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This paper presents an original approach for identifying and mapping agricultural landscapes that are highly representative of different biogeographical and natural settings and likely to be tradit...

Faced with the disappearance and ongoing abandonment of traditional agricultural landscapes (TAL) in Europe, our primary aim is to provide scientific evidence of the importance of TAL in terms of b...

Agri-environmental schemes are often targeted at heterogenic landscapes to support several ecosystem services besides food production. The question is whether heterogenic landscapes also support re...

The aim of this study is to find out what locals and tourists in a Central-Alpine, multilingual cross-border region expect from an Alpine landscape, with a special focus on agriculture. Using a standardised questionnaire, we carried out more than 3500 face-to-face interviews with locals and tourists in Tyrol (Austria) and South Tyrol (Italy). The questionnaire comprised (1) content-related questions and (2) questions to collect demographic data on the interviewees. We employed nonparametric methods to analyse the survey results and differences between demographic groups. More than 70% of the study participants liked traditional land-use and did not have major reservations about agricultural intensification or extensification. Of those interviewed, 73% were in favour of giving public financial support to farmers. The findings obtained in this study suggest broad acknowledgement and acceptance of environmental compensation schemes and the maintenance of extensive and traditional land-use systems.

This paper demonstrates how the landscape is an integral component in the development of tourism experiences in agricultural regions. It proposes that agricultural landscapes are composed of three components: naturescape, farmscape and culturescape. Building on the tourist gaze, this research demonstrates how tourists can move from viewing the landscape to engaging with it. A case study of the Atherton Tablelands, located in the Wet Tropics region of Australia, was conducted using content analysis and field observations. The results show that the development of activities within the culturescape enables tourists to engage with the agricultural landscape. This finding has important implications for the farmscape, where agricultural resources (produce) are often used in the creation of memorable tourism experiences in agricultural regions.

We develop a farm- and plot-specific land-use model, which allows to examine the influence of changing socio-economic conditions on agricultural landscapes. The outstanding feature of our model is that we directly consider the knowledge of local farmers and agrarian experts for the specification of the farm-specific adaptation process. Furthermore, we visualise changes in landscape appearance by photo manipulation. The study takes place in three typical (Pre-) Alpine regions in Southern Germany and in Austria. In all study regions, we apply three scenarios: Status quo (the persistence of the current economic and agri-political conditions), liberalisation (the abolishment of public payments and decreasing of producer prices) and alternative (treating a specific development of particular importance in the respective region). The abandonment of land in marginal regions and the intensification and homogenisation of land use in more productive regions are the most important developments. The initially ...

Current best practice in New Zealand landscape management at the interface of the global trade agenda with local landscape sustainability is identified through key informants and report literature, and classified into two categories. Systemic management practices such as product certification and nutrient budgets complement and contrast with territorial practices such as riparian planting, environment farm plans, area co-management and integrated catchment plans. Expert informants highlighted the importance for best practice of local leadership, enlightened self-interest and partnerships based on trust. Further research is needed into ways to better integrate the strengths of each approach, and on the role of the local political economy and local governance in shaping distinctive combinations of local practice.

Landscapes are made from different components and elements, some of which are characterized through their presence and patterns. The assessment of this character is performed via the identification of landscape characteristics. For agricultural landscapes, such characteristics can be natural elements or elements of farming systems. Their preservation can be of great importance in Europe today, and agri-environmental measures have been used towards this goal. One such characteristic in Greece is cultivation terraces, today widely neglected, as the cultivations they supported are abandoned or modernized. This paper discusses the effectiveness of an agri-environmental policy measure for the reconstruction of cultivation terraces in Greece, with regard to existing practices of farmers. A picture for the whole country is presented and farmers' practices are discussed with greater detail through research with farmers that have been supported on the island of Lesvos. Findings from Lesvos reveal that onl...

The subject of this paper is the views of farmers concerning their local landscape. In two contrasting Danish case study areas previously analysed in the 1990s, a small number of farmers have been interviewed regarding their views of the landscape and recent changes in their respective area including landscape changes. One of the areas (Hvorslev) is characterized by good conditions for agriculture, intensive husbandry production and a relatively stable landscape history. The other (Nees) has more marginal conditions and major changes in land use characterize the recent landscape history. We analyze the way in which the landscape is perceived by farmers and compare their views of the changing landscapes with the actual recorded changes on the one hand, and with other significant changes on the other. Farmers in both areas emphasized the same type of structural changes in agriculture and in the villages as significant, whereas only farmers in Nees indicated that the landscape had changed. When aske...

Riparian forest is a priority for protection in New Zealand. Data are provided on the spatial extent and distribution of riparian forest and forest remnants within the West Coast region of New Zealand. Despite the West Coast having the bulk of New Zealand's riparian forest, such forests are under-represented in many of the region's Ecological Districts. Lack of other suitable soils meant that, where possible, floodplains were extensively developed for agriculture. Consequently riparian forest remnants within farmland are small and isolated. The implications of ecological processes and land-management practices for the conservation management of the riparian forest remnants are discussed, and three conservation priorities are identified.