Cenários para a Paisagem Rural: Contributo para uma Discussão à Escala Local

Abstract

Landscape change is a continuous process. These changes depend on policy options, but also on the prevailing values in society. As landscape values change, policy shifts, which may lead to socio- economic changes. In this context, this paper aims at identifying the present drivers of landscape change in remote rural areas. In these marginal landscapes the role of agriculture is being altered under the influence of the new rationale of the Common Agriculture Policy. Therefore agriculture policies may not be the major driving force of landscape change in the future. Though the development of ‘exploratory landscape scenarios’, plausible landscape futures are formulated that aim at setting the basis for discussions with the public regarding their aspirations for their landscape. This approach relates strongly with the European Landscape Convention which proposes that landscape policies and plans should be based on the definition of “Landscape Quality Objectives” that are the expression of perceived desires and threats towards the future the landscape.