Agricultural modernization brought about a significant land use change, with the expansion both o... more Agricultural modernization brought about a significant land use change, with the expansion both of crops that could be more easily mechanized and of woodland and natural areas. Meanwhile, to increase the cultivated area, the farmland fabric of patches and infrastructures underwent a process of progressive simplification that caused the disappearance of landscape elements with high ecological value, such as hedgerows and isolated trees. This paper first analyses the land cover of the territory of a hilly inland municipality in Tuscany (Italy) in the years 1954, 1978 and 2016 and then assesses the loss of hedgerows and isolated trees that occurred between 1954–2016 in a sub-area. This analysis was performed using photointerpretation based on Q-GIS. Secondly, the paper analyzes the drivers of these phenomena focusing on the main direct and indirect costs of reintroducing hedgerows. Finally, it discusses the role of available policy instruments and planning tools in reversing hedgerow-l...
This paper aims at investigating the factors affecting relative changes in the average farm size ... more This paper aims at investigating the factors affecting relative changes in the average farm size over the period 2000-2010. The objective has been pursued applying an empirical investigation in Tuscany region through observation aggregated at municipality level. By applying spatial analysis and spatial econometric techniques, spatial distribution and determinants of different farm size are detected. Results showing the relevance of spatial analysis, pointed out that farm household and territorial characteristics, such as the productivity, single farm payments and being located at plain altitude, positively affect the average farm size since these agricultural holdings are eased to pursue economies of scale.
In order to promote rural development public agricultural policies need to constantly adapt to th... more In order to promote rural development public agricultural policies need to constantly adapt to the continuous change of socio-economic conditions of rural areas, related to both farm and territorial dynamics. Hence beyond the zoning provided by the European Commission and developed by Member States [art. 11 Reg. Ce 1698/2005], policy makers should take into account geography, farms characteristics and farmers attitude to acquire a deeper knowledge of these rural areas. This paper aims at supporting the design of proper agricultural policies focusing on the case-study of Mugello territory, a rural area located in the North of Tuscany, which includes both: intermediate rural areas and areas with development problems. This purpose is firstly pursued by generating a geo-referenced database able to develop a deeper analysis on the existing interactions between socio -economic attributes of farms, land use and agricultural policies. The study combined several sources of data: the 2010 Ita...
Complexity in planning and programming applied to rural landscape and territories was increased b... more Complexity in planning and programming applied to rural landscape and territories was increased by the new approach of the European Landscape Convention and the growing awareness on the role of rural landscapes in providing ecosystem services. While the scientific debate is still going on, one of the main challenges is how to operationalize the new attitude and knowledge about the role played by landscape in general, and not only by historical and high valued landscapes. New instruments are needed to maintain and enhance everyday landscape taking into account that it is a living and evolving system. These instruments ask for multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches based on a holistic knowledge system. GIS techniques allow taking into account both spatial distribution of elements/information and their physical relations, which are paramount for the analysis of interventions about landscape. This chapter presents an expedite model for identifying policy actions aiming to protect, maintain and manage rural territories. The model has been tested on a case-study area located in Tuscany (Italy) and it identifies a set of spatialized indicators, for which it is possible to compute a cardinal or ordinal value, to be used to individuate suitable actions. While the case-study analysis is necessarily bounded by rules stated by the Tuscan administration and by the context within it was developed, the philosophy underpinning the proposed methodology may well be extended to other territories and countries. Results show that it is possible to provide simplified operative tools able to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of territorial governance.
Complexity in planning and programming applied to rural landscape and territories was increased b... more Complexity in planning and programming applied to rural landscape and territories was increased by the new approach of the European Landscape Convention and the growing awareness on the role of rural landscapes in providing ecosystem services. While the scientific debate is still going on, one of the main challenges is how to operationalize the new attitude and knowledge about the role played by landscape in general, and not only by historical and high valued landscapes. New instruments are needed to maintain and enhance everyday landscape taking into account that it is a living and evolving system. These instruments ask for multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches based on a holistic knowledge system. GIS techniques allow taking into account both spatial distribution of elements/information and their physical relations, which are paramount for the analysis of interventions about landscape. This chapter presents an expedite model for identifying policy actions aiming to protect, maintain and manage rural territories. The model has been tested on a case-study area located in Tuscany (Italy) and it identifies a set of spatialized indicators, for which it is possible to compute a cardinal or ordinal value, to be used to individuate suitable actions. While the case-study analysis is necessarily bounded by rules stated by the Tuscan administration and by the context within it was developed, the philosophy underpinning the proposed methodology may well be extended to other territories and countries. Results show that it is possible to provide simplified operative tools able to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of territorial governance.
