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Land use change dynamics in Euro-mediterranean mountain regions: Driving forces and consequences for the landscape

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  • Jiménez-Olivencia, Yolanda
  • Ibáñez-Jiménez, Álvaro
  • Porcel-Rodríguez, Laura
  • Zimmerer, Karl

Abstract

The marginalization of mountain regions in Mediterranean Europe since the mid-20th Century has triggered important socioeconomic and environmental changes that are putting the survival of highly regulated and environmentally adapted landscapes in jeopardy. We still have only a limited understanding of the driving forces behind these dynamics of change and their final consequences for the structure and character of the landscape. In general, the transformation of the landscape and its causes have been studied at regional and local level and various syntheses have been made for Europe or the Mediterranean as a whole, focusing above all on changes in the use of farmland. The objective of this paper is to provide a holistic view of the changes that have taken place in the landscape in the Euro-Mediterranean region, focusing in particular on the mountains because of their role as heritage reserves and as sources of environmental services. This research involves a systematic review of the evidence about the dynamics of land use change, its underlying drivers and their effects on the landscape. We analyse 53 case studies from 6 countries situated on the northern shores of the Mediterranean. These studies covered a period of around 40 years and were each performed at a local scale. The results reveal that landscape change is caused above all by the abandonment of farmland and reforestation (in over 90% of cases), and by pressure from urban development in the case of coastal and peri-urban mountain ranges. In addition, the dominant dynamics in each case vary depending on the bioclimatic area in question, to the extent that bioclimate has been shown to be an important explanatory factor behind these dynamics. The underlying boosters of change normally act together and those most commonly cited are economic, demographic and geographic. As regards the impacts on the structure and character of the landscape, the dynamics analysed are manifested first and foremost in degradation processes, in an increase in homogenization, which affects above all the most humid bioclimates, and in the fragmentation of open spaces. This analysis provides a general overview of the causes and consequences of the changes in land use in the mountain regions of Mediterranean Europe and raises questions of interest for policy-making that affects the landscape.

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  • Jiménez-Olivencia, Yolanda & Ibáñez-Jiménez, Álvaro & Porcel-Rodríguez, Laura & Zimmerer, Karl, 2021. "Land use change dynamics in Euro-mediterranean mountain regions: Driving forces and consequences for the landscape," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:109:y:2021:i:c:s0264837721004440
    DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105721
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    1. Konstantinos Chontos & Ioannis Tsiripidis, 2023. "Open Habitats under Threat in Mountainous, Mediterranean Landscapes: Land Abandonment Consequences in the Vegetation Cover of the Thessalian Part of Mt Agrafa (Central Greece)," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-22, April.
    2. Quintas-Soriano, Cristina & Buerkert, Andreas & Plieninger, Tobias, 2022. "Effects of land abandonment on nature contributions to people and good quality of life components in the Mediterranean region: A review," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    3. Dimopoulos, Thymios & Helfenstein, Julian & Kreuzer, Amelie & Mohr, Franziska & Sentas, Stratis & Giannelis, Rafail & Kizos, Thanasis, 2023. "Different responses to mega-trends in less favorable farming systems. Continuation and abandonment of farming land on the islands of Lesvos and Lemnos, Greece," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    4. Yuanhong Luo & Zhijie Wang & Xuexia Zhou & Changyue Hu & Jing Li, 2022. "Spatial-Temporal Driving Factors of Urban Landscape Changes in the Karst Mountainous Regions of Southwest China: A Case Study in Central Urban Area of Guiyang City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-18, July.
    5. Álvaro Ibáñez-Jiménez & Yolanda Jiménez-Olivencia & Ángela Mesa-Pedrazas & Laura Porcel-Rodríguez & Karl Zimmerer, 2022. "A Systematic Review of EU-Funded Innovative Agri-Food Projects: Potential for Transfer between Territories," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-26, April.
    6. Diogenis A. Kiziridis & Anna Mastrogianni & Magdalini Pleniou & Elpida Karadimou & Spyros Tsiftsis & Fotios Xystrakis & Ioannis Tsiripidis, 2022. "Acceleration and Relocation of Abandonment in a Mediterranean Mountainous Landscape: Drivers, Consequences, and Management Implications," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-23, March.
    7. Péter Csorba & Krisztina Bánóczki & Zoltán Túri, 2022. "Land Use Changes in Peri-Urban Open Spaces of Small Towns in Eastern Hungary," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-18, August.

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