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Landscapes Forest and Global Change - ESA - Escola Superior ...

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S. M. Carvalho-Ribeiro & T. Pinto-Correia 2010. <strong>Forest</strong>s in l<strong>and</strong>scapes: modelling forest l<strong>and</strong> cover patterns suitability<br />

695<br />

Minho) the diversity of roles forest might play are highlighted. It is acknowledged that the<br />

l<strong>and</strong>scape functions forests contribute to will be prioritized in different ways in each of the<br />

catchments. The criteria, factors <strong>and</strong> importance of forests to different l<strong>and</strong>scape functions can<br />

be revealed by contrasting region characteristics.<br />

2.1 Identifying appropriate forest spatial patterns for different l<strong>and</strong>scape functions<br />

2.1.1. Assess the l<strong>and</strong>scape pattern, through the application of l<strong>and</strong>scape metrics for<br />

Cávado <strong>and</strong> Sado catchments. The l<strong>and</strong> cover base maps will be created in Arc/GIS <strong>and</strong><br />

following exported to a spatial pattern software in order to quantify l<strong>and</strong> cover patterns. A set of<br />

l<strong>and</strong>scape metrics (Botequilha Leitao <strong>and</strong> Ahern, 2002) will be computed in FRAGSTAT<br />

(McGarigal et al., 2002) based on the Carta de Ocupacao do Solo COS 90. By computing the<br />

l<strong>and</strong>scape metrics such as mean patch size (PS), number of patches (NP), patch density (PD)<br />

<strong>and</strong> percentage of l<strong>and</strong>scape (PLAND) for agriculture, forests (by tree species) <strong>and</strong> urban, an<br />

underst<strong>and</strong>ing of the l<strong>and</strong>scape pattern of the studied regions will be gained <strong>and</strong> a comparative<br />

analysis become possible. After quantifying the l<strong>and</strong> cover patterns within the two catchments a<br />

modelling approach will be undertaken in order to create the best l<strong>and</strong> cover pattern for different<br />

types of l<strong>and</strong>scape function. This will be carried out in two different ways as there will be focus<br />

on ecological related functions such as water flow regulation, flood protection <strong>and</strong> carbon<br />

sequestration that require expert knowledge in order to identify a best l<strong>and</strong> cover patterns within<br />

the catchments. On the contrary in the case of functions related with public preferences namely<br />

recreation <strong>and</strong> cultural identity a preferred l<strong>and</strong>scape pattern will be based on questionnaire<br />

surveys assessing preferences of different groups of users of the l<strong>and</strong>scape (hunters, farmers).<br />

2.1.2. Expert panels. The best possible l<strong>and</strong>scape patterns for the provision of l<strong>and</strong>scape<br />

functions such as water flow regulation, carbon sequestration <strong>and</strong> flood protection will be<br />

created based on expert panels at the catchment scale. “Experts” are defined as “representatives<br />

of organisations which are affected by, or which significantly affect, interactions between<br />

regional l<strong>and</strong>scapes <strong>and</strong> forests, or have skills <strong>and</strong> knowledge about the issue, or influence<br />

implementation instruments relevant to the topic”. This task will be also based on a literature<br />

review.<br />

2.1.3. Ecological modelling. Based on the data gathered suitability maps for carbon<br />

sequestration, flood protection <strong>and</strong> water regulation, will be created. L<strong>and</strong> use suitability<br />

analysis aims at identifying the most appropriate spatial pattern for l<strong>and</strong> uses according to given<br />

suitability criteria (Malczewski, 2004). Based on the ecological thresholds for different tree<br />

species suitability maps will be first created for broadleaves (oak), coniferous (pine), eucalyptus,<br />

agriculture <strong>and</strong> pastures. The l<strong>and</strong> use modelling criteria, as well as the weightings for factors<br />

will be discussed by the expert panels. These suitability maps will be combined through a<br />

Multi-Objective L<strong>and</strong> Use Allocation (MOLA) comm<strong>and</strong> in the IDRISI ANDES GIS (Eastman,<br />

2006) creating optimal l<strong>and</strong>scape patterns for carbon sequestration, water regulation <strong>and</strong> flood<br />

protection.<br />

2.1.4.) Public preferences. The best possible l<strong>and</strong> cover patterns for recreation <strong>and</strong> for cultural<br />

<strong>and</strong> identity preservation will be assessed through surveys to specific groups of l<strong>and</strong>scape users.<br />

This survey is to be done through direct enquiries based on l<strong>and</strong>scape photos used as visual<br />

stimuli for the expression of preferences. The results will be translated into the best possible<br />

l<strong>and</strong>scape pattern, adapting themethodology of Pinto-Correia et al. (2009b). Data has already<br />

been, or is being collected in research projects such as Agrorreg, Mural, Rosa (Pinto-Correia et<br />

al., 2009b) <strong>and</strong> in the work by Carvalho Ribeiro (Carvalho-Ribeiro, 2009; Carvalho-Ribeiro <strong>and</strong><br />

Lovett, 2009, 2010; Carvalho-Ribeiro et al., 2010) .<br />

<strong>Forest</strong> <strong>L<strong>and</strong>scapes</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Change</strong>-New Frontiers in Management, Conservation <strong>and</strong> Restoration. Proceedings of the IUFRO L<strong>and</strong>scape Ecology<br />

Working Group International Conference, September 21-27, 2010, Bragança, Portugal. J.C. Azevedo, M. Feliciano, J. Castro & M.A. Pinto (eds.)<br />

2010, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal.

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