Dilemma: landscape requalification or low-growing vineyards conservation? The case study of Tramonti (Liguria, Italy)

A pilot project in Tramonti, Italy, demonstrates that transitioning from traditional low-growing vineyards to higher cultivation methods can effectively revive abandoned terraced landscapes while preserving their cultural heritage. The study, conducted within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Porto Venere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands, found that adopting 'high' viticulture techniques—allowing for controlled mowing around root systems—can balance landscape requalification with the conservation of historical practices. This approach addresses the challenges posed by difficult environmental conditions while offering a sustainable solution to the abandonment of terraced vineyards. The project, led by La Spezia municipality and involving a 20-year concession to an association for maintenance and cultivation, presents a pragmatic alternative to the near-impossible preservation of traditional 'low' viticulture methods.

Burlando, P. (2015). Dilemma: landscape requalification or low-growing vineyards conservation? The case study of Tramonti (Liguria, Italy). Semestrale Di Studi e Ricerche Di Geografia, N. 1 (2015): Rural Development Policy and Local Identities in the European Union edited by Tiziana Banini and Fabio Pollice. https://doi.org/10.13133/1125-5218.15107