HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAMS: A TOOL TO REPRESENT A CHANGING ITALY

I fotogrammi storici, opportunamente utilizzati attraverso procedimenti di miglioramento delle caratteristiche fotografiche e geometriche, consentono la ricostruzione delle dinamiche evolutive del paesaggio italiano. In particolare, nella presente memoria, vengono investigate le dinamiche occorse nel territorio collinare della provincia di Cuneo. L’ausilio di metodologie geomatiche ha fornito una valutazione delle transizioni nelle coperture del suolo, e quindi nelle dinamiche socio-economiche. Prova di questo processo è stata positivamente riscontrata nelle attuali disposizioni normative a sostegno delle produzioni agricole di pregio.The comparison of appropriately processed historical photograms allows the reconstruction of the land cover dynamics of the Italian landscape. In particular, in this paper, the dynamics of a hilly area of the province of Cuneo are assessed. The use of geomatic methodologies has provided an evaluation of land cover transitions, and consequently in the socio-economic dynamics. Proof of this process has been positively detected in the legislative measures supporting quality agricultural production

Progressive fragmentation of a traditional Mediterranean landscape by hazelnut plantations: The impact of CAP over time in the Langhe region (NW Italy)

Land use change is strongly modifying the traditional landscape of hilly productive Mediterranean sites. An example of these circumstances is the Langhe region (Piemonte, NW Italy), where woody plantations such as vineyards and orchards have been cultivated on hillslopes for centuries. In this paper we assess landscape changes occurred in the Diana study area (2651 ha) in the 1954-2000 period and we ascertain land use transition paths and rates of this rural ecosystem. Land use mapping obtained from object-oriented analysis of aerial photographs was used to quantify land use changes between 1954 and 2000. To examine the spatio-temporal patterns of land use change over time, a set of spatial statistics capturing different dimensions of landscape change was identified. An increase of landscape heterogeneity from 1954 to the present was observed due to the expansion of orchards and the fragmentation of field crops. A significant portion (55%) of current orchards surface is represented by former field crops, 24% by vineyards and 15% by forests. The strong expansion of hazelnut orchards concurred to the fragmentation of traditional rural landscape was dominated by vineyards, field crops and forests. Hazelnut orchards expansion was mainly located in places where grapes cultivation was less remunerative. A further expansion of hazelnut in the area should be planned, discussed and carefully monitored through change detection studies in order to avoid potential unsustainable use of the land. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The Langhe Landscape Changes

Agricultural policies and socioeconomic constraints are strong drivers of change in human-dominated rural landscapes of Mediterranean Europe. Changes in rural landscapes can have a strong influence on the perspectives of protection and improvement of the natural and cultural heritage. A shift towards quality production, favoured by institutional financial support, has been recently observed in hilly productive Mediterranean sites. An example of this situation is the Langhe region (NW Italy), where woody plantations such as vineyards and orchards have been cultivated on hillslopes for centuries. In this chapter, we assess the landscape evolution occurred in this study site. Land use changes in the 1954–2000 period were assessed by object-oriented analysis of aerial photographs and quantified by spatial statistics capturing and measuring different elements of landscape change. The expansion of orchards from 1954 to 2000 caused an increase of landscape heterogeneity and the fragmentation of field crops. Orchards expansion has reduced other land uses occupying up to 55 % of former field crops, 24 % of vineyards and 15 % of forests. Changes in rural landscapes, traditionally dominated by vineyards, field crops and forests, were so observed in the Langhe region