engleski

Mediterranean Landscapes Contribution to a Better Management : A report commissioned by Priority Actions Programme

During the last decades much has been written and published about Mediterranean environments. However, the attention has mainly been focused on marine environments and coastal issues in connection with the explosive development of tourism. Also, a large amount of ecological research dealing with terrestrial vegetation and fauna has been produced. On the other hand, landscape as a cultural system was laid aside although it is precisely in this area that Europe is irreversibly loosing a substanital part of its unique historical heritage. The main objective of this paper is to point out to this cognitive shortcoming and emphasize the need to take some action towards a more efficient landscape management in general and, specifically, the safeguarding of at least some part of this unique ancient inheritance. Following such an orientation, this contribution is prepared in a planning rather than in a scientific diction. Following the job description in the contract, the paper is dealing with several more relevant topics concerning the current state and development trends in Mediterranean landscapes. On the one hand this refers to a progressing deterioration of cultural landscapes which, in environmental treatments, is a too often neglected aspect. These processes, mainly the abandonment of agriculture and insufficiently controlled urbanisation, are articulated more in detail and examplified by photographs. Some are also illustrated by simulations which at the same time show possible alternatives for future development. With regard to the above statements, we are not dealing here with specially protected areas (according to the denomination in the Barcelona and other conventions), particularly not with national parks and similar reserves because they already enjoy legal protection. Our main concern are other landscapes that could potentially be subject to any kind of active (construction, terrains for various sports, agricultural intensification et simil.) or passive transformation (abandonment of use, forest expansion). Point of departure for such orientation is in the fact that among the traditional rural landscapes there are many that display cultural features of a high but so far overlooked value. However, the main objective of this paper is, to propose measures for a more efficient landscape management. The statements and suggestions are supported by photographs. In order to better argument the statements also some simulations are presented. Among numerous human activities that affect landscape the most, two were selected for a more detailed treatment due to their far- reaching impacts. These are agriculture and tourism, which generate impacts that are not only most perceptible in the envirornment but also occupy large areas. The report will in its concluding part suggest actions at several levels: 1. A more efficient treatment of ordinary landscapes in land management, particularly by the provision of adequate procedures in landscape planning and design ; 2. Identification of oustanding cultural landscapes and adoption of measures that will guarantee their survival through a proper management, especially through cultivation and subsidizing ; 3. Formulation of models and approaches to be applied when the design of agricultural systems and improvement of agricultural productivity is considered ; the same will be attempted for tourism ; 4. Actions in the field of advancing awarenes in public and knowledge in relevant professional spheres whose activities can directly or indirectly impact landscape management. Properly deviced workshops and seminars can play a special role here. Further suggestions will be made for preparing various publications, In principle, this paper is based on two points of departure. On the one hand, the recognitions here are derived from an analysis of the existing situation and ongoing processes in the Mediterranean basin. The other source were information drawn from various resources, such as documents that directly or indirectly refer to landscape issues. A considerable part of information was collected from written material published in various publications, periodicals or conference proceedings that have dealt with landscape issues in this area. Finally, a part of statements was derived from the author's experience in environmental planning which also includes the Regional plan for North Adriatics ih the 1970's in which he has taken part as a consultant for landscape aspects. The contract has established the size of this paper to 20-25 pages. Although this volume has been exceeded, it was not possible to elaborate the material more in detail. As a consequence, statements are given at a priniciple level and in a form of methodic outlines.

mediterranean environments; mediterranean landscapes; curtural landscape; landscape management

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