A multivariate assessment of fringe landscape dynamics in Rome, Italy, and implications for peri-urban forest conservation

Abstract

The present study assesses how urban growth impacted landscape composition, structure and diversity in peri-urban Rome, central Italy, during the last 60 years (1949–2008). The spatial distribution and fragmentation of nine land-use classes derived from comparable digital maps covering the whole study area (1500 km2) were assessed by computing a total of 27 metrics using a relational approach based on exploratory data analysis. Landscape transformations were explored through hierarchical clustering applied on the selected landscape metrics. Our results indicate the increased fragmentation of peri-urban landscape over the study interval. Especially vineyards, arable land and pastures underwent patch fragmentation. This process was reflected into smaller ‘core’ areas compared with the remaining non-urban uses of land (woodland, olive groves). A negative relation between class area and patchiness was observed for all classes with the exception of forests and olive groves. Policies aimed at contrasting fragmentation and simplification of the relict landscape on the fringe of large cities are finally discussed

Associations of Urban and Green Land Covers and Heat Waves in 49 U.S. Cities between 1992 and 2019

“…Spearman correlation analysis within the 49 cities in the U.S. revealed that the heat wave duration and intensity changes are significantly linked to UEII. Salvati et al [50] used the correlation method for the evaluation of urban landscape and forest conservation in the outskirts of the city of Rome, Italy. Zambon et al [51] analyzed multi-core urban developments and their economic growth in Europe using the Spearman analysis method.…”

Análise das mudanças espaciais e temporais nos padrões de paisagem na região do oeste da Bahia sobre a formação do grupo urucuia (1988-2011) e suas implicações para a conservação do Cerrado

“…However, few studies have been performed with a combination of landscape indicators. Some studies use two groups of metrics: traditional and those derived from a mathematical morphology framework(Höbinger et al 2012;Salvati 2014;Salvati et al 2015). This indicator combination enables a detailed examination of landscape transformation.…”