Changes in land-use/land-cover patterns in Italy and their implications for biodiversity conservation

摘要: Land-use/land-cover change is the most important factor in causing biodiversity loss. The Mediterranean region has been affected by antropic disturbance for thousands of years, and is, nowadays, one significantly altered hotspots world. However, last years a significant increase forest cover measured. These new patterns are independent from planned conservation strategies appear to have substantial impact on landscapes biodiversity. We used three land-use/land-cover maps (from 1960 2000) covering Italian peninsula analyze pattern change. measured an forests, especially mountains, artificial areas, coastal zones, decrease pastures. Intensively cultivated areas showed limited while extensively ones marked decrease. In same period mammal bird species followed similar pattern, with birds, ungulates carnivores increasing, typically decreasing. suggest that our results may provide information, which could be useful planning entire hotspot. increasing effort should made protect Mediterranean-type forests scrublands, as well traditional agricultural practices. Moreover, future efforts consider broad socio-political ecological processes likely occur across whole hotspot, along network protected functionally integrated strategy includes human-dominated landscape.