Management Plans and Web-Gis Software Applications as Active and Dynamic Tools To Conserve and Valorize Historic Public Gardens

Abstract

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> Historic gardens are artefacts that evolve in a continuous and unavoidable way, and, at the same time, they are heritage and cultural sites that need to be conserved: the recognition of this dual nature motivates us to seek for new approaches to their management issues. Whilst it is necessary to follow site mutations and valorize its features while dynamically changes the appearance of the garden and the needs of the society, at the same time it is fundamental that an appropriate strategic plan sets a target for the garden, a midmid-long term vision, in order to preserve botanic and documentary value and maintain historic and artistic significance. The paper analyzes historical sources, surveys, thematic maps and interpretations to study historic public gardens, considering complexity and vulnerability of the components an d issues involved in historic gardens and consequent multidisciplinary approach. In order to identify conservation and management criteria it underlines analysis and evaluation of the environmental, architectural, land scape and perceptive features of the historic garden and its surroundings, demonstrating the importance to study the site historic stratification and the site context in order to define preservation goals to prevent decay, to mitigate impacts, to set up maintenance programs and management plans. The aim of this essay is also to highlight the role of GIS and WebGIS applications – targeted at public administrations – that integrate the spatial component (topographic map, ortophoto, physical plans, cadastral maps) and databases about botanic inventories and conservation and valorization treatments of historic public of public gardens.</p>

A Systematic Literature Review of Historic Garden Management and Its Economic Aspects

“…Cazzani et al's management process flowchart ( Figure 1) is used as a guide in separating the reviewed studies by management process. Cazzani et al [12] bases their synthesis on the management processes and documentation required by UNESCO World Heritage Sites, The USA National Park Service, and the United Kingdom (UK)'s National Trust. Their vision of the management process is cyclical, moving from a strategic level to an operational level to an assessment level.…”

“…That is why it is especially useful to conceive of historic garden management as a cyclical process that loops through a strategic phase, an operational phase and an assessment phase. The strategic phase involves defining long term stakeholders, significance, responsibilities and constraints; the operational phase is carried out within a given time frame and involves short-term actions, contracts and actors directly involved in management; the assessment phase regards the continuative monitoring of goal achievement, critical issues and policy implementation [12]. This vision of a multiphase conservation management process is common throughout operational guiding documents such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List Operational Guidelines [13], the Australia/International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Burra Charter for Places of Cultural Significance [7], Natural England and English Heritage's Guidance Notes [14] and The United States of America (USA) Department of the Interior's Guidelines for the Management of Cultural Landscapes [15].…”

“…Specifically, they struggle with financial resources [16,17], human capital [17][18][19][20][21] and information management [22,23]. Many have undergone a change in ownership from private estate to the public park, entailing a loss of compositional legibility; relationship with internal architecture and surrounding rural or urban context; number and diversity of botanical, architectural and decorative elements; agricultural or productive areas; continuous qualified care by the same gardeners in favor of discontinuous municipal gardeners or external firms; altered or destroyed views and vistas of the surrounding landscape [12]. This all erodes the garden's identity, an intangible value strongly linked to the character, spirit of the place, and significance, at the heart of conservation theory [24].…”

“…In order to safeguard both public [12] and private [22] historic gardens, efficient management tools and strategies need to be developed and evaluated that specifically address social, economic and environmental sustainability. Academic interest in this topic began in the 1980 s, around when the Florence Charter officially identified historic gardens as living monuments [8].…”

Raising awareness of the cultural, architectural, and perceptive values of historic gardens and related landscapes: panoramic cones and multi-temporal data

“…Management criteria often treat them to simple public green areas, ignoring their historical and cultural significance. Therefore, considering the complexity of historic gardens and their relationship with the context is fundamental for future conservation and it is the starting point to set management and promotion plans (Cazzani et al 2019b).…”