Territorial analysis method of socio-economic conflicts between human development and environmental conservation

Abstract

This paper focuses on a methodology for analyzing potential territory capacities such as local development and conflict resolution of the use of land natural resources. Ecological economics and landscape ecology are the theoretical origins of this methodology so that it’s possible to give a value to both economic aspects and social-environmental aspects. In this case public stakeholder choices will have many actuation opportunities because they will be based on the sustainable development concept.
The aim of our study is to describe the multifunctional role that the agricultural activities carry out within a territory; to do this, it is necessary to find a methodology which can define social functions that characterize the territory of analysis. According to the definitions widely accepted by part of the European scientific community, the agricultural field expresses four kinds of functions: environmental, natural, social and economic. Among these, the role of the forest is particularly important.
For every defined function a set of indicators has been chosen that permit the analysis of the various aspects of
agricultural activities. The statistical basis was the 2000 Agriculture Census (ISTAT, 2001). This document presents different types of information that are connected to the multifunctional aspects of the field.
This paper also analyses potential conflicts between environmental conservation and human development, and starts from the many functions of the agricultural sector in the area called Comprensorio Empolese Val d’Elsa, located in the Region of Tuscany.