Why landscapes of the past are important for the future
TL;DR: In this paper, three periods of landscape dynamics are considered: the traditional landscapes before the important changes that started in the 18th century, the landscapes of the revolutions age of the 19th to 20th century and the post-modern new landscapes.
About: This article is published in Landscape and Urban Planning.The article was published on 2005-01-15. It has received 1219 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: European Landscape Convention & Cultural landscape.
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyze the perceptions of traditional agriculture in Europe and their influence in land management policies and argue that, contrary to the common perception, traditional agriculture practices were not environmentally friendly and that the standards of living of rural populations were low.
Abstract: For millennia, mankind has shaped landscapes, particularly through agriculture. In Europe, the age-old interaction between humans and ecosystems strongly influenced the cultural heritage. Yet European farmland is now being abandoned, especially in remote areas. The loss of the traditional agricultural landscapes and its consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem services is generating concerns in both the scientific community and the public. Here we ask to what extent farmland abandonment can be considered as an opportunity for rewilding ecosystems. We analyze the perceptions of traditional agriculture in Europe and their influence in land management policies. We argue that, contrary to the common perception, traditional agriculture practices were not environmentally friendly and that the standards of living of rural populations were low. We suggest that current policies to maintain extensive farming landscapes underestimate the human labor needed to sustain these landscapes and the recent and future dynamics of the socio-economic drivers behind abandonment. We examine the potential benefits for ecosystems and people from rewilding. We identify species that could benefit from land abandonment and forest regeneration and the ecosystem services that could be provided such as carbon sequestration and recreation. Finally, we discuss the challenges associated with rewilding, including the need to maintain open areas, the fire risks, and the conflicts between people and wildlife. Despite these challenges, we argue that rewilding should be recognized by policy-makers as one of the possible land management options in Europe, particularly on marginal areas.
624 citations
01 Apr 2007-Cab Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources
TL;DR: An overview of land abandonment, its driving forces and its consequences for landscape, biodiversity and humans is presented and it is suggested that farmland must be viewed in a context of multi-functionality to take advantage of ecosystem goods and services.
Abstract: Agricultural activities and their complex effects on nature conservation, and the services that ecosystems deliver to humans are controversial. We present an overview of land abandonment, its driving forces and its consequences for landscape, biodiversity and humans. A descriptive metaanalysis of independently published studies highlighted the fact that the abandonment of agricultural land is a phenomenon mostly driven by socio-economic factors such as immigration into areas where new economic opportunities are offered to rural people. Ecological drivers such as elevation and land mismanagement leading to soil erosion are of secondary importance. We identified the major problems related to abandonment of agricultural land and quantified their relative importance. In order of decreasing importance, they were biodiversity loss, increase of fire frequency and intensity, soil erosion and desertification, loss of cultural and/or aesthetic values, reduction of landscape diversity and reduction of water provision. The impacts of these problems were not equally relevant in all regions of the world. The abandonment of agricultural land may also benefit humans. The benefits include passive revegetation and active reforestation, water regulation, soil recovery, nutrient cycling and increased biodiversity and wilderness. In a world that is becoming less natural and more intensively exploited by humans, we suggest that (1) farmland must be viewed in a context of multi-functionality to take advantage of ecosystem goods and services, (2) at the global scale, the abandonment of agricultural land is mostly positive for humans and (3) there is a need for the implementation of policies based on the payments for environmental services that encourage human societies to reconcile agricultural use, nature conservation and ecological restoration.
621 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used a Geographic Information System (GIS), including a digital terrain model, a digital cadastre map and a farm survey addressing current and past land use.
479 citations
TL;DR: The Cultural Values Model as mentioned in this paper is an integrated conceptual framework for understanding the potential range of values that might be present within a landscape and the potential dynamics between these values, and is discussed in the context of the contribution that landscapes can make to cultural identity and sustainability.
477 citations
TL;DR: It is argued that the reference-based strategy should be progressively replaced by an objective- based strategy that reflects the practical limitations of developing sustainable landscapes and the emerging importance of accounting for human services of the target ecosystem.
