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The Effect of Rural Buildings on Landscape Fragmentation in Natura 2000 Sites: A Case Study in Sardinia

Author

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  • Antonio Ledda

    (Dipartimento di Agraria, University of Sassari, Viale Italia 39, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Vittorio Serra

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari, via Marengo 2, 09123 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Andrea De Montis

    (Dipartimento di Agraria, University of Sassari, Viale Italia 39, 07100 Sassari, Italy
    Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari, via Marengo 2, 09123 Cagliari, Italy)

Abstract

Landscape fragmentation (LF) is the process where habitat patches tend to become smaller and more isolated over time. It is mainly due to human activities and affects habitats, biodiversity, ecosystem balance, and ecological networks. Transport and mobility infrastructures and urbanized areas—also in the form of suburban and rural sprawl—contribute to LF and can be localized close to (or included in) Natura 2000 sites (N2000 sites). N2000 sites are set according to the Habitats and Birds Directives and consist of special protection areas, sites of community importance, and special areas of conservation, where LF may threaten habitat quality and species survival and dispersal. Then, new rules and planning approaches are called for defining effective protection measures. The knowledge of the context appears to be a priority to achieve such aims. Therefore, this study focuses on LF in N2000 sites. We apply the rural buildings fragmentation index (RBFI) and the effective mesh density (Seff) in six landscape units in Sardinia (Italy). Then, we report on the least and the most fragmented N2000 sites and assess if there is correlation between RBFI and Seff. In this study, RBFI and Seff provide not trivial outcomes, as they are weakly and positively correlated.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio Ledda & Vittorio Serra & Andrea De Montis, 2019. "The Effect of Rural Buildings on Landscape Fragmentation in Natura 2000 Sites: A Case Study in Sardinia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-18, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:17:p:4695-:d:261908
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lucia Saganeiti & Antonella Favale & Angela Pilogallo & Francesco Scorza & Beniamino Murgante, 2018. "Assessing Urban Fragmentation at Regional Scale Using Sprinkling Indexes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-23, September.
    2. Ledda, Antonio & De Montis, Andrea, 2019. "Infrastructural landscape fragmentation versus occlusion: A sensitivity analysis," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 523-531.
    3. Bernardino Romano & Francesco Zullo & Lorena Fiorini & Serena Ciabò & Alessandro Marucci, 2017. "Sprinkling: An Approach to Describe Urbanization Dynamics in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-17, January.
    4. De Montis, Andrea & Ganciu, Amedeo & Cabras, Matteo & Bardi, Antonietta & Mulas, Maurizio, 2019. "Comparative ecological network analysis: An application to Italy," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 714-724.
    5. Bernardino Romano & Lorena Fiorini & Francesco Zullo & Alessandro Marucci, 2017. "Urban Growth Control DSS Techniques for De-Sprinkling Process in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-15, October.
    6. De Montis, Andrea & Ledda, Antonio & Ortega, Emilio & Martín, Belén & Serra, Vittorio, 2018. "Landscape planning and defragmentation measures: an assessment of costs and critical issues," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 313-324.
    7. Sabrina Lai & Corrado Zoppi, 2017. "The Influence of Natura 2000 Sites on Land-Taking Processes at the Regional Level: An Empirical Analysis Concerning Sardinia (Italy)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-26, February.
    8. Bernardino Romano & Giulio Tamburini, 2006. "Urban Sensibility of Landscape Structures in Italy General Characteristics and Local Details," ERSA conference papers ersa06p400, European Regional Science Association.
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    3. Giuseppe Cillis & Dina Statuto & Pietro Picuno, 2021. "Historical GIS as a Tool for Monitoring, Preserving and Planning Forest Landscape: A Case Study in a Mediterranean Region," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-20, August.

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