Landscape conservation and valorization by satellite imagery and historic maps. The case of Italian transhumance routes

Meini, Monica; Adducchio, Daniela; Ciliberti, Diana; Felice, Giuseppe Di

doi:10.5721/eujrs20144722

Cited by 12 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…The importance of historical cartography and the GIS environment as an integrated methodology to rediscover transhumance landscapes and integrated planning was emphasized by many authors [63,64]. Russo, et al [65] investigated the transition from transhumance to fixed site stock-breeding by elaborating indices such as farm size and continuation of farming.…”

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confidence: 99%

Landscape Pattern Changes in Response to Transhumance Abandonment on Mountain Vermio (North Greece)

et al. 2015

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Transhumance, the seasonal movement of herds between highlands and lowlands following precise, repeated routes, is a common practice in many Mediterranean regions. This livestock movement exploits natural vegetation in both winter and summer pastures. In Greece transhumant herders, drawn by relatively abundant vegetation, usually relocate to mountainous areas between April and October. Mount Vermio was an ideal summer pasture for the nomadic, ethnic group Sarakatsanoi of Thessaly, who used to own big herds. Socio-economic conditions of the 20th century led to the gradual decline of transhumance, resulting in reduction in grazing pressure and changes in vegetation dynamics. The purpose of this study was to monitor changes in landscape patterns in response to transhumance abandonment. Landscape metrics were employed to estimate land use/cover in two altitudinal zones. Results reveal that due to the abandonment of transhumance in the highlands landscape fragmentation increased. Meanwhile, in the lowlands, due to the uninterrupted presence of animals, landscape structure is more stable and diversified. Grasslands and agroforestry systems became smaller and more isolated. In OPEN ACCESSSustainability 2015, 7 15653 conclusion, the abandonment of transhumance led to the overall deterioration of the rural landscape in the highlands.

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confidence: 99%

Landscape Pattern Changes in Response to Transhumance Abandonment on Mountain Vermio (North Greece)

et al. 2015

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“…Within the ITINERA (Innovation in Tourism Information Network and Environmental Regional Application) Project, carried out at MoRGaNA Lab (University of Molise), we worked out a methodology for the assessment of the conservation status of the transhumance routes and their potential reuse for tourism, as a first step for an integrated tourism planning and management of the old transhumance routes in Central-Southern Italy, in which not only the tangible assets are to be considered but also the related historical and cultural features are analysed and valorised [48,49]. The methodology has been recently implemented through the discussion of a Ph.D. thesis on the cultural landscape of transhumance, environmental preservation and new applications for sustainable tourism [50] and with the results of a virtual landscape reconstruction applied to a specific stretch in the Unesco Man and Biosphere (MaB) area of Collemeluccio-Montedimezzo, in Alto Molise.…”

Section: Transhumance Routes As Integrated Cultural Landscape and Potential Geotourism Productmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A further field of application, experimented in our research, is based on a methodological approach that combines remote sensing techniques with geo-historical analysis. This new field of application has been successfully tested for the Castel di Sangro-Lucera drove road [49]. With the help of historic maps, the transhumance route is georeferenced and selected, then satellite imagery is acquired covering the study area and processed in the GIS (Geographic Information System) environment [80], eventually the NDVI index is calculated producing a map aimed at evaluating the accessibility and usability of the transhumance route for geotourism enhancement.…”

Section: The Vegetation Index As An Instrument For Assessing Conservation and Fruitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The integrated use of satellite images and NDVI allows to detect the information necessary for subsequent inspections on the field, discarding in advance the areas with weak geotourism potential. In fact, the abandonment of the transhumance practice has led to a progressive reduction in the width of the drove roads, as a consequence of spontaneous vegetation growth and of soil occupations, as demonstrated by the presence of asphalt roads, factories or soccer fields right on the path of the pre-existing sheep tracks [49].…”

Section: The Vegetation Index As An Instrument For Assessing Conservation and Fruitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

2018

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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.

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“…Nevertheless, the tratturo has been the subject of a promotion and enhancement project (through the identification of a public path), proposed and managed by the Attraverso il Molise association since 2013 [44] (Figure 1). Moreover, in 2014 a study with a less detailed scale was conducted on the conservation state of this ancient path and through the mapping of the material elements connotative of the transhumance landscape; the presence of important historical evidence was recorded in order to verify the potential use of this tratturo as a tourism resource [45].…”

Section: The Drove Roads In the Molise Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Minotti

Giancola

Marzio

et al. 2018

Land

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Abstract:Organized transhumant pastoralism has contributed to shaping the cultural landscape of many countries. It has affected areas designated for grazing, temporary and permanent shelters, and towns. Through the analysis of historical maps and recent information, in a temporal range from 1652 to 2014, this study focused on changes in land cover and conservation status of one of the main Italian transhumance paths, namely the Tratturo Castel di Sangro-Lucera. Although there are some areas where this drove road is still recognizable, it is mostly identifiable only through a few tangible signs. The methodological approach, which we present in this study, allowed us to compare historical and recent cartographies as well as archive documentation. The resulting virtual reinstatement is proposed as an efficient method for the conservation and management of material cultural heritage and can be applied in other countries with transhumance drove roads (e.g., France, Portugal).

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Landscape conservation and valorization by satellite imagery and historic maps. The case of Italian transhumance routes

Cited by 12 publications

References 10 publications

Landscape Pattern Changes in Response to Transhumance Abandonment on Mountain Vermio (North Greece)

Landscape Pattern Changes in Response to Transhumance Abandonment on Mountain Vermio (North Greece)

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

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

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