Agricultural terraced systems of the tuscan archipelago: typological analysis and recovery possibilities of dry stone walls Paolo Armanasco University of Florence, Italy Leonardo Conti University of Florence, Italy Michele Moretta University of Florence, Italy Alberto Masoni University of Florence, Italy Stefano Camiciottoli University of Florence, Italy Enrico Palchetti University of Florence, Italy This is a section of Tenth InternationaSymposium Monitoring of Mediterranean Coastal Areas: Problems and Measurement Techniques(DOI: 10.36253/979-12-215-0556-6) by Laura Bonora, Marcantonio Catelani, Matteo De Vincenzi, Giorgio Matteucci Firenze University Press Florence 2024 https://doi.org/10.36253/979-12-215-0556-6.31

Available for academic research purposes

Open Access

Copyright Author(s)

Content licence CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Metadata licence CC0 1.0

This is original content, published for academic research purposes

 Digital edition XML powered by Booksflow

In the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago, dry-stone walls represent an extensive cultural heritage in state of generalized abandonment. Considering the multifunctionality recognized to surviving terraced systems needs to be safeguarded through surveys aimed at providing characterization and indications for possible recovery interventions. After a preliminary quantitative G.I.S. remote analysis, qualitative characterization of the realities deemed most significant was carried out by on-site surveys. 48 sample areas have been analyzed by studying parameters related to constructive, functional aspects and state of conservation. A variety of construction and management techniques has been found and it appears that there are strong differences in the state of conservation even between neighboring fields: on one side farmers and virtuous private individuals who maintain the terraces, on the other side, abandoned areas where the decay produces a fragmentation of the landscape continuity and originates sometimes non-negligible potential danger situations. Thus, technical indications are proposed for the restoration of degraded structures requiring priority interventions.

 dry stone walls features analysis state of conservation land abandonment

It is available online at https://doi.org/10.36253/979-12-215-0556-6.31

References Agnoletti M., Conti L., Frezza L., Monti M., Santoro A. (2015) - Features Analysis of Dry Stone Walls of Tuscany (Italy). Sustainability 7, 13887-13903. 10.3390/su71013887 Agnoletti M., Errico A., Santoro A., Dani A., Preti F (2019) - Terraced Landscapes and Hydrogeological Risk. Effects of Land Abandonment in Cinque Terre (Italy) during Severe Rainfall Events, Sustainability, 11, 235; 10.3390/su11010235 Assandri G., Bogliani G., Pedrini P., Brambilla M. (2018) - Beautiful agricultural landscapes promote cultural ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 256, 200-210. 10.1016/j.agee.2018.01.012 Cicinelli E., Caneva G., Savo V. (2021) - A Review on Management Strategies of the Terraced Agricultural Systems and Conservation Actions to Maintain Cultural Landscapes around the Mediterranean Area. Sustainability 13, 4475 10.3390/su13084475 Collier M.J. (2013) - Field boundary stone walls as exemplars of ‘novel’ ecosystems. Landsc Res 38(1):141–150. 10.1080/01426397.2012.682567 García-Ruiz J.M., Lana-Renault N. (2011) - Hydrological and erosive consequences of farmland abandonment in Europe, with special reference to the Mediterranean region—A review. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 140, 317–338. 10.1016/j.agee.2011.01.003 ICOMOS (1981) – Historic Gardens (The Florence Charter 1981). 10.1400/193634 Arnáez J., Lana-Renault N., Lasanta T., Ruiz-Flaño P., Castroviejo J. (2015) - Effects of farming terraces on hydrological and geomorphological processes. A review, Catena 128, 122–134. 10.1016/j.catena.2015.01.021 López-Estébanez N., Molina-Holgado P., Allende Álvarez F. (2024) - Preserving the Values of Mediterranean Enclosed Fields with Dry StoneWalls, an Example of Vulnerable Natural and Rural Heritage. Heritage 7, 844–872. 10.3390/heritage7020041 Paliaga G., Luino F., Turconi L., De Graff J., Faccini F. (2020) - Terraced Landscapes on Portofino Promontory (Italy): Identification, Geo-Hydrological Hazard and Management, Water (2), 435 10.3390/w12020435 Petanidou T., Kizos T., Soulakellis N. (2008) - Socioeconomic dimensions of changes in the agricultural landscape of the Mediterranean basin: A case study of the abandonment of cultivation terraces on Nisyros Island, Greece. Environ. Manag. 41, 250–266. 10.1007/s00267-007-9054-6 Quintas‑Soriano C., Torralba M., Martín M.G., Plieninger T. (2023) - Narratives of land abandonment in a biocultural landscape of Spain. Regional Environmental Change, 23:144. 10.1007/s10113-023-02125-z Sakellariou M., Psiloglou B.E., Giannakopoulos C., Mylona P.V. (2021) - Integration of Abandoned Lands in Sustainable Agriculture: The Case of Terraced Landscape Re-Cultivation in Mediterranean Island Conditions. Land 10, 457. 10.3390/land10050457 Santoro A., Venturi M., Agnoletti M. (2020) - Agricultural Heritage Systems and Landscape Perception among Tourists. The Case of Lamole, Chianti (Italy). Sustainability 12, 3509. 10.3390/su12093509