Background There are many studies that address the issue of gender-based violence, but few analys... more Background There are many studies that address the issue of gender-based violence, but few analyse the police-reported cases. It is as important to analyse the temporal and geographic distribution of these incidents as it is the sociodemographic profile of the accuser. To this effect, the present study aims to analyse the sociodemographic profile of the victims of the particular case of domestic violence that report the incident to the police and to evaluate the spatial–temporal distribution of these reports. Methods Using the data from a database containing the police-reported incidents of domestic violence in Girona in the period 2012–2018, the risk of a police-reported incident was estimated by adjusting the two-part Hurdle model. Results The risk of reporting incidents of domestic violence to the police is higher in the less deprived areas of the city, and the spatial distribution of these police reports corroborate this finding. Nevertheless, those areas with the greatest socio...
Aquest article actualitza el coneixement florístic de les espècies que colonitzen les platges i d... more Aquest article actualitza el coneixement florístic de les espècies que colonitzen les platges i dunes del litoral català, i identifica el grup d' espècies típiques que colonitzen aquests paisatges, així com estableix aquelles espècies restringides als hàbitats dunars, el seu rang de distribució i la seva raresa. Es van mostrejar 87 sistemes dunars a partir de transsectes ortogonals a la línia de costa, que s' estenien des de la vegetació anual de la platja alta fins a l' extrem interior del sistema dunar. Es van identificar un total de 224 espècies. El nombre va ser molt proper a l' obtingut en el càlcul del S MaoTao i dels dos estimadors de la riquesa del nombre total d' espècies, Chao2 i Jacknife2. L'anàlisi de la freqüència de les 224 espècies enregistrades va portar a establir un conjunt de 87 que es poden considerar com les espècies típiques dels hàbitats de platja i duna de la costa catalana. Entre aquestes es va identificar un grup de 34 espècies restringides als hàbitat de platja i duna, entre les quals 12 són rares o molt rares. La presència de diverses espècies exòtiques, algunes d' elles molt esteses en els hàbitats dunars, és un indicador del canvi ambiental provocat per la freqüentació d'aquests hàbitats derivada de l'activitat humana. Paraules clau: espècies típiques, vegetació psammòfila, dunes, sistemes platja-duna, costa catalana. Typical and exclusive vascular plants typical of the beach and dune habitats of the Catalan coast This article updates the floristic knowledge of the species that colonize the beaches and dunes of the Catalan coast, identifies the group of typical species that colonize these landscapes and also establishes those species restricted to dune habitats, their range of distribution and their rarity. 87 dune systems were sampled from orthogonal transects on the shoreline, extending from the annual vegetation of the back beach to the inner end of the dune system. A total of 224 species were identified. The number was very close to that obtained in the calculation of the S MaoTao and the two estimators of the richness of the total number of species, Chao2 and Jacknife2. The frequency analysis of the 224 species recorded led to the establishment of a set of 87 species that can be considered as the typical species of beach and dune habitats on the Catalan coast. Among these, a group of 34 species restricted to beach and dune habitats were identified, of which 12 are rare or very rare. The presence of several exotic species, some of them widespread in dune habitats, is an indicator of the environmental change caused by the frequentation of these habitats due to human activity.
Volunteered geographical information (VGI) [1] has become an important source of geospatial infor... more Volunteered geographical information (VGI) [1] has become an important source of geospatial information. <br>Nevertheless this source has a lack of credibility and quality assurance [2]. This is in fact because part of the <br>spectrum of VGI contributors are not professionals or are casual users of VGI tools [3]. Therefore, it is difficult to <br>trust VGI data and used it in scientific or professional environments without filtering it. The approach of this paper <br>is to analyse point pattern data contributed by volunteers using Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) <br>and Stochastic Partial Differential Equation (SPDE) in order to be able to get some data classification depending on <br>and response variable base on the data coming from the VGI source.
