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

S. M. Carvalho-Ribeiro & T. Pinto-Correia 2010. Forests in landscapes: modelling forest land cover patterns suitability
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2.2 Developing new framework for assessing the suitability of different landscapes in
providing landscape functions
After developing best possible forest land cover patterns for different landscape functions a
following step intends to create a framework able to prioritize a set of functions according to
predefined criteria. The conceptual models is based on the premises that not all landscapes are
adequate to provide all functions being thus likely that certain areas are more suited to specific
functions than areas with contrasting characteristics.
The LAM Landscape Amenity Model, developed together with the IFS (Pinto-Correia 2009a)
will be further developed and tested in this project.. The LAM has been designed as the
modelling tool that allows for a comparison between different land cover petterns, both those
corresponding to the best possible combinations for selected functions and those resulting from
identified scenarios of change, being this comparison supported on thre IFS. The landscape
pattern (created from expert knowledge models (2.1.2 and 2.1.3) and from public preferences
surveys (2.1.4)) will be compared for two scenario landscape patterns by using the LAM. In the
LAM the Index of Function Suitability (IFS) evaluates the adaptatibility of a landscape to
provide a function (Pinto-Correia et al., 2009a). By using the LAM best possible landscape
patterns for different functions will be compared with scenario storylines in order to undertake
an ex-ante evaluations of whether or not future forest land cover will be able to provide a set of
pre-defined landscape functions. Also the suitability of Cávado and Sado in providing different
landscape functions will be explored and contrasted.
3. Questions still to be solved
When needed, and if there will be data or knowledge that allows the identification of other best
possible patterns, for other functions, the evaluation path hereby presented can be expanded. It
is not the aim here to be exhaustive the functions selected have been chosen due to their
relevance in the study areas considered. In addition to the previous it is also an aim of the
project to contribute for the methodological development, through a successive
conceptualization, testing and improvement of research approaches able to grasp with the
linkeages between land cover and land function independently if those functions are either
ecological or based on social demand. ,
Identifying best possible landscape patterns, or preferred patterns, can easily be criticised, as
those best patterns demand, on one side, a high degree of simplification concerning the
landscape in itself, and, on the other, they are based on the assumption that a generalised best
pattern can be identified, even for functions dependent on public preferences. But still, this
approach has been built up step by step taking care of the relevant literature, and has the
advantage of being flexible so that it can be applied to multiple landscapes, multiple functions,
and multiple scenarios.
There is still much to play regarding the complex task of linking forest spatial patterns with
landscape functions. This paper presents and explains a methodological framework able to deal
with these issues. There is still uncertainty regarding the approach proposed and certainly there
will be drawbacks, but the risk is taken in face of the urge imposed to the scientific community
by policy makers. Policy makers are dealing with the formulation and targeting of public
policies that should deal with the provision of public goods, and thus with their assessment for a
given scale of analysis is of utmost importance. As previously referred this work is still in
progress therefore comments, suggestions and discussion of alternative approaches will be very
much appreciated.
Forest Landscapes and Global Change-New Frontiers in Management, Conservation and Restoration. Proceedings of the IUFRO Landscape Ecology
Working Group International Conference, September 21-27, 2010, Bragança, Portugal. J.C. Azevedo, M. Feliciano, J. Castro & M.A. Pinto (eds.)
2010, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal.