Terroir 2012 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Conventions and methods towards landscape quality: an application in the Douro (Portugal)

Conventions and methods towards landscape quality: an application in the Douro (Portugal)

Abstract

Vineyards are one of the most recognizable icons of the Mediterranean landscapes and of its cultural identity. In Portugal, in the areas where the terroir are particularly adjusted to the vine culture (Appellation of Origin) important changes have been affecting the landscapes, as a result of both European Agricultural Policy and the international trade market of wine. In fact, important features of traditional vineyard landscapes have not always been taken into consideration as amenities or commodities to the regions development and the market of the wines.

The recognition of some wine regions as World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO and the recommendations of the European Landscape Convention may be seen as great opportunities to set up innovative concepts into innovative actions towards landscape quality as a fundamental pillar to sustainable development and to the commitment of the different stakeholders in its implementation. The definition of Landscape Quality Objectives in a collaborative way could be seen as the starting point to the implementation of concrete actions targeting the protection, planning and management of the winescapes on a multifunctional basis.

A discussion on opportunities and constrains of spatial planning tools and sector policies, like tourism, will be made, to find out concrete and legal opportunities. A combined reflection amongst the wine producers and other local stakeholders, technical and administration entities, local population and tourists are needed, in order to better understand the relevance of landscape quality in the future development of the winegrowing regions. An example in Douro Demarcated Region will be presented, based on results of the project ORTE as well as of other recent perception studies.

Download the PDF

DOI:

Publication date: October 1, 2020

Issue: Terroir 2012

Type: Article

Authors

Ana LAVRADOR (1), Rosário OLIVEIRA (2), Elisabeth KASTENHOLZ (3)

(1) and (2) e-GEO, Research Centre for Geography and Regional Planning, Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal.
(3) Research Unity GOVCOPP, University of Aveiro, Portugal – Telephone: 00351962383275

Contact the author

Keywords

landscape quality, perception, tourism, Douro Demarcated Region

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2012

Citation

Related articles…

Sensory and chemical effects of postharvest grape cooling on wine quality

Wine cellars are affected by seasonally fluctuating workloads and face challenges especially in the harvest period connected to the required timely processing of the harvested grapes.

Read More

Yield prediction assessment before bloom and at veraison in a cv. Airén high yielding vineyard in Toledo (La Mancha, Spain)

Anticipation in the possible responses of grapevines to environmental variations is key to adjust field work in view of a more effective management. This idea has been the driving force behind the current work, which seeks to understand the interaction patterns of the vine with its habitat throughout the growing cycle.

Read More

Cumulative effect of deficit irrigation and salinity on vine responses

Climate change is increasing water needs in most of the wine growing regions while reducing the availability and quality of water resources for irrigation. In this context, the sustainability of Mediterranean viticulture depends on grapevine responses to the combinations of water and salt stress. With this aim, this work studies the effects of deficit irrigation and salinity on the physiology of the Tempranillo cultivar (Vitis vinifera L.) grafted onto a drought and salinity tolerant rootstock (1103 Paulsen).

Read More

Selection of beneficial endophytes from Sicilian grapevine germplasm 

The recent expansion of arid areas due to climate change is putting grapevine and the other traditional productions at risk in all Mediterranean countries with a limited availability of fundamental resources such as water. It is possible to improve the resilience of vineyards by developing sustainable agricultural practices based on biological and natural resources such as endophytic microorganisms that colonize inner plant tissues, and which can potentially increase the tolerance to abiotic stresses. A selection of grapevine endophytes was conducted from 2021 to 2023 as part of the PRIMA project PROSIT.

Read More

New breeding frontiers: application of the CRISPR-cas9 system in grapevine (V. vinifera L.) and improvements in plant regeneration

Nowadays, many policies are being adopted for direct agriculture towards more sustainable approaches. To continue to maintain a high production using fewer fertilizers, pesticides and water resources, agronomic techniques must be combined with biotechnological approaches. In grapevine, the breeding programs are restricted by the fact that it has a highly heterozygous genome, therefore, if on the one hand, we try to improve the characteristics, on the other hand it is necessary to preserve the original genome of the varieties. CRISPR-cas9 system is one of the smartest tools to carry out highly precise genetic modifications leaving the genetic background unchanged.

Read More