Boletin De La Asociacion De Geografos Espanoles, 2016
In arid and semiarid areas of the world (Meigg, 1953) over the past 50 years has shown the presen... more In arid and semiarid areas of the world (Meigg, 1953) over the past 50 years has shown the presence of spatial patterns at regional and local levels where the vegetation form regular patterns (Slatyer, 1959; Warren, 1973; Worrall, 1959). These can be observed mainly from remote sensors mounted on satellite or airborne platforms. With constant and greater increase in coverage and spatial resolution of cartographic information, it has been seen in more detail at a global level. The presence of these behaviors in the distribution of vegetation patterns consist primarily of heterogenia matrix coverage. Low plant apparently has been destabilized with consequent rupture of the matrix system. This cover plant reveals areas of bare soil or light soil and vegetation zones spaced regularly usually interspersed with short stature or slightly higher carrying vegetation areas are homogeneous in composition from the standpoint of soil and vegetation surrounding climate. In some ecosystems forming...
La present comunicacio exposa una experiencia en l'organitzacio del curriculum de l'estud... more La present comunicacio exposa una experiencia en l'organitzacio del curriculum de l'estudiant del grau de Geografia, Ordenacio del Territori i Gestio del Medi Ambient de la Universitat de Girona relacionada amb les capacitats de tractament i explotacio de la Informacio Geografica, especialment amb els Sistemes d'Informacio Geografica (SIG). En aquest marc, es defineixen uns perfils amb l'objectiu de formar professionals que puguin accedir a llocs de treball com a Tecnic, Analista o Director de projectes SIG i, mitjancant les assignatures especifiques propies es dissenya un programa que, juntament amb d'altres recursos educatius externs al Grau de Geografia, permeten a l'estudiant escollir un nivell d'aprofundiment diferent i personalitzat, segons les seves capacitats i voluntats
Temperature, one of the most important atmospheric variables, has a direct impact on physical and... more Temperature, one of the most important atmospheric variables, has a direct impact on physical and biological processes and its analysis in space and time play a crucial role in studying climate change. Here the results of a comparison between two ways of estimating models of spatial dependence are evaluated: kriging methods and Bayesian inference using the Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA).
1 Universitat Jaume I 2 Departamento de Matematicas Universitat Jaume I. Departamento de Probabil... more 1 Universitat Jaume I 2 Departamento de Matematicas Universitat Jaume I. Departamento de Probabilidad y Estadistica, Instituto de Investigaciones en Matem aticas Aplicadas y en Sistemas, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico Grup de Recerca en Estadistica, Econometria y Salut (GRECS) Universitat de Girona Grup de recerca de Medi Ambient i Tecnologies de La Informacio Geografica 6 Institute New Image Technologies. Universitat Jaume I
Surface soil moisture is an important hydrological parameter in agricultural areas. Periodic meas... more Surface soil moisture is an important hydrological parameter in agricultural areas. Periodic measurements in tropical mountain environments are poorly representative of larger areas, while satellite resolution is too coarse to be effective in these topographically varied landscapes, making spatial resolution an important parameter to consider. The Las Palmas catchment area near Medellin in Colombia is a vital water reservoir that stores considerable amounts of water in its andosol. In this tropical Andean setting, we use an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with multispectral (visible, near infrared) sensors to determine the correlation of three agricultural land uses (potatoes, bare soil, and pasture) with surface soil moisture. Four vegetation indices (the perpendicular drought index, PDI; the normalized difference vegetation index, NDVI; the normalized difference water index, NDWI, and the soil-adjusted vegetation index, SAVI) were applied to UAV imagery and a 3 m resolution to estim...
Over the last few decades, much of the mountain area in European countries has turned into potent... more Over the last few decades, much of the mountain area in European countries has turned into potential habitat for species of medium- and large-sized mammals. Some of the occurrences that explain this trend are biodiversity protection, the creation of natural protected areas, and the abandonment of traditional agricultural activities. In recent years, wolves have once again been seen in forests in the eastern sector of the Pyrenees and the Pre-Pyrenees. The success or failure of their permanent settlement will depend on several factors, including conservation measures for the species, habitat availability, and the state of landscape connectivity. The aim of this study is to analyze the state of landscape connectivity for fragments of potential wolf habitat in Catalonia, Andorra, and on the French side of the Eastern Pyrenees. The results show that a third of the area studied constitutes potential wolf habitat and almost 90% of these spaces are of sufficient size to host stable packs. ...
