Effects of land use changes and depopulation on landscape, social life and tourism - overview about the results of a case study from the Piedmont Alps in Italy

Wien

2003

S. 1-18

9 Abb., 42 Lit. Ang.

Unselbständiges Werk

200099403

Depopulation and land use abandonment are wide-spread phenomena in the south-western Alps which have far-reaching ecological and social impacts. Within the framework of the presented research project, the connected processes were analysed for two study areas in the Piedmont Alps of Italy using a transdisciplinary approach. The objective was to develop perspectives for the future of these landscapes as this relates to assessing the contrasting concepts of maintaining traditional landscapes or tolerating development to wilderness. According to old photographs and the historical land register, the traditional rural landscape of the Strona Valley study area was dominated by pastures and meadows. Today, according to several recently formulated definitions, such as that employed by the FAO, nearly half of the Strona Valley study area is covered by forests. Presently, the two villages in the study area are only inhabited in the summertime, and the majority of houses are used as holiday residences. The complete abandonment of theses villages by the native population can be foreseen. As indicated by the sociological survey, despite very little touristic infrastructure, tourists are clearly interested in the area. Moreover, the survey showed that all target groups mainly regarded the abandonment phenomenon in a negative light. The majority of those surveyed supported the maintenance of old sttlements and some forms of land-use. Depending on political processes and the availablity of local human resources, three contrasting perspectives for future development appear possible: the "Wilderness-Scenario", with abandoned landscapes dominated by woodlands, the "Ongoing Trend-Scenario" with unstructured land use and connected ecological and social conflicts, and the "Culture-Scenario" as would be reflected by a new type of rural landscape and way of life.