Evoluzione del paesaggio agrario e naturale della Penisola Sorrentina negli ultimi 60 anni/Evolution of agricultural and natural landscape of the Sorrento Peninsula in the last 60 years.
This paper presents a study case focused on the dynamics of the structural components of the Sorrentine Peninsula/Amalfi Coast land-scape, from 1958 to 2014, a multi-functional area unique and full of history. Like most of the coastal areas of the Campania region, this landscape has been profoundly altered by human action within just 60 years. From 1958 to 2014 urban areas, despite the small space available (in less than 2 km you go from the coastline to the top of the rise at 1400 m asl), increased by an average of 200%, with a trend that records progressive and almost continuous sprawl of small housing units in rural areas. The latter, once fragmented and incorporated into the urban fabric, tend quickly to lose their primary function arranging in this way, to an higher degree of urbanization.
It is quite interesting to note that despite such uncontrolled urban-ization, the rural areas still account for over 83% of the territory. They keep also at least 50% of high value environmental quality indexes such as the HNVFF (High Nature Value Farmland Forestry).
The characterization of high nature value farmland and forestry in terms of biodiversity, high-quality products and cultural stratification, offers the legislator a powerful planning tool inclusive of both socio-economic and ecological components. HNVFF indexes can be used in the contingent valuation procedures in which, by a participatory mech-anism based on interviews, it is possible to assess the perception and degree of appreciation of a specific landscape, to take actions to manage and enhance rural activities in areas with a very high aesthetic value
