Theories and Methods of Rural Landscape Classification in Europe

Abstract

After the European Landscape Convention initialling, many studies are being undertaken in order to analyze and safeguard the landscape. Nevertheless, the rural landscape remains a secondary issue, forgotten, despite its importance and diffusion across European countries. It contributes to soil conservation, development, sustainability, environmental balances and the conservation of local values and identity. Nowadays, encouraged by the national legislations in terms of the protection of the landscape, an attempt is being made to bring this issue to the general attention. But several problems have to be solved. The main one is defining and classifying what constitutes a rural landscape. Certainly, classification is not only the basis of the research on landscape structure and essence, but also it is the prerequisite for landscape evaluation, planning and design. However, theories and methodologies of landscape classification, especially of rural landscape, have not been paid enough attention. This article analyzes and discusses the theories and methodologies of landscape classifications in Europe in general and in Italy in particular. What do they have in common and in what ways do they diverge?

Agricultural Entrepreneurship Motivation Policies: European Union Experience and Decision Theory Application

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A Renewed Approach to the ABC Landscape Assessment Method: An Application to Muntanyes d’Ordal, Barcelona Metropolitan Area

“…Holistic and parametric methods have pros and cons and their combination is understood to be enriching when undertaking comprehensive approaches although their combined used is not common (Van Eetvelde & Antrop 2009). Many procedures are based on holistic premises (Balestrieri 2015), and most of them involve using expert knowledge (Wascher 2005). Although these methods are common in classical land evaluation procedures (Zonneveld 1994), they are frequently criticized for being inconsistent or inaccurate (Griffiths 2004).…”

“…ELC does not propose principles or procedures for tackling landscape research, and a number of landscape approaches have appeared in recent years to fill this methodological gap (Brunetta & Voghera 2008). Because of the variety of objectives and interests, there are also a variety of approaches to the study of the landscape; this heterogeneity can be seen in a number of ways such as how the landscape units are delineated or how landscape cartography is performed (Vallés et al 2012;Balestrieri 2015).…”

The Diversification of Sicilian Farms: A Way to Sustainable Rural Development

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