Environmental and Landscape Quality - Urban Landscapes: Environmental Networks and Quality of Life - page 15

nomic dimension) in a synthetic vision of the landscape [14]. From this
course, the difficulty in reaching an overall final synthetic vision capable of
bringing together objective and quantifiable evaluations with others that are
more subjective is evident. And the initial question that the authors pose is still
open: “ If the landscape as a whole is impossible to assess from a holistic point
of view, can we break it down into simpler elements that can be analyzed and
monitored? ” [14]
Other experiences of environmental and landscape quality evaluation have
been examined, using different criteria calibrated to the area of application and
on the basis of different objectives, with mostly partial framing [15-17]. The
experiences examined touch on the following areas [18]: relationships
between rural landscapes and agricultural policies 14 ; relationships between
rural landscape transformations and biodiversity 15 ; and relationships
between settlement sprawl and rural landscapes 16 . In all of the cases investi-
gated, the selection of indicators proposes following (not always successfully)
criteria that are simply defined, highly comprehensible, economic with respect
to measurement procedures, efficient in correlating different themes, and
which contain a low number of parameters. The scale of reference is naturally
different according to the evaluation objective. When the application regards
purely environmental questions, the indicators are generalizable and applica-
ble to different contexts . In facing the landscape question, the indicators tend
to change with changes in landscape characteristics and population apprecia-
tion. In both cases, the methods maintain a certain degree of flexibility based
on the availability of data.
14 For further information: Guiomar X (2010) Periurban agriculture and local authorities: which
policies for which proximities? Example of local policies in the Ile de France. In: Lardon S (ed)
Agricultural management in peri-urban areas, Felici Editore srl, Pisa; Sargolini M (2009) Paesaggi
agrari e continuità ambientali. Proceedings from the conference “Verso una politica del paesaggio.
Temi e buone pratiche a confronto”, Umbria Region. Attached to no. 21 Architettura del paesag-
gio - Paysage, Milan; Piorr HP (2003) Environmental policy, agri-environmental indicators and
landscape indicators, Agric Ecosyst Environ 98; Landsis EEIG et al (2002) Proposal on agri-envi-
ronmental indicators PAIS. Project summary. http://web.ccdr-alg.pt/sids/indweb/imagen/docs_
extra/Outrosdocs/PAIS.pdf
15 Several studies on indicators for rural landscape quality have been made by the Umbrian Obser-
vatory for biodiversity, rural landscape, and sustainable planning (coordinator: Massimo
Sargolini). In particular, the indicators dealt with have included: (1) the state of the rural landscape
and (2) the implementation and effectiveness of plans and programs that can have important
effects on the landscape.
16 A few studies have been made by the Umbrian Observatory for biodiversity, rural landscape,
and sustainable planning (coordinator: Bernardino Romano) to look at indicators regarding settle-
ment interference on landscapes and ecosystems. The parameters indicated are based on the quan-
tity and geographical consistency of demographic components and urban settlements. Using
appropriate minimum areas of statistical reference, correlation models were defined between the
weight of settlement aspects and the qualitative/quantitative connotations of biodiversity.