Rural Landscape or "Wilderness" - Case studies in the
Val Grande-National Park and the Strona Valley
(Piemonte/Italy)
-Summary-
In many mountain valleys of the Italian Piedmont region agriculture
and forestry are in steady decline. The population of numerous villages
has emigrated partly or completely. In turn the rural landscape
has undergone obvious changes. This landscape change as well as
its ecological and social consequences were subject of a research
project funded by the Bristol Foundation in Zurich entitled: "Changes
in alpine landscapes resulting from a decline in land use in the
Val Grande National Park and Strona Valley - From rural landscape
to wilderness."
In two study areas, the village of Premosello Chiovenda in the
Val Grande National Park and the upper Strona Valley (both part
of the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola province) the research focused on the
contrasting concepts of rural landscape and wilderness. Despite
their similar histories, these areas now have differences that allow
for interesting comparisons and the development of prospects for
the future:
- An official wilderness area (Val Grande National Park) versus
an area without a comparable protection status (Strona Valley)
- Permanent settlements (Premosello and Colloro, Val Grande National
Park) versus impermanent settlements in the form of summer residences
(Piana di Forno, Campello Monti, Strona Valley)
- Large pastured areas (Strona Valley above Campello Monti) versus
abandoned areas (Val Grande National Park and parts of the upper
Strona Valley)
The project focused on the landscape changes that have taken place,
their effects on vegetation and structural diversity, the perception
of landscape change by local populations and tourists as well as
the social and ecological effects of land abandonment. The main
goal was the discussion of "wilderness" as a nature conservation
strategy as well as the proposal of future development prospects.
This issue required a transdisciplinary approach combining methods
of historical landscape analysis, ecological inventories and empirical-social
research. The project formed the framework of two PhD theses:
- "Development of landscape and 'wilderness' in the Val Grande-National
Park" (HÖCHTL, 2003)
- "Consequences of land abandonment for the alpine landscape
and its population. - The Case study of the Strona valley in Piedmont
(Italy)" (LEHRINGER, 2003)
Historical landscape analysis was used to reconstruct the traditional
rural landscape, to reveal its inherent cultural knowledge and to
compare these results with the present landscape status. The primary
sources used for these purposes came from local and regional archives,
e. g. letters, land use statistics, the historical Rabbini land
register from the beginning of the 19th century, aerial photos from
1954, 1970, 1991/92, historical travelogues and extensive secondary
literature. Historical maps of land use were digitalised and additionally,
persistent traditional landscape elements, including planar, linear
and point elements were mapped at the scale of 1: 10 000. Historical
inquiries were completed by numerous informal interviews with older
residents.
To broaden the understanding of the landscape dynamics, a vegetation
analysis was conducted. The alpine landscape was analysed at different
spatial and temporal scales and in relation to previous and current
land use-effects. Using the method of BRAUN-BLANQUET (1964), lists
of plant species and vegetation releves were generated and arranged
in vegetation tables. The use of transects was helpful for gaining
insights into succession on different scales and the changes in
floristic diversity along land use gradients. Results of vegetation
surveys were combined with field mapping and the interpretation
of aerial photos (orthophoto maps) to determine the present condition
of vegetation (scale 1: 10 000) according to distinguishable physiognomic
types. In the case of the Strona Valley the map of vegetation communities
formed the basis of a map of cover-type classifications suitable
for comparison with historical land use maps. For single alpine
pastures, spatial-temporal succession processes were reconstructed
by analysing historical aerial photos and comparing them with the
current vegetation map.
By means of predominantly qualitative methods of empirical social
research (interviews, opinion polls) present social conditions were
investigated in order to complete the landscape analysis. Villagers,
herdsmen, owners of summer residences and tourists were surveyed.
Interview topics included the local identity of the population,
the present use of landscape, attitudes and opinions regarding the
changes of landscape and social life, opinions concerning infrastructure
as well as expectations and wishes for the future. To gather additional
information about prospects for local development, experts in politics
and nature conservation were interviewed.These three research levels
- historical, ecological and social - made up the basis of a critical
analysis of "wilderness" as a guiding nature conservation
strategy and a discussion of prospects for the landscape and villages.
The historical landscape analysis made clear that both of the research
areas were shaped by 700 years of continuous agro-silvo-pastoral
use in the form of permanent settlements and alpine pasturing. The
traditional rural landscape which, depending on altitude and exposition,
was mainly composed by chestnut groves, vineyards, forests, pastures
or meadows, was used intensively until World War II. With the beginning
of industrialisation a process of emigration and abandonment began,
which is at present complete in the upper Strona Valley as well
as in the inner parts of the national park. Meanwhile summer residents
and tourists have found their way into the villages.
The investigations of vegetation and landscape dynamics revealed
that the traditional rural landscape already has radically changed.
In large areas undergoing natural succession, the development of
vegetation is influenced by site quality and different historical
and recent factors, namely:
- man-made impacts (selective entry and discharge of nutrients,
different dates of abandonment, occurrence of fire, varying prior
uses, different former land-use intensities)
- zoogenic impacts (strain on pastures, browsing by domestic and
wild animals)
- natural site factors (sea level, exposure, slope, quality of
soil, microclimate, period of snow-cover, dynamics of avalanches,
waterbodies and soils)
In the course of succession the floristic diversity drops during
the transition from open land to forest. The portion of specialized,
light-demanding openland species decreases in favour of shade tolerant
generalists. Formerly sharp borders between the different types
of land use are dissolving. The turnover of species, however, is
not only limited to the meadows and pastures. The chestnut forests
of Premosello for example are also invaded by other tree species
(Prunus avium, Sorbus aria, Betula pendula, Fraxinus excelsior).