Boletín de la Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles, 2016
Este artículo analiza la generación de un mapa de distribución potencial del patrón espacial leop... more Este artículo analiza la generación de un mapa de distribución potencial del patrón espacial leopardo y del entorno asociado a su desarrollo en las zonas áridas y semiáridas. A partir de Información bibliográfica alrededor del mundo y de datos de campo obtenido en Colombia y España, para ello se caracterizan los factores utilizando predictores ambientales globales en conjunto con un modelo de máxima entropía. En el modelo de distribución, las condiciones ambientales indican que la aridez y la variabilidad topográfica, son factores de peso que tiene una gran valor en las estadísticas que definen los patrones, revelando una extensa distribución de ambientes distintivos nuevos al alrededor del mundo, así como el fenómeno asociado de convergencia evolutiva y de algunos géneros vegetales predominantes en varios continentes a los que se puede asociar este patrón.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2019
The impacts that climate change and land-use dynamics have on biodiversity are already visible in... more The impacts that climate change and land-use dynamics have on biodiversity are already visible in the distribution and behaviour of a large number of species. By using a Bayesian framework, including land-use, meteorological, topography and other variables as explanatory variables, such as distance to roads and urban centres, we modeled a number of species within each cell of a regular lattice for Catalonia, Spain, in the period of 2004 to 2010. We estimated a slight increase in daily maximum temperature and a more significant increase in minimum temperature (a 5-year increase of 0.159 °C in maximum temperature, and an increase of 0.332 °C in minimum temperature). The estimation shows that the total number of species was greater than expected in the cells where land use was not urban—38.4%, in forests and 55.2% in mixed forests. Finally, we observed that most invasive species are found in areas where the minimum temperature is expected to increase. Our study can help with making imp...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2018
Numerous studies show the benefits that contact with the natural environment have for human healt... more Numerous studies show the benefits that contact with the natural environment have for human health, but there are few studies on the role of Protected Natural Areas (PNAs), either from the preventive point of view or on their potential benefits, on individuals with health problems. A study was made of the relationship between the visitation of Montseny Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve and health, from the perspective of a population group with different diseases. A total of 250 patients resident in the areas near the park were surveyed, recording their beliefs about the benefits of nature, as well as the reasons for visiting and the activities associated with health that they carried out in the park. The pure air is the most valued benefit (27.2%), particularly for those with allergies. The majority (57%) visit the park for health reasons. High levels (82%) of exercise are recorded, especially by patients with heart diseases (85%), and 65% exercised in the park. More physical acti...
The analysis of past and present patterns of agrarian mountain areas allows researchers to charac... more The analysis of past and present patterns of agrarian mountain areas allows researchers to characterize the influence of landscape heterogeneity on biodiversity, cultural heritage, and forest fire hazard. This process was mapped, quantified, and described through the use of digital mapping (GIS) and landscape indexes in a protected area in Alta Garrotxa (Catalonia, Spain). These areas require urgent management and modelling to provide alternative management scenarios, in order to maintain and recover habitats. A set of different scenarios have been designed using a multi-criteria evaluation and geospatial information available for the study area to identify the key areas for management action and to predict the potential effects on agricultural lands by prioritizing one or another management objective: biodiversity, landscape structure and perception, cultural heritage, fire hazard, and management cost. The observed progressive land abandonment of open areas with a small size and greater isolation will have a large impact on biodiversity and cultural heritage, and increase fire risk. Sustainable development will require planning objectives compatible with the conservation of biodiversity and the preservation of Mediterranean features with support for agricultural activities. This methodology can contribute to and be easily implemented by land managers, which could help to strengthen the link between managers and stakeholders.
