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Processes and patterns of landscape change on a small Aegean island: The case of Sifnos, Greece

Tzanopoulos, Joseph, Vogiatzakis, Ioannis N. (2011) Processes and patterns of landscape change on a small Aegean island: The case of Sifnos, Greece. Landscape and Urban Planning, 99 (1). pp. 58-64. ISSN 0169-2046. (doi:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2010.08.014) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:30015)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2010.08.01...

Abstract

The Mediterranean island landscape is a mosaic of land-cover types that manifest the historical interaction between physical and anthropogenic processes that have affected significantly landscape composition and spatial configuration. The aim of this study is to investigate the processes and patterns of landscape changes in small Mediterranean islands as exemplified by the Aegean island of Sifnos, Greece. Satellite imagery was used to measure land-cover changes from 1987 to 1999. A suite of landscape metrics was employed to quantify changes in landscape structure. The results show that cropland suffered the highest area loss through conversions to semi-natural vegetation or settlements. The maquis vegetation of Juniperus phoenicea expanded over time with hotspots of expansion mainly located away from settlements. Overall, Sifnos' landscape became less fragmented and more homogeneous. The main drivers of landscape change were agricultural decline and tourism. These processes have resulted in semi-natural vegetation expansion and landscape closure. Landscape polarization of land-use intensity has increased with anthropogenic processes operating only on certain locations close to settlements and large parts of the island loosing their productivist profile. However, tourism should not be considered as the primary cause of land-use polarization but rather as an aggravating factor; agriculture and tourism do not represent competing economic sectors and land-use polarization is mainly the outcome of spatially co-occurring rather than spatially competing processes. Aegean island landscapes' management needs to be pragmatic and as such adaptable to future emerging priorities.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2010.08.014
Uncontrolled keywords: Agriculture, Tourism, Abandonment, Mediterranean, Polarization, Juniperus phoenicea
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation. Leisure
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH541 Ecology
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH75 Conservation (Biology)
S Agriculture
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology)
Depositing User: Joseph Tzanopoulos
Date Deposited: 10 Oct 2012 21:35 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:07 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/30015 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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