental peculiarities and food excellence. In agriculture, the winning aspect of production is no longer measured, in fact, in merely “organoleptic” terms, but also through the issues of environmental protection and care and careful landscape management, as a cornerstone of quality and typical products. In this regard,production - in a broad sense related to wellbeing and leisure, as well as wine - absolutely needs places identifying it, since its value is intimately connected with the quality of the original rural landscapes. These landscapes - that still today represent an element of strong characterization of the single territorial realities - are those that denote a balanced intervention of man on the natural elements; they are those that offer a clear presence of historical signs and legible links between structure and land use. In recent years, agriculture appears to be increasingly responsible for carrying out a plurality of functions, in addition to the acknowledged traditional ones. The maintenance of the hydrogeological structure, the preservation of landscapes with significanthistorical-cultural values, and the maintenance of biodiversity are all the more important. In this perspective,farmers can certainly contribute to conserving and effectively producing high quality landscapes, through a careful “care” of the land in which they work, so as to maintain and strengthen the characteristics of formal quality and historical identity, by avoiding scrupulously useless compromises. A case study of great interest to verify the concreteness and general applicability of this type of reasoning is represented in Piedmont by the territories of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2014, where there are interesting research and experimentation activities in the fields of agricultural sustainability and territorial planning.

High-resolution mapping of protected agriculture in Mexico, through remote sensing data cloud geoprocessing

ABSTRACT In recent years, plasticulture, which is broadly defined as the use of plastics in agriculture, including greenhouse, tunnels and plastic mulch has become a fast-growing production system. While in the 1970s, the system was used on 2.8 M ha worldwide, the area had grown to 38 M ha in 1996/97 and is still increasing at a rapid rate: In Asia and Africa, the use of plastic greenhouses is growing by 15-30% per year. Therefore, plasticulture is expected to rise in many agrarian countries such as Mexico. Nonetheless, there are negative effects of plasticulture, that need to be correctly addressed in order to have responsible rural landscape management. Ergo our study attempts, through cloud geoprocessing of Sentinel-2 imagery, to rapidly provide a reliable and updated high-resolution map of protected agriculture that employs plastics (mostly tunnels and greenhouses). This map can be used as a basis for a protected agriculture monitoring system in Mexico, and eventually help to effectively plan the upcoming rural development, e.g. by providing input for territorial planning, showing the municipal rural practice trends, and monitoring the markets and its economic impacts.