Assessing Vegetation Heritage Value: The Alentejo Central (Portugal) as a Case Study

Teresa Batista, José Manuel de Mascarenhas, Paula Mendes and Carlos Pinto-Gomes
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Teresa Batista: MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, University of Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
José Manuel de Mascarenhas: CIDEHUS—Interdisciplinary Centre for History, Culture and Societies of University of Évora, Palácio of Vimioso, Largo do Marquês de Marialva, n.° 8, Apartado 94, 7000-809 Évora, Portugal
Paula Mendes: Institute for Nature Conservation and Forestry, Regional Direction of Alentejo. R. Tenente Raul de Andrade, 1 e 3, 7000-613 Évora, Portugal
Carlos Pinto-Gomes: MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & Department of Landscape, Environment and Land Planning, University of Évora, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal

Land, 2021, vol. 10, issue 3, 1-16

Abstract: Vegetation natural heritage can be valued in itself, but also as a habitat for many wildlife species. This study presents a methodological essay concerning the evaluation of plant heritage, applied in Central Alentejo, in the south of Portugal. This evaluation was based on the following criteria: horizontal and vertical structure of vegetation, tree cover density, rare plant species richness, phytocenotic maturity, importance as ecological corridor, historical record, scientific and educational potential and recreational potential. The vegetation heritage value (VHV) was calculated using a linear combination of the weighted criteria. In this way it was possible to identify the most interesting areas for conservation purposes. Of the 7500 km 2 analyzed, 52% are natural and semi-natural areas, and of these, 18.8% have very high VHV, 70.7% have high VHV and only 10.5% average VHV. The highest VHV areas are actually included under the protected areas of Natura 2000 sites.

Keywords: vegetation heritage value; estimation methodology; landscape heritage; landscape ecology and planning; southern Portugal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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