Land Use Dynamics of Drove Roads: The Case of Tratturo Castel di Sangro-Lucera (Molise, Italy)

Minotti, Michele; Giancola, Carmen; Marzio, Piera Di; Martino, Paolo Di

doi:10.3390/land7010003

Cited by 12 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 22 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In many areas of Italy, this is particularly true, if it is considered the millenary history of the countryside, rich with multiple layers of cultural signs left by the many civilizations which succeeded one another. Many of these signs, the signs of the ancient settlement systems, are still well perceivable either as material artefacts or as immaterial testimonies [41]: the archaeological sites and remains spread in the countryside; the heritage of agricultural biodiversity; toponyms; the impressive permanence of the land subdivision signs of the ancient Roman centuriations, still visible and detectable in Po Valley and in many other European regions; the traces of ancient road networks and of transhumance drove roads, to which some traits of the present road network are superimposed; and so forth ( Figures 3 and 4) [42][43][44][45][46].…”

Section: Urban-rural Dialectics and Agricultural Landscape Changes Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historic Rural Landscapes: Sustainable Planning Strategies and Action Criteria. The Italian Experience in the Global and European Context

Fazio

Modica

2018

Sustainability

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper focuses on the historic and cultural dimension of landscape, in relation to the holistic and dynamic approach today required in landscape research. In this direction, the Authors investigate the present role played by historical rural landscapes in relation to their multifaceted character and function. In recent years there has been an ever-growing appreciation of their cultural value, depending on the differential speed of environmental change (relatively high) and people’s adaptation to it (relatively slow), as a matter of compensation. Although reference is often made to the global and the European contexts, Italy is given special attention, since the long history of civilization known by its rural landscapes makes them particularly worthy of consideration and offers a wide variety of examples assuming a more general interest. The main changes occurred in the Italian rural landscapes over the last two centuries are described by referring to their main causes and to the parallel change observed in the urban-rural dialectic. The notion of “cultural landscape”, as it emerges from the international debate and documents, is applied to historic rural landscapes, according to a varied range of conditions and characteristics. Knowledge, identification, interpretation and characterization are fundamental actions to define sustainable landscape management strategies. These last should be diversified according to landscape character, functionality, integrity and obsolescence, not being limited to outstanding landscapes only but considering all rural landscapes as heritage. To this end, heritage strategies and policies must go together with agricultural sectorial policies, since agriculture and farmers are the major actors of rural landscape protection and transformation. EU Common Agricultural Policy is considered by focusing on its effect on rural landscape and proposals coming from the heritage experts for its future implementation are examined. Emerging strategic measures and action criteria are singled out and presented. In any case, to protect historic rural landscapes, balanced change-dynamics and development vitality should be strengthened if present, introduced if not, so as to assure resilience. Neo-rurality today expresses the search for sustainable lifestyles, green development models and a better quality of life, implicitly offering new opportunities for the revitalisation of historic rural landscapes. Finally, a holistic approach and multidisciplinary cooperation are needed to allow for an effective synthesis of the many cultural visions, which today concern the theme of landscape.

show abstract

Section: Urban-rural Dialectics and Agricultural Landscape Changes Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historic Rural Landscapes: Sustainable Planning Strategies and Action Criteria. The Italian Experience in the Global and European Context

Fazio

Modica

2018

Sustainability

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Particularly for the case-study, the phenomenon was more evident in those territories with a long tradition of an agro-pastoral entrepreneurship linked to noble families (i.e., the D'Alessandro, dukes of Pescolanciano), who were locati during the ancien regime and landowners during the nineteenth century. Geo-historical analysis allowed to explain-as other studies have recently done [116]-the promiscuous nature of a mountain area where agricultural and pastoral economies coexist, confirming that promiscuity is one of the fundamental traits of the Mediterranean region landscape and identity [38]. The landscape of transhumance, as a part and a significant type of this complex landscape system, is no exception, even in the core of internal areas, where indeed a great heritage has been protected which turns out to be very useful today for a geo-historical reconstruction aimed at geotourism enhancement.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Geotourism Perspectives for Transhumance Routes. Analysis, Requalification and Virtual Tools for the Geoconservation Management of the Drove Roads in Southern Italy

2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The article illustrates the interest in transhumance routes, the ancient paths connecting high and lowland pastures in Southern Italy and other Mediterranean regions, as elements of particular importance for sustainable geotourism management. As a contribution to the needs of requalification of the drove roads, we propose a method of analysis for their preservation and their reuse for geotourism purposes, showing the steps and instruments necessary to organize, enhance and communicate transhumance routes as integrated cultural landscapes. Results are presented as applied to a specific case study (Molise, IT) of a geoconservation management proposal for the assessment of the state of conservation of the drove roads, of their cultural heritage and of their potential reuse for geotourism. This methodological proposal uses geographical information systems, historical sources, cartography and remote sensing techniques and includes 3D virtual reconstructions of the transhumance landscape. The article is meant to contribute to a non-stereotyped image of transhumance geoheritage, reflecting on communication and learning strategies supported by geo-historical analyses, in order to promote a greater awareness of landscapes genesis and evolution for visitors and local communities. It is argued that future challenges of geotourism relate to the ability to recompose nature and culture to an interpretive unity, both from a theoretical and operative point of view, and that the goal is to reach an integrated tourist offer focused on the relationship between man and environment with the signs of territorialisation processes expressed through economic vocations, traditional production chains, cultural values and territorial identity. To this purpose, the valorisation of the transhumance routes—for their historical-economic, ecological, landscape, patrimonial and identity meanings—seems to respond perfectly.

show abstract

“…Since the human activities, specifically pastoralism, have played a key role, in shaping and determining the landscape structure in the ALMNP, it now represents an interesting area to highlight the effects of abandonment. Furthermore, this territory has been affected for centuries by "transhumance" through tracks named "Tratturi" that have increased for centuries the number of grazing animals [41,42].…”

Section: Study Area and Land Use Storymentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest Dynamic in the Italian Apennines

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In recent decades, many mountain areas of the Mediterranean countries show spontaneous reforestation or densification due to depopulation and the consequent abandonment of traditional agricultural and pastoral activities, leading to the loss of open habitats. In this paper, dynamics of natural and semi-natural areas in the summit areas of the Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise National Park are investigated, highlighting changes that occurred from 1954 to present days. Historic Land cover maps have been produced by photo interpretation. A quantitative description of changes and habitats loss in relation to the socio-economic changes is provided. As expected, a forest surface expansion and an open areas decrease are observed similarly to many marginal mountains, where land abandonment and general forest/shrub recovery are the inevitable tendencies. An intense debate is still ongoing regarding the opportunity of rewilding, allowing the natural reforestation processes, versus the management of some areas, in order to preserve habitats and cultural traditional landscapes. For the EU biodiversity conservation policy to be effective, proper planning and management of interventions as well as public support and funding, become crucial when traditional activities are no longer profitable and viable for local inhabitants.

show abstract

Land Use Dynamics of Drove Roads: The Case of Tratturo Castel di Sangro-Lucera (Molise, Italy)

Cited by 12 publications

References 22 publications

Historic Rural Landscapes: Sustainable Planning Strategies and Action Criteria. The Italian Experience in the Global and European Context

Historic Rural Landscapes: Sustainable Planning Strategies and Action Criteria. The Italian Experience in the Global and European Context

Geotourism Perspectives for Transhumance Routes. Analysis, Requalification and Virtual Tools for the Geoconservation Management of the Drove Roads in Southern Italy

Forest Dynamic in the Italian Apennines

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About