Assessment of the Terraced Landscapes’ Integrity: A GIS-Based Approach in a Potential GIAHS-FAO Site (Northwest Piedmont, Italy)

A terraced vineyard landscape in Northwest Piedmont, Italy, retains 70.16% of its historical integrity, making it a strong candidate for the GIAHS-FAO program. This assessment, conducted using a GIS-based approach with aerial imagery from 1954–1968 and 2018 data, revealed that vineyard abandonment and the introduction of non-traditional techniques (e.g., espaliers) and new crops (e.g., olive groves) threaten landscape preservation. The study highlights the need for future planning strategies to mitigate these changes while safeguarding the site's cultural and ecological value. This dynamic perspective offers a model for conserving similar agricultural landscapes globally.

Pomatto, E., Devecchi, M., & Larcher, F. (2022). Assessment of the Terraced Landscapes’ Integrity: A GIS-Based Approach in a Potential GIAHS-FAO Site (Northwest Piedmont, Italy). Land, 11(12), 2269. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11122269