Book of Abstract (incl. addendum) - IFSA symposium 2012

Workshop 5.1 The landscape as the basis for integrating different levels of management,
policy making and other dimensions of the rural
important habitats favourable to the occurrence of fish species of economic and/or conservation value
and several important bird species and mammals. These characteristics together with a high
attractiveness of its surrounding mountains and scattered scenic settlements provide rural endogenous
development potentials in which ecological and economic progress might go hand in hand. Sustainable
development potential however is constrained at the landscape level where contemporary rural policy
making is largely absent. In this paper we analyse the multiple dimensions that shape the Minho Delta
as rural space, and explore its ‘optimal’ socio-ecological configuration. This might serve as ‘Leitbild’
for the organization and the implementation of a new institutional level. We think this landscape based
approach will result in the incorporation of stakeholders in the region and in the negotiation of
interests, which if carefully managed results in strengthening the socio-ecological and economic
performance of the rural region of the Minho Delta as a whole.
High Nature Value Farming Systems classification: A landscape -based
approach
Mara Almeida and Teresa Pinto-Correia
University of Èvora, Portugal
Mdsa@uevora.pt
The High Nature Value (HNV) classification of farm systems, proposed by the European Environment
Agency, emerges as more relevant today in the preparation of rural development programme within the
CAP post-2013. HNV classification is applicable across all Europe and seeks to define objective
criteria for identifying farm systems that support high biodiversity values and landscape quality, which
may also be linked to other ecosystem services. Considering that changes in rural space, taking place
across all Europe, have been occurring at different levels, paces and intensities, the assessment of HNV
farm systems also needs to consider this differentiation. Spatially based approaches at the regional
level, linked to landscape based indicators, may be the way forward to reliable information, required
for the contemporary rural policy making. This presentation is based on a case study in Alentejo region
in south Portugal dominated by traditionally managed agro-forestry systems which allow maintaining
the specific character of these landscapes and have created conditions for establishing other functions
(nature conservation, recreation, etc.). These traditional extensive practices have a great impact on
vegetation composition, species distribution and landscape pattern and consequently they influence
landscape quality and attractiveness for recreational activities. Therefore, this close relationship
between farming practices and landscape patterns led us to seek what defines a HNV farm system in
the Alentejo context and to identify its distribution considering landscape as the basis for a spatial
approach. Recognizing the diversity of farm system types, and aiming to identify the associated
landscape patterns and relate them with the HNV classification, the proposed presentation will focus on
the methodological approach, grounded in preliminary field work, and the consequent development of
the landscape based HNV indicators, applicable to Alentejo.
Methodological approach to create indicators contributing to measure
effects of policies in rural areas - Case study in Alentejo, South Portugal
Luis Carlos Madeira, Sónia Carvalho Ribeiro and Teresa Pinto-Correia
University of Évora, Portugal
Lmadeira@uevora.pt
Previous work has been highlighting a close relationship between landscape characteristics and socioeconomic
development. On one side, landscape contains economic value that can manifest itself
through the implementation of certain economic activities. On the other side, the process of economic
development frames landscape composition and configuration.
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