A recent review of global arid areas supports the idea that there are two patterns to vegetation ... more A recent review of global arid areas supports the idea that there are two patterns to vegetation in arid lands. Patches of thick vegetation alternate with those with much less vegetation or none at all. There is a specific size, shape and spatial distribution that characterizes vegetation patterns in arid land ecosystems. In some places, the patches have irregular shapes; these are called spots or Leopard bush. This research project is based on a biophysical approach that integrates information collected in the field, high resolution historical satellite images and Geographical Information System technology. The results revealed that there were certain places in the landscape that facilitate the singular development of the vegetation. The Leopard pattern results from the interaction of various factors (fertility island, fragmentation of vegetation, anthropic influence, herbivorism). Specific characteristics that limit plant life forms are found in the area; since only certain resist...
Taking into account the perceptions of locals as well as visitors to La Plana de l’Empordà, a reg... more Taking into account the perceptions of locals as well as visitors to La Plana de l’Empordà, a region in Girona (Spain) undergoing an agricultural intensification process, this study attempts to explore the linkages between agricultural landscapes and human well-being by performing open, single-question interviews with 241 respondents. The results show a high perception of cultural ecosystem services as benefits from agricultural landscapes, although differences across respondent groups and across a rural–urban gradient suggest important trade-offs. Our results demonstrate that potential conflicts in the study area might emerge between a rural view on agricultural landscapes and a more production-oriented landscape appreciation. We consider it relevant to take into account potential social conflicts due to the new social composition in Mediterranean rural areas where different perceptions regarding the delivery of ecosystem services coexist.
This study examines how local population, tourists and farmers relate to rural landscapes, by exp... more This study examines how local population, tourists and farmers relate to rural landscapes, by exploring visual landscape preferences and the influence of everyday landscapes on the research subjects. Results point towards an immense variability in visual landscape preferences amongst user groups living in or visiting the study area (Plana de l’Empordà, Girona, Spain). Tourists rate grasslands at the top of their preference list, local residents prefer orchards, and farmers favour fields of irrigated herbaceous crops; showing, altogether, that the user's relationship with the landscape determines their visual preferences. Results show that farmers prefer agriculture dominated scenes while local residents and tourists prefer scenes with equilibrium between agricultural and natural elements. Likewise, the presence of margins is widely appreciated aesthetically by all respondents. Furthermore, results underline the importance of landscapes that are familiar to the respondents.
Background There are many studies that address the issue of gender-based violence, but few analys... more Background There are many studies that address the issue of gender-based violence, but few analyse the police-reported cases. It is as important to analyse the temporal and geographic distribution of these incidents as it is the sociodemographic profile of the accuser. To this effect, the present study aims to analyse the sociodemographic profile of the victims of the particular case of domestic violence that report the incident to the police and to evaluate the spatial–temporal distribution of these reports. Methods Using the data from a database containing the police-reported incidents of domestic violence in Girona in the period 2012–2018, the risk of a police-reported incident was estimated by adjusting the two-part Hurdle model. Results The risk of reporting incidents of domestic violence to the police is higher in the less deprived areas of the city, and the spatial distribution of these police reports corroborate this finding. Nevertheless, those areas with the greatest socio...
Aquest article actualitza el coneixement florístic de les espècies que colonitzen les platges i d... more Aquest article actualitza el coneixement florístic de les espècies que colonitzen les platges i dunes del litoral català, i identifica el grup d' espècies típiques que colonitzen aquests paisatges, així com estableix aquelles espècies restringides als hàbitats dunars, el seu rang de distribució i la seva raresa. Es van mostrejar 87 sistemes dunars a partir de transsectes ortogonals a la línia de costa, que s' estenien des de la vegetació anual de la platja alta fins a l' extrem interior del sistema dunar. Es van identificar un total de 224 espècies. El nombre va ser molt proper a l' obtingut en el càlcul del S MaoTao i dels dos estimadors de la riquesa del nombre total d' espècies, Chao2 i Jacknife2. L'anàlisi de la freqüència de les 224 espècies enregistrades va portar a establir un conjunt de 87 que es poden considerar com les espècies típiques dels hàbitats de platja i duna de la costa catalana. Entre aquestes es va identificar un grup de 34 espècies restringides als hàbitat de platja i duna, entre les quals 12 són rares o molt rares. La presència de diverses espècies exòtiques, algunes d' elles molt esteses en els hàbitats dunars, és un indicador del canvi ambiental provocat per la freqüentació d'aquests hàbitats derivada de l'activitat humana. Paraules clau: espècies típiques, vegetació psammòfila, dunes, sistemes platja-duna, costa catalana. Typical and exclusive vascular plants typical of the beach and dune habitats of the Catalan coast This article updates the floristic knowledge of the species that colonize the beaches and dunes of the Catalan coast, identifies the group of typical species that colonize these landscapes and also establishes those species restricted to dune habitats, their range of distribution and their rarity. 87 dune systems were sampled from orthogonal transects on the shoreline, extending from the annual vegetation of the back beach to the inner end of the dune system. A total of 224 species were identified. The number was very close to that obtained in the calculation of the S MaoTao and the two estimators of the richness of the total number of species, Chao2 and Jacknife2. The frequency analysis of the 224 species recorded led to the establishment of a set of 87 species that can be considered as the typical species of beach and dune habitats on the Catalan coast. Among these, a group of 34 species restricted to beach and dune habitats were identified, of which 12 are rare or very rare. The presence of several exotic species, some of them widespread in dune habitats, is an indicator of the environmental change caused by the frequentation of these habitats due to human activity.
