Landscape changes during 1954-1992 time period in the town council of Isernia (Central Italy) were described in relation to an ecosystem classification. Isernia town council was selected for study because the recent historic changes evidenced in this area represents an example of landscape transformation in many small cities of Italy and other Mediterranean countries. To assess overall changes, three land cover maps (scale 1:25,000) were derived from panchromatic aerial photographs and field surveys and then digitalized in a Geographic Information System. A Land Facet (LF) map was derived combining a phytoclimatic, a lithostatigrafic and a topographic map, and digitalized as data layers in the same GIS. Changes were related mainly to two trends: forest and semi-natural areas increased (8 %), whereas agricultural areas decreased (12 %). Urban area was relatively small during the entire analyzed period, growing from 1% in 1954, to just 5% in 1992. Forest coverage was significant on relieves, on hillside ecosystems such as limestone and on clay and marl hills LF. Arable land was particularly significant in flat ecosystems with deeper soils, such as in recent alluvial plains LF. These temporal changes were interpreted as being related to the replacement of traditional farming methods (grazing pastures) with more intensive methods (crop fields), especially in alluvial plains.
Landscape change and ecosystem classification in a municipal district of a smalla city (Isernia, Central Italy)
CARRANZA, Maria Laura;
2005-01-01
Abstract
Landscape changes during 1954-1992 time period in the town council of Isernia (Central Italy) were described in relation to an ecosystem classification. Isernia town council was selected for study because the recent historic changes evidenced in this area represents an example of landscape transformation in many small cities of Italy and other Mediterranean countries. To assess overall changes, three land cover maps (scale 1:25,000) were derived from panchromatic aerial photographs and field surveys and then digitalized in a Geographic Information System. A Land Facet (LF) map was derived combining a phytoclimatic, a lithostatigrafic and a topographic map, and digitalized as data layers in the same GIS. Changes were related mainly to two trends: forest and semi-natural areas increased (8 %), whereas agricultural areas decreased (12 %). Urban area was relatively small during the entire analyzed period, growing from 1% in 1954, to just 5% in 1992. Forest coverage was significant on relieves, on hillside ecosystems such as limestone and on clay and marl hills LF. Arable land was particularly significant in flat ecosystems with deeper soils, such as in recent alluvial plains LF. These temporal changes were interpreted as being related to the replacement of traditional farming methods (grazing pastures) with more intensive methods (crop fields), especially in alluvial plains.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
