Applying an integrated landscape characterization and evaluation tool to small islands (Pico, Azores, Portugal)

Abstract

Each landscape is determined and can be characterised by two types of environmental factors: stable biophysical characteristics and manageable land use patterns. The consideration of both these characterisation domains allows the definition of a homogeneous system of reference (the stable characteristics) with which every possible land use pattern can be compared through the use of common evaluation algorithms. The Integrated Landscape Assessment (ILA) concept builds a framework for data retrieval and evaluation processing that maximizes the following advantages: through the use of a stable reference system, it allows the comparative simulation of different land use scenarios, as well as the permanent availability of the same reference system, independently from the intensity of land use changes throughout the years. It also allows the use of different evaluation algorithms according to different evaluation contexts or paradigms, without having to repeat or adapt the characterisation process.The present paper illustrates the basic concepts on which ILA is based and developed as well as its application to ecological planning and systematic conservation planning in the Pico Island (Azores Archipelago).Keywords: Systematic conservation planning, integrated landscape assessment, GIS, Macaronesia. Resumo Cada território é determinado e pode ser caracterizado por dois tipos de factores ambientais: características biofísicas estáveis e padrões de uso do solo susceptíveis de gestão. A consideração destes dois domínios de caracterização permite a definição de um sistema de referência homogéneo (as características

Land Cover Trade‐offs in Small Oceanic Islands: A Temporal Analysis of Pico Island, Azores

“…In Macaronesian oceanic archipelagos, the main threat for nature conservation is land use/land cover (LULC) change (e.g. Cardoso et al, ; Fernandes et al, ), mostly driven by urban development (e.g. García‐Romero et al, ), spread of invasive alien species (IAS) (e.g.…”

Using modeling tools for implementing feasible land use and nature conservation governance systems in small islands – The Pico Island (Azores) case-study

“…In the microcosm of small oceanic islands these issues are still more relevant, because the identification and assessment of values and threats has to consider criteria, perspectives and systems of values different from those adopted in mainland systems (Fernandes et al, 2014(Fernandes et al, , 2015. This is due to the higher susceptibility and vulnerability of these territories to ecological disturbances (e.g.…”

“…The first one consists of the characterization framework in which the reference for the evaluation process is obtained through the mapping of the stable geographical and environmental resources mainly represented through the natural vegetation that would occur in the present soil conditions should there were no disturbances (reference vegetation) (e.g. Fernandes et al, 2006Fernandes et al, , 2014. This characterization tool is of critical importance because it allows the identification of stable references for both ecological and socioeconomic systems.…”

“…being located within the INP). At the same time, the degree of correspondence between the present land cover and the natural vegetation that should occur in case of no disturbances (Fernandes et al, 2014) was assessed, in order to determine the measure in which the island resources are affected by the present land use (in terms of disturbance nature and intensity).…”

“…Vegetation units (Fernandes et al, 2014) CV PV NCC Plant communities of oligotrophic lagoons 7 8 4 Coastal halophilic and chasmophytic communities of escarpments and cliffs 7 7 5 Mosaics of halophilic communities and mixed shrubland on volcanic sands 5 6 11 Mosaics of halophilic communities and mixed shrubland of Myrica faya and Juniperus brevifolia 6 7 1 2 Transition between halophilic communities and mixed shrubland of Myrica faya, Juniperus brevifolia and Erica azorica 6 7 1 2 Mixed chasmophytic and riparian vegetation 6 6 1 1 Mixed chasmophytic and riparian vegetation with sparse patches of Erica azorica 6 6 2 "Cloud Forest" 9 8 1 3 "Cloud Forest" and mixed shrubland on volcanic sands 9 8 1 3 "Cloud Forest" with important patches of Erica azorica shrubland 9 8 13 Mosaics of Erica azorica shrubland and Deschampsia foliosa grasslands 7 7 9 Mosaics of Erica azorica shrubland, Deschampsia foliosa grasslands, and other shrubs on volcanic sands 7 7 9 Mosaics of Erica azorica shrubland and Deschampsia foliosa grasslands above the timberline 7 8 6 Myrica faya woodlands 7 7 1 2 Myrica faya woodlands or mixed shrubland on volcanic sands 7 7 12 Myrica faya woodlands or mixed shrubland of Myrica faya and Juniperus brevifolia 7 7 1 2 Juniperus brevifolia woodlands 6 6 1 1 Mosaics of Juniperus brevifolia woodlands and mixed shrubland on volcanic sands 6 6 8 Mosaics of Juniperus brevifolia woodlands and Erica azorica shrubland 7 6 4 Juniperus brevifolia woodlands with important patches of Erica azorica shrubland 7 6 9 Mosaics of Erica azorica shrubland and Deschampsia foliosa grasslands 9 9 11 Mire communities and/or Juniperus brevifolia woodlands 10 10 15 Mire communities and/or mosaics of Juniperus brevifolia woodlands and mixed shrubland on volcanic sands 10 10 15 Deschampsia foliosa grasslands above the timberline 8 8 4 Deschampsia foliosa grasslands above the timberline with vestigial patches of Erica azorica shrubland 8 8 4 "Laurifolia" hydrophil forests 7 7 1 2 Mosaics of "Laurifolia" hydrophilic forests and mixed shrubland on volcanic sands 7 7 12 "Laurifolia" hydrophilic forests with important patches of Erica azorica shrubland 8 7 10 "Laurifolia" ultra-hydrophilic forests 7 7 1 2 Mosaics of "Laurifolia" ultra-hydrophilic forests and mixed shrubland on volcanic sands 7 7 12 "Laurifolia" ultra-hydrophilic forests with important patches of Erica azorica shrubland 8 7 9 "Laurifolia" mesic forests 7 7 1 2 Mosaics of "Laurifolia" mesic forests and mixed shrubland on volcanic sands 7 7 12 "Laurifolia" mesic forests with important patches of Erica azorica shrubland restoring areas with potential conservation interest (Lagabrielle et al, 2011), such as the invaded areas that may be recovered into natural M. faya forest (Costa et al, 2012). When considering other typologies of reference vegetation communities it can be observed that many of them are not included in the protected area but are partially covered by the best solution given by the model.…”