Volunteered geographical information (VGI) [1] has become an important source of geospatial infor... more Volunteered geographical information (VGI) [1] has become an important source of geospatial information. <br>Nevertheless this source has a lack of credibility and quality assurance [2]. This is in fact because part of the <br>spectrum of VGI contributors are not professionals or are casual users of VGI tools [3]. Therefore, it is difficult to <br>trust VGI data and used it in scientific or professional environments without filtering it. The approach of this paper <br>is to analyse point pattern data contributed by volunteers using Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) <br>and Stochastic Partial Differential Equation (SPDE) in order to be able to get some data classification depending on <br>and response variable base on the data coming from the VGI source.
Boletin De La Asociacion De Geografos Espanoles, 2016
In arid and semiarid areas of the world (Meigg, 1953) over the past 50 years has shown the presen... more In arid and semiarid areas of the world (Meigg, 1953) over the past 50 years has shown the presence of spatial patterns at regional and local levels where the vegetation form regular patterns (Slatyer, 1959; Warren, 1973; Worrall, 1959). These can be observed mainly from remote sensors mounted on satellite or airborne platforms. With constant and greater increase in coverage and spatial resolution of cartographic information, it has been seen in more detail at a global level. The presence of these behaviors in the distribution of vegetation patterns consist primarily of heterogenia matrix coverage. Low plant apparently has been destabilized with consequent rupture of the matrix system. This cover plant reveals areas of bare soil or light soil and vegetation zones spaced regularly usually interspersed with short stature or slightly higher carrying vegetation areas are homogeneous in composition from the standpoint of soil and vegetation surrounding climate. In some ecosystems forming...
La present comunicacio exposa una experiencia en l'organitzacio del curriculum de l'estud... more La present comunicacio exposa una experiencia en l'organitzacio del curriculum de l'estudiant del grau de Geografia, Ordenacio del Territori i Gestio del Medi Ambient de la Universitat de Girona relacionada amb les capacitats de tractament i explotacio de la Informacio Geografica, especialment amb els Sistemes d'Informacio Geografica (SIG). En aquest marc, es defineixen uns perfils amb l'objectiu de formar professionals que puguin accedir a llocs de treball com a Tecnic, Analista o Director de projectes SIG i, mitjancant les assignatures especifiques propies es dissenya un programa que, juntament amb d'altres recursos educatius externs al Grau de Geografia, permeten a l'estudiant escollir un nivell d'aprofundiment diferent i personalitzat, segons les seves capacitats i voluntats
Temperature, one of the most important atmospheric variables, has a direct impact on physical and... more Temperature, one of the most important atmospheric variables, has a direct impact on physical and biological processes and its analysis in space and time play a crucial role in studying climate change. Here the results of a comparison between two ways of estimating models of spatial dependence are evaluated: kriging methods and Bayesian inference using the Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA).
