Biodiversità e diversità culturale: relazioni, problematiche e integrazione tra i due concetti con particolare riferimento alle Aree Naturali Protette dell’Alta Tuscia
Author(s)
Egidi, Maria Pina
Date Issued
March 20, 2012
Type
Doctoral Thesis
Abstract
Since early 90s of last century, in a parallel way to developments of biology of conservation about biodiversity (Primack, 2003), a new discipline has been developed as an interface between “Landscape Ecology” and “Human Ecology”, investigating and measuring the relationship between biodiversity and cultural diversity referred to the land contest.
Such field of study, that shows a multidisciplinary approach, defines “biocultural diversity” as “..the diversity of life in all of its manifestations: biological, cultural, and linguistic, which are interrelated (and possibly co-evolved) within a complex socio-ecological adaptive system” (Maffi, 2007; Cavalli Sforza 2010; Cavalli Sforza & Pievani, 2011).
Coming from scientific literature, studies and measurements of biocultural diversity, by indexes as TEK and VITEK (Zent, 2008) can be applied in planning and programming activities of land rich in natural values , because they can supply tools for governance with the aim to defense traditional knowledge about local animal and vegetal species and use of these species in everyday life.
Another field of application for studies about biocultural diversity are linguistic and defense of human rights, with particular regard to defense of intellectual propriety (Vandana Shiva, 1997).
Despite of a solid framework of research at international level and a number of reference documents, (some of these also with a binding value), implementation examples of the
methodology and tools/measurement of biocultural diversity weren’t found in Italy, according to literature.
These research was born with the aim to investigate biocultural diversity between several generations of citizens, living in peripheral areas in which there is a Natural Protected Area, coming from the observation that National and regional reference laws (i.e. L. 394/91 and L.R.L. 29/97) define, also as mission of a Natural Protected Area, the protection of cultural heritage. The aim of this investigation was to assess and measure the change and the trend of Traditional Environmental Knowledge in the latest 50 years, comparing two generations of resident citizens.
After an analysis of reference bibliography (Zent, 2008), Vitality Index of Traditional Environmental Knowledge (VITEK) was chosen to be tested (after an adaptation) at local level, according a medium geographical scale, in three (3) small villages in the province of Viterbo (Alta Tuscia – Italy), with the help of a focus group formed by represents of local cultural institutions.
The chosen villages were Acquapendente, Farnese e Latera; in the first ones , there are two Regionale Protected Areas (respectively Natural Reserve Monte Rufeno and Natural Reserve Selva del Lamone).
In each village, two samples of population characterized by different ages (over 60 and pupils of primary school last cycle) were taken under observation, with the aim to asses if and how much the Traditional Environmental Knowledge was influenced by the presence and by the role of a Natural Protected Area, as a focus centre of environmental education and stabilizer of biocultural knowledge .
A diachronic analysis about the sights of investigated species was carried out; data were elaborated with ARCGis Software.
The results showed:
3. Loss of biocultural knowledge , in resident citiziens, also in marginal areas (with similar characteristics as, i.e, human pressure, low population density, soil use) , with a Natural Protected Areas;
4. Relapses on the maintenance of biocultural knowledge, in presence of a Natural Protected Area, seem to have no effects in a short term period; in fact, residents in the village of Farnese show a greater difference between age groups, emphasizing probable relapses on a medium – long term.
The results showed that . i) adaption of VITEK methodology is valid also in a local context; (ii) the methodology has economicity of investigation as point of strength (i.e. simplicity of the
test); (iii) the methodology needs activity in situ, as point of weakness; (iv) results can be easily used also in administrative and managerial contexts.
Moreover, this methodology - as adapted in this thesis – and its results can support definition of rules and documents for line of approach to improve effectiveness of land governance, over all of Natural Protected Areas.
Additional information
Dottorato di ricerca in Ecologia e gestione delle risorse biologiche
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Name
mpegidi_tesid.pdf
Size
8.83 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
f95b42710b51a27387bc730c5b41d225