Sustainable Management of UNESCO Landscapes to Foster Natural and Cultural Capital

Irene Petrosillo, Erica Maria Lovello (), Luisa Ria, Patrizia Tartara and Donatella Valente
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Irene Petrosillo: Laboratory of Landscape Ecology, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Erica Maria Lovello: Laboratory of Landscape Ecology, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Luisa Ria: Laboratory of Landscape Ecology, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Patrizia Tartara: National Research Council (CNR), Institute of System Analysis and Computer Sciences “Antonio Ruberti”, 00185 Rome, Italy
Donatella Valente: Laboratory of Landscape Ecology, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-17

Abstract: UNESCO landscapes, as socio-ecological systems of high natural and cultural value, must be well managed and protected for future generations. The study area of the present research includes the UNESCO site of the Etruscan necropolis of Cerveteri (Central Italy). The main aims of the study are as follows: (1) to compare landscape dynamics of the study area from 1954 to 2023; (2) to assess the potential positive effects of the recognition of the area as a UNESCO site in terms of mitigating landscape change and fragmentation; (3) to identify potential sustainable conservation actions aimed at promoting the connectivity between the site and its landscape context. There was a change in the land cover in the entire study area from 1954 to 2023, which was 23%, with different dynamics at different times, while fragmentation was evident in the UNESCO buffer. This is particularly a concern because it includes the ancient Etruscan city, and it is not subject to adequate protection measures. Finally, this research identified crucial management strategies, including the expansion of the core area to include the ancient city; the restoration of naturalistic connections (e.g., the ancient path) between the city, necropolis, and natural context; and the reforestation of sensitive archaeological areas to mitigate landscape fragmentation.

Keywords: UNESCO site “Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia”; multifunctional landscapes; land cover dynamics; landscape management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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