1 Universitat Jaume I 2 Departamento de Matematicas Universitat Jaume I. Departamento de Probabil... more 1 Universitat Jaume I 2 Departamento de Matematicas Universitat Jaume I. Departamento de Probabilidad y Estadistica, Instituto de Investigaciones en Matem aticas Aplicadas y en Sistemas, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico Grup de Recerca en Estadistica, Econometria y Salut (GRECS) Universitat de Girona Grup de recerca de Medi Ambient i Tecnologies de La Informacio Geografica 6 Institute New Image Technologies. Universitat Jaume I
Surface soil moisture is an important hydrological parameter in agricultural areas. Periodic meas... more Surface soil moisture is an important hydrological parameter in agricultural areas. Periodic measurements in tropical mountain environments are poorly representative of larger areas, while satellite resolution is too coarse to be effective in these topographically varied landscapes, making spatial resolution an important parameter to consider. The Las Palmas catchment area near Medellin in Colombia is a vital water reservoir that stores considerable amounts of water in its andosol. In this tropical Andean setting, we use an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with multispectral (visible, near infrared) sensors to determine the correlation of three agricultural land uses (potatoes, bare soil, and pasture) with surface soil moisture. Four vegetation indices (the perpendicular drought index, PDI; the normalized difference vegetation index, NDVI; the normalized difference water index, NDWI, and the soil-adjusted vegetation index, SAVI) were applied to UAV imagery and a 3 m resolution to estim...
Over the last few decades, much of the mountain area in European countries has turned into potent... more Over the last few decades, much of the mountain area in European countries has turned into potential habitat for species of medium- and large-sized mammals. Some of the occurrences that explain this trend are biodiversity protection, the creation of natural protected areas, and the abandonment of traditional agricultural activities. In recent years, wolves have once again been seen in forests in the eastern sector of the Pyrenees and the Pre-Pyrenees. The success or failure of their permanent settlement will depend on several factors, including conservation measures for the species, habitat availability, and the state of landscape connectivity. The aim of this study is to analyze the state of landscape connectivity for fragments of potential wolf habitat in Catalonia, Andorra, and on the French side of the Eastern Pyrenees. The results show that a third of the area studied constitutes potential wolf habitat and almost 90% of these spaces are of sufficient size to host stable packs. ...
Boletín de la Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles, 2016
Este artículo analiza la generación de un mapa de distribución potencial del patrón espacial leop... more Este artículo analiza la generación de un mapa de distribución potencial del patrón espacial leopardo y del entorno asociado a su desarrollo en las zonas áridas y semiáridas. A partir de Información bibliográfica alrededor del mundo y de datos de campo obtenido en Colombia y España, para ello se caracterizan los factores utilizando predictores ambientales globales en conjunto con un modelo de máxima entropía. En el modelo de distribución, las condiciones ambientales indican que la aridez y la variabilidad topográfica, son factores de peso que tiene una gran valor en las estadísticas que definen los patrones, revelando una extensa distribución de ambientes distintivos nuevos al alrededor del mundo, así como el fenómeno asociado de convergencia evolutiva y de algunos géneros vegetales predominantes en varios continentes a los que se puede asociar este patrón.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2019
The impacts that climate change and land-use dynamics have on biodiversity are already visible in... more The impacts that climate change and land-use dynamics have on biodiversity are already visible in the distribution and behaviour of a large number of species. By using a Bayesian framework, including land-use, meteorological, topography and other variables as explanatory variables, such as distance to roads and urban centres, we modeled a number of species within each cell of a regular lattice for Catalonia, Spain, in the period of 2004 to 2010. We estimated a slight increase in daily maximum temperature and a more significant increase in minimum temperature (a 5-year increase of 0.159 °C in maximum temperature, and an increase of 0.332 °C in minimum temperature). The estimation shows that the total number of species was greater than expected in the cells where land use was not urban—38.4%, in forests and 55.2% in mixed forests. Finally, we observed that most invasive species are found in areas where the minimum temperature is expected to increase. Our study can help with making imp...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2018
Numerous studies show the benefits that contact with the natural environment have for human healt... more Numerous studies show the benefits that contact with the natural environment have for human health, but there are few studies on the role of Protected Natural Areas (PNAs), either from the preventive point of view or on their potential benefits, on individuals with health problems. A study was made of the relationship between the visitation of Montseny Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve and health, from the perspective of a population group with different diseases. A total of 250 patients resident in the areas near the park were surveyed, recording their beliefs about the benefits of nature, as well as the reasons for visiting and the activities associated with health that they carried out in the park. The pure air is the most valued benefit (27.2%), particularly for those with allergies. The majority (57%) visit the park for health reasons. High levels (82%) of exercise are recorded, especially by patients with heart diseases (85%), and 65% exercised in the park. More physical acti...
