low (1.4 m/ha)
high (583.1 m/ha)
• annual average rainfall:
~1000÷1300 mm,
• average annual
temperature: from 14.5°C
(Arno plain) to 10.2°C (M.te
Serra)
Results
Mediterranean landscapes characterization Land Lab Saint Anna School of Advanced Studies
via Santa Cecilia, 3 56127 Pisa – Italia
Since the 1960s the agricultural
exploitation and management of the
territory declined due to the
decreasing number of farmers.
Study area (Monte Pisano, NW Tuscany)
Geomorphological and climatic
constraints implied the need to optimize
the production capabilities, modifying
the slopes with intensive drainage
systems, widely using the dry-stone
walls terracing (Galli et al., 2003), as in
other hilly areas in Italy and Europe.
• max. height: Monte
Serra, 917 m
• average slope
37%;
• over than the 80%
of the area has a
slope > 20%
Baldeschi P., Il Chianti fiorentino, un progetto di tutela del paesaggio, Bari, Laterza, 2000.
Brancucci G., Ghersi A., Ruggiero M.E., Paesaggi liguri a terrazze: riflessioni per una metodologia di studio, Firenze, Alinea Editrice, 2000.
Galli M., Pieroni P., Brunori G., «Un’esperienza di ricerca partecipativa per la valorizzazione degli spazi rurali nel comprensorio del Monte Pisano», Estimo e territorio – Rivista di scienze ambientali, vol. LXVI, n°3, 2003: p. 54-63.
Parvex F., Turiel A., Sauvegarde des murs en pierres sèches et du vignoble en terrasses valaisan, Sierre (Switzerland), SEREC, 2001.
Ogrin D., «Mediterranean landscapes: contribution to a better management», Report commissioned by Priority Actions Programme, 2005.
Key references
permanent crops
urban fabric
other abandoned crops
semi-natural areas & woods
abandoned olive groves
rivers
arable lands
mixed crops
pastures
First results quantitatively characterize the
terraced landscape, focussing on the links
between drainage structures and
cultivation state (i.e. abandonment).
Dry-stone walls density
Define a study methodology
focussing on data requirement to understand the
agronomic facets of terraced landscape
degradation,
and develop supports for their future
management.
Aim
agrarian landscapes as
system of landmarks
role of farming activities as
the main drivers in their
making and management
farmers’ choices
to express the productive
capabilities of soils manage limiting factors
augment use efficiencyof the disposable resources
permanent
landmarks
superimposing to the territory
an agronomic control factor
drainage systems for the
management and conservation
of soil and water resources
bench terraces
olive groves & vineyards
abandoned olive groves
ciglioni
dry-stone walls terraces
N
data integration
Land cover
The available data were at a
resolution too coarse neither
not uniform and complete for
the details of the classes.
Therefore a new map has
been done, whose classes are
defined on the standard
CORINE land cover
nomenclature.
Survey of present time
agricultural activities
(cultivated versus
abandoned).
The new class “abandoned
olive groves” has been
defined on a specific area
knowledge and field
observation.
Cultivation
state
A proper methodology for
their characterization is still
poorly defined in literature.
We followed three steps:
(1) the description of the
various drainage structure
typologies,
(2) their localization through
photointerpretation,
(3) the gathering of related
quantitative data.
Drainage
structures
Theoretical framework
Conclusions
Working within a GIS provided a
profitable and operative support to
plan the active conservation of
terraced landscapes, through the
localization and prioritization of their
management needs.
This degradation cannot be
completely understood using a
classical geo-morphological
approach but it shall be integrated
with agronomic parameters for
their key role in the terraced
systems conservation.
• available data
• technical documents
• topographic maps
• aerial photos
decision
support
system
drainage structures
management priorities
(ongoing analysis)
Methodology
1. collect3. evaluate
4.manage
2. integrategeo
database
existing
knowledge
field surveys
photointerpretation
• land cover
• cultivations state
• drainage structures• localization
•quantification
• classification
• quantification
cultivated olive grovesbut unmanaged dry-stone walls
dry-stone walls terraces
terraces held-up by turf (ciglioni)
pocket terraces
rubble-wall terraces
The terraced landscapes in European Mediterranean areas are increasingly exposed to degradation as a consequence of their changed management
pocket terraces
Drainage structures
The landscape characterization
highlighted the relevance of a
landscape degradation in terms of
retaining walls fell-down, insufficient
drainage, micro-landslides, etc).
Land cover & abandonment
www.land-lab.org
mapping and analysis of the terraced olive groves on Monte Pisano
Davide Rizzo*, Tiziana Sabbatini, Mariassunta Galli, Enrico Bonari
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