Cambiamenti del paesaggio in un SIC dell'Appennino

Diachronic landscape analysis is an indispensable tool of knowledge for studies aimed at resource management and environmental planning. This analysis is especially useful for Nature 2000 sites. In fact, the latter contain habitats of European interest which are characterized by highly dynamic vegetation. The analysis of the changes registered in the last 50 years in the Site of Community Importance Sassi di Roccamalatina e Sassi di Sant'Andrea (IT4040003) is presented. 3 maps of the examined area had been produced (1954, 1976 and 2003) on a scale of 1:10 000, all based on the interpretation of aerial and satellite images. Temporal pattern analysis was performed to: i) assess the changes in land use (with special reference to the habitat of the Castanea sativa woods), and ii) identify the main evolutionary trends. The landscape analysis was combined with statistical analysis (concerning demographic and agroforestry data).