The analysis of past and present patterns of agrarian mountain areas allows researchers to charac... more The analysis of past and present patterns of agrarian mountain areas allows researchers to characterize the influence of landscape heterogeneity on biodiversity, cultural heritage, and forest fire hazard. This process was mapped, quantified, and described through the use of digital mapping (GIS) and landscape indexes in a protected area in Alta Garrotxa (Catalonia, Spain). These areas require urgent management and modelling to provide alternative management scenarios, in order to maintain and recover habitats. A set of different scenarios have been designed using a multi-criteria evaluation and geospatial information available for the study area to identify the key areas for management action and to predict the potential effects on agricultural lands by prioritizing one or another management objective: biodiversity, landscape structure and perception, cultural heritage, fire hazard, and management cost. The observed progressive land abandonment of open areas with a small size and greater isolation will have a large impact on biodiversity and cultural heritage, and increase fire risk. Sustainable development will require planning objectives compatible with the conservation of biodiversity and the preservation of Mediterranean features with support for agricultural activities. This methodology can contribute to and be easily implemented by land managers, which could help to strengthen the link between managers and stakeholders.
A recent review of global arid areas supports the idea that there are two patterns to vegetation ... more A recent review of global arid areas supports the idea that there are two patterns to vegetation in arid lands. Patches of thick vegetation alternate with those with much less vegetation or none at all. There is a specific size, shape and spatial distribution that characterizes vegetation patterns in arid land ecosystems. In some places, the patches have irregular shapes; these are called spots or Leopard bush. This research project is based on a biophysical approach that integrates information collected in the field, high resolution historical satellite images and Geographical Information System technology. The results revealed that there were certain places in the landscape that facilitate the singular development of the vegetation. The Leopard pattern results from the interaction of various factors (fertility island, fragmentation of vegetation, anthropic influence, herbivorism). Specific characteristics that limit plant life forms are found in the area; since only certain resist...
Taking into account the perceptions of locals as well as visitors to La Plana de l’Empordà, a reg... more Taking into account the perceptions of locals as well as visitors to La Plana de l’Empordà, a region in Girona (Spain) undergoing an agricultural intensification process, this study attempts to explore the linkages between agricultural landscapes and human well-being by performing open, single-question interviews with 241 respondents. The results show a high perception of cultural ecosystem services as benefits from agricultural landscapes, although differences across respondent groups and across a rural–urban gradient suggest important trade-offs. Our results demonstrate that potential conflicts in the study area might emerge between a rural view on agricultural landscapes and a more production-oriented landscape appreciation. We consider it relevant to take into account potential social conflicts due to the new social composition in Mediterranean rural areas where different perceptions regarding the delivery of ecosystem services coexist.
This study examines how local population, tourists and farmers relate to rural landscapes, by exp... more This study examines how local population, tourists and farmers relate to rural landscapes, by exploring visual landscape preferences and the influence of everyday landscapes on the research subjects. Results point towards an immense variability in visual landscape preferences amongst user groups living in or visiting the study area (Plana de l’Empordà, Girona, Spain). Tourists rate grasslands at the top of their preference list, local residents prefer orchards, and farmers favour fields of irrigated herbaceous crops; showing, altogether, that the user's relationship with the landscape determines their visual preferences. Results show that farmers prefer agriculture dominated scenes while local residents and tourists prefer scenes with equilibrium between agricultural and natural elements. Likewise, the presence of margins is widely appreciated aesthetically by all respondents. Furthermore, results underline the importance of landscapes that are familiar to the respondents.
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