In the formerly clearly structured land use mosaic near the villages
and the pre-alps the diversity of vegetation types is at present
decreasing, while increasing at the alpine level where land was
traditionally used as grassland and pasture, especially in areas
with western, northern or eastern exposures.
The forested area has increased approximately 74% in the upper Strona
Valley compared to the information given in the historical land
register. According to prevailing definitions of forests given by
the FAO, the present landscape that in former times was characterised
by grassland and pastures, is already halfway covered by woodlands.
A mere 9% of the total area is intensively pastured. More than half
of the area is not used anymore. On 73 % of the area the effects
of former uses are still visible. The accessibility of the landscape
has in both research areas strongly decreased, as many paths have
become overgrown.
In both study areas the extent of areas under cultivation is diminishing.
In the Premosello - Val Grande research area agriculture persists
only on areas close to the villages and around some pre-alps. In
the upper Strona Valley some alpine pastures are still cultivated
during summer by herdsmen from outside the valley. The research
revealed that this "modern" form of alpine agriculture
is causing various social and structural problems.
The interviews demonstrate that the loss of cultural values connected
with land abandonment is regretted by the majority of diverse target
groups. A large majority demands that the mountain areas should
be inhabited and agriculture should be maintained. Although the
Italian state financially supports the development of the valleys,
the funds are not optimally allocated especially in the upper Strona
Valley.
The residents of Premosello and Colloro considered the wilderness
in the inner regions of the Val Grande National Park as positive
and the term wilderness was associated with numerous emotional-affective
attributes. Around the villages, they regarded the effects of abandonment
in a very negative light. The focus of the tourists regarding the
fallowing of former cultural land was ambivalent. On the one hand
they appreciated the present landscape's wildness, on the other
hand they regretted the loss of the rural culture. Higher-ranking
political institutions rejected the possibility to convert already
partly uninhabited valleys into wilderness areas; however on the
communal level this possibility was considered as a possible option
for the future - as far as these kind of plans would be decided
on site and with the agreement of the local residents. For the future
the maintainance of agriculture and, in the case of the upper Strona
Valley, a conservation concept for the whole territory was desired.
In both research areas sustainable "green" tourism is
considered an important option and a broad demand for local agricultural
products was found.
For the future of the community of Premosello Chiovenda a sensible
prospect can be the consequent implementation of the park zone concept
as it is stipulated in the national park statutes. On this basis
the research area could be an example for the coexistence of areas
which develop without control or interference alongside areas, where
the rural, anthropogenic landscape is to be conserved. To reach
this goal, traditional and innovative land uses around the villages
and pre-alps should be encouraged. Therefore an outer "economical
and social" development-zone is proposed, which combines green
tourism and sustainable agro-silvo-pastoral land uses. Uninhabited
areas - especially in the inner Val Grande - could be left unmanaged
to allow for unregulated landscape dynamics.
There are various reasons why "wilderness" should be
rejected as a management strategy for the whole national park territory:
The land use history of the Ossola/Val Grande area during the centuries
is contradictory to the criteria which underlie this principle.
In the research area wilderness would inevitably lead to inaccessibility
and a loss of nature experience for most people. Consequently the
national park would not be able to fulfil its legitimate mandate
to provide recreation and education of the population. Uncontrolled
landscape development would endanger settlements by the increased
risk of fire as well as by blockage of watercourses. As a result
of uncontrolled landscape dynamics the diversity of plant species
would decrease as well as the landscape-based cultural knowledge.
Ultimately the landscape would lose its value as a homeland for
the local population.
Concerning the designation of areas in the alps where nature should
develop unhindered, the decision in this regard should only be made
when based on regional and local studies in which the local residents
are included right from the start. In the professional discussion
of nature conservation the term "wilderness" should be
better defined and more objectively discussed. Since wilderness
is linked with notions which european rural landscapes can not fulfil,
this term should no longer be used in scientific, conservation oriented
discussions. Rather the term "nature-development-area"
is proposed for areas in which landscape is allowed to develop without
any human control.
For the future three possible prospects were discussed for the
upper Strona Valley.
- "Ongoing Trend Scenario":
This scenario is characterised by the continuation of the present
lack of land use planning and political interference. The results
evidenced that this would be the least desirable scenario, because
it incurs the risk of social and ecological conflicts.
- "Nature development area":
The upper Strona Valley is for a variety of reasons not suitable
for a region-wide nature-development area. It is too small, it
is still inhabited and it contains numerous, precious traditional
landscape elements as well as medieval-style villages. Furthermore
a wilderness area already exists in the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola:
the Val Grande National Park. The small scale coexistence of relicts
of the traditional cultural landscape, so-called "dynamical
areas" as well as the touristic and economic demands in the
alps show that only a spatial differentiated use-and-protection
concept as well as integration into larger political contexts
can open up new positive prospects.
- "Innovative culture":
Therefore the creation of a biosphere reserve "Walser territories
around the Monte Rosa" is proposed in the frame of the UNESCO
Program "Man and Biosphere". In this form wide protected
and unprotected areas could be integrated within the nearby Sesia
and Anzasca valley to create a large model region to test strategies
for sustainable development and protection of the abandoned areas
in the south western alpine region. On the one hand, at present
large areas undergo the process of natural succession in the valleys
around Monte Rosa. On the other hand, essential elements of the
traditional culture and its landscape have still been sustained.
An appropriate concept for the coexistence of agricultural areas
and areas of uncontrolled landscape development is proposed for
this exemplary region.
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