How can landscape visual assessment inform landscape planning and management? – Alto Douro Wine region case study, Portugal

Landscape visual quality (LVQ) assessment is a powerful tool for monitoring and guiding landscape planning, particularly in UNESCO-recognized cultural landscapes like the Alto Douro Wine Region (ADWR). Research demonstrates that monitored areas within ADWR exhibit higher LVQ scores, characterized by imageability, color diversity, and land-use mosaics, while unmonitored regions with significant land-use changes show decreased visual quality. The study highlights that expansion of agricultural fields at the expense of traditional terraced vineyards and olive grove hedges negatively impacts aesthetic value. These findings underscore the importance of prioritizing conservation efforts for such features to maintain landscape integrity. The LVQ protocol, which evaluates physical, aesthetic, and psychophysical attributes, proves effective in identifying priority measures and tracking landscape evolution over time.

Medeiros, A., Fernandes, C., Gonçalves, J. F., Farinha-Marques, P., & Martinho Da Silva, I. (2024). How can landscape visual assessment inform landscape planning and management? – Alto Douro Wine region case study, Portugal. Applied Geography, 164, 103203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2024.103203