Abstract: In the last two decades river restoration has become increasingly a field of research asking a series of complex questions related not just to science but also to society. Why should we restore ecosystems? Is restoration always beneficial? When is it beneficial? What should be the target reference states? What is success and when can it be evaluated? Our objective is to chronicle and discuss the fundamental concepts of reference versus objective, state versus process-based actions, nature versus culture and ecosystem integrity versus ecosystem benefits driven restoration. We discuss the dynamic and yet unresolved definition of a reference state. Although the desire to re-create the past is tempting, science has shown that river systems follow complex trajectories frequently making it impossible to return to a previous state. Therefore, restoration goals are moving away from explicitly defining a reference state because of the difficulty of attaining that reference state. We argue that the reference-based strategy should be progressively replaced by an objective-based strategy that reflects the practical limitations of developing sustainable landscapes and the emerging importance of accounting for human services of the target ecosystem. After a decade during which natural processes have been the focus of restoration, it appears that particular processes are not equally valuable everywhere and that regional complexity must be better understood to adjust restoration actions.
413 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the look of age and the benefits and burdens of the past are discussed in the context of anachronism and changing the past in an attempt to understand how we know the past.
Abstract: List of illustrations Introduction Part I. Wanting The Past: 1. Reliving the past: dreams and nightmares 2. Benefits and burdens of the past 3. Ancients vs. moderns 4. The look of age Part II. Knowing The Past: 5. How we know the past Part III. Changing The Past: 6. Changing the past 7. Creative anachronism Bibliography and citation index General index.
2,295 citations
Book•
01 Jan 1974TL;DR: Topophilia, the affective bond between people and place, is the primary theme of as mentioned in this paper, which examines environmental perceptions and values at different levels: the species, the group, and the individual.
Abstract: What are the links between environment and world view? Topophilia, the affective bond between people and place, is the primary theme of this book that examines environmental perceptions and values at different levels: the species, the group, and the individual. Yi-Fu Tuan holds culture and environment and topophilia and environment as distinct in order to show how they mutually contribute to the formation of values. Topophilia examines the search for environment in the city, suburb, countryside, and wilderness from a dialectical perspective, distinguishes different types of environmental experience, and describes their character.
1,856 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that the seven different views are not necessarily all incompatible and can be seen as emphasizing different elements in the whole truth about humans, and that these rival views are subversive of received opinion, all in their different ways.
Abstract: no cause for alarm; the economic system of capitalism has become more stable, conditions of life have improved vastly, in the former non-white colonies conditions have not actually worsened and Marx was wrong to reject the idea of gradual reform. No suggestion here of crisis in the economic system, of a crisis of energy resources; no suggestion of third world famine; no suggestion that there might be limits to ballot-box reform, that the rich may fight to protect what they have. No doubt the charge of complacency is unfair, but the general format of the book invites it. Finally, at one point Stevenson suggests that the seven different views are not necessarily all incompatible and can be seen as emphasizing different elements in the whole truth about humans. He backs away from this conclusion a bit, but in any introductory survey it should be shunned. Who will struggle to understand Sartre, if Sartre is simply emphasizing the element of moral responsibility in humans? Or Lorenz, if Lorenz is simply emphasizing the animal origins of some human behaviour? And it is hard to see what element Christianity is emphasizing: one cannot say the divine element unless one is a believer. The point that is likely to attract the beginner is that these rival views are subversive of received opinion, all in their different ways (including Christianity, taken seriously). To suggest otherwise may blunt enthusiasm. This is a book whose basic concept is dubious. Yet the concept is skillfully executed.
1,079 citations
TL;DR: The European Landscape Convention as mentioned in this paper is the first international treaty to be exclusively concerned with all dimensions of European landscape, including natural, urban and peri-urban areas, whether on land, water or sea.
Abstract: Abstract Adopted in Florence (Italy) on 20 October 2000, the European Landscape Convention is aimed at promoting the protection, management and planning of European landscapes and organising European cooperation on landscape issues. It is the first international treaty to be exclusively concerned with all dimensions of European landscape. It applies to the entire territory of the Parties and relates to natural, urban and peri-urban areas, whether on land, water or sea. It therefore concerns not just remarkable landscapes but also ordinary everyday landscapes and blighted areas. The Convention represents an important contribution to the implementation of the objectives of the Council of Europe: these seek to protect Europeans' quality of life and well-being, taking into account landscape, cultural and natural values. The member states of the Council of Europe signatory to the European Landscape Convention declared their concern to achieve sustainable development based on a balanced and harmonious relationship between social needs, economic activity and the environment. The cultural dimension is also of fundamental importance.
620 citations