The landscape context affects the ecological value of an organic farm in an Italian inner area

The general aim is to assess the landscape diversity and the ecological value of a multifunctional and diversified farm in an Italian inner area. The study was carried out in the context of the national DEMETRA research project, aimed at developing and implementing integrated and multifunctional agricultural production systems with a high degree of diversification and sustainability. For landscape context analysis, detailed land cover maps were produced and the composition and spatial configuration of the agricultural and natural landscape were quantified and evaluated. Moreover, using the i-Tree canopy software for rural areas, three ecosystem services were estimated. The results revealed a great diversity of land cover and use types, a small to medium size of the cultivated plots, and frequent contacts of cultivated areas with forest and semi-natural areas. This rural landscape supported the provision of numerous ecosystem services that resulted in a positive buffer effect for the quality of air, water and soil, ensuring great annual carbon sequestration, atmospheric pollution reduction, and consistently avoided runoff. Results highlighted the high ecological value of organic and multifunctional farms in inner areas and their contribution to face the environmental and food production challenges driven by global change.