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Using chorographic sources to reconstruct past agro-forestry systems. A methodological approach based on the study case of the northern Apennines

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  • Giovanna Pezzi
  • Davide Donati
  • Enrico Muzzi
  • Marco Conedera
  • Patrik Krebs

Abstract

Historical-geographical (chorographic) descriptions provide some of the earliest formal documentation about landscape. We propose a methodological approach aimed at reconstructing a spatial-explicit picture of the agroforestry system of a eighteenth-century landscape, detecting the main land-use drivers, and analysing existing legacies of past agro-forestry productivity in the present landscape. The study area was the Bologna Apennines, and our data source was a chorographic dictionary from 1781–83. We obtained a matrix of 240 administrative units per 18 agro-forestry products with related productivity indices. Multivariate analysis showed that environmental constraints influenced products and productivity. Agricultural areas (and related products) mainly shaped the hillside, while forests and semi-natural areas (and related products) characterized the mountainside. Such former clustering is still recognizable: agricultural land mostly changed to artificial land-cover, whereas semi-natural areas and forests still exist. The proposed approach confirms that chorography can be a useful tool as a primary source in landscape research.

Suggested Citation

  • Giovanna Pezzi & Davide Donati & Enrico Muzzi & Marco Conedera & Patrik Krebs, 2020. "Using chorographic sources to reconstruct past agro-forestry systems. A methodological approach based on the study case of the northern Apennines," Landscape Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(3), pages 359-376, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:clarxx:v:45:y:2020:i:3:p:359-376
    DOI: 10.1080/01426397.2019.1624700
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    Cited by:

    1. Vassilis Detsis & Eleni Gkadolou & Katerina Koutsovoulou & Georgios Tolias, 2022. "Long-Term Landscape Dynamics to Assess Land Degradation Hypotheses—An Exploratory Study of Evidence from Travelers’ Narrations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-14, July.

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