Agricultural modernization brought about a significant land use change, with the expansion both o... more Agricultural modernization brought about a significant land use change, with the expansion both of crops that could be more easily mechanized and of woodland and natural areas. Meanwhile, to increase the cultivated area, the farmland fabric of patches and infrastructures underwent a process of progressive simplification that caused the disappearance of landscape elements with high ecological value, such as hedgerows and isolated trees. This paper first analyses the land cover of the territory of a hilly inland municipality in Tuscany (Italy) in the years 1954, 1978 and 2016 and then assesses the loss of hedgerows and isolated trees that occurred between 1954–2016 in a sub-area. This analysis was performed using photointerpretation based on Q-GIS. Secondly, the paper analyzes the drivers of these phenomena focusing on the main direct and indirect costs of reintroducing hedgerows. Finally, it discusses the role of available policy instruments and planning tools in reversing hedgerow-l...
This paper aims at investigating the factors affecting relative changes in the average farm size ... more This paper aims at investigating the factors affecting relative changes in the average farm size over the period 2000-2010. The objective has been pursued applying an empirical investigation in Tuscany region through observation aggregated at municipality level. By applying spatial analysis and spatial econometric techniques, spatial distribution and determinants of different farm size are detected. Results showing the relevance of spatial analysis, pointed out that farm household and territorial characteristics, such as the productivity, single farm payments and being located at plain altitude, positively affect the average farm size since these agricultural holdings are eased to pursue economies of scale.
In order to promote rural development public agricultural policies need to constantly adapt to th... more In order to promote rural development public agricultural policies need to constantly adapt to the continuous change of socio-economic conditions of rural areas, related to both farm and territorial dynamics. Hence beyond the zoning provided by the European Commission and developed by Member States [art. 11 Reg. Ce 1698/2005], policy makers should take into account geography, farms characteristics and farmers attitude to acquire a deeper knowledge of these rural areas. This paper aims at supporting the design of proper agricultural policies focusing on the case-study of Mugello territory, a rural area located in the North of Tuscany, which includes both: intermediate rural areas and areas with development problems. This purpose is firstly pursued by generating a geo-referenced database able to develop a deeper analysis on the existing interactions between socio -economic attributes of farms, land use and agricultural policies. The study combined several sources of data: the 2010 Ita...
Complexity in planning and programming applied to rural landscape and territories was increased b... more Complexity in planning and programming applied to rural landscape and territories was increased by the new approach of the European Landscape Convention and the growing awareness on the role of rural landscapes in providing ecosystem services. While the scientific debate is still going on, one of the main challenges is how to operationalize the new attitude and knowledge about the role played by landscape in general, and not only by historical and high valued landscapes. New instruments are needed to maintain and enhance everyday landscape taking into account that it is a living and evolving system. These instruments ask for multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches based on a holistic knowledge system. GIS techniques allow taking into account both spatial distribution of elements/information and their physical relations, which are paramount for the analysis of interventions about landscape. This chapter presents an expedite model for identifying policy actions aiming to protect, maintain and manage rural territories. The model has been tested on a case-study area located in Tuscany (Italy) and it identifies a set of spatialized indicators, for which it is possible to compute a cardinal or ordinal value, to be used to individuate suitable actions. While the case-study analysis is necessarily bounded by rules stated by the Tuscan administration and by the context within it was developed, the philosophy underpinning the proposed methodology may well be extended to other territories and countries. Results show that it is possible to provide simplified operative tools able to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of territorial governance.
Complexity in planning and programming applied to rural landscape and territories was increased b... more Complexity in planning and programming applied to rural landscape and territories was increased by the new approach of the European Landscape Convention and the growing awareness on the role of rural landscapes in providing ecosystem services. While the scientific debate is still going on, one of the main challenges is how to operationalize the new attitude and knowledge about the role played by landscape in general, and not only by historical and high valued landscapes. New instruments are needed to maintain and enhance everyday landscape taking into account that it is a living and evolving system. These instruments ask for multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches based on a holistic knowledge system. GIS techniques allow taking into account both spatial distribution of elements/information and their physical relations, which are paramount for the analysis of interventions about landscape. This chapter presents an expedite model for identifying policy actions aiming to protect, maintain and manage rural territories. The model has been tested on a case-study area located in Tuscany (Italy) and it identifies a set of spatialized indicators, for which it is possible to compute a cardinal or ordinal value, to be used to individuate suitable actions. While the case-study analysis is necessarily bounded by rules stated by the Tuscan administration and by the context within it was developed, the philosophy underpinning the proposed methodology may well be extended to other territories and countries. Results show that it is possible to provide simplified operative tools able to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of territorial governance.
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Papers by Maria Andreoli