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Volume 10
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10.3390/land10030307
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Article

Assessing Vegetation Heritage Value: The Alentejo Central (Portugal) as a Case Study

by
Teresa Batista
1,*,
José Manuel de Mascarenhas
2,
Paula Mendes
3 and
Carlos Pinto-Gomes
4,5
1
MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, University of Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
2
CIDEHUS—Interdisciplinary Centre for History, Culture and Societies of University of Évora, Palácio of Vimioso, Largo do Marquês de Marialva, n.° 8, Apartado 94, 7000-809 Évora, Portugal
3
Institute for Nature Conservation and Forestry, Regional Direction of Alentejo. R. Tenente Raul de Andrade, 1 e 3, 7000-613 Évora, Portugal
4
MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & Department of Landscape, Environment and Land Planning, University of Évora, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
5
Institute of Earth Sciences (ICT), School of Science and Technology, University of Évora, Rua Romão Ramalho, n° 59, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Land 2021, 10(3), 307; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10030307
Submission received: 19 January 2021 / Revised: 26 February 2021 / Accepted: 6 March 2021 / Published: 17 March 2021
(This article belongs to the Section Landscape Ecology)
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Abstract

Vegetation natural heritage can be valued in itself, but also as a habitat for many wildlife species. This study presents a methodological essay concerning the evaluation of plant heritage, applied in Central Alentejo, in the south of Portugal. This evaluation was based on the following criteria: horizontal and vertical structure of vegetation, tree cover density, rare plant species richness, phytocenotic maturity, importance as ecological corridor, historical record, scientific and educational potential and recreational potential. The vegetation heritage value (VHV) was calculated using a linear combination of the weighted criteria. In this way it was possible to identify the most interesting areas for conservation purposes. Of the 7500 km2 analyzed, 52% are natural and semi-natural areas, and of these, 18.8% have very high VHV, 70.7% have high VHV and only 10.5% average VHV. The highest VHV areas are actually included under the protected areas of Natura 2000 sites.
Keywords: vegetation heritage value; estimation methodology; landscape heritage; landscape ecology and planning; southern Portugal vegetation heritage value; estimation methodology; landscape heritage; landscape ecology and planning; southern Portugal

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MDPI and ACS Style

Batista, T.; de Mascarenhas, J.M.; Mendes, P.; Pinto-Gomes, C. Assessing Vegetation Heritage Value: The Alentejo Central (Portugal) as a Case Study. Land 2021, 10, 307. https://doi.org/10.3390/land10030307

AMA Style

Batista T, de Mascarenhas JM, Mendes P, Pinto-Gomes C. Assessing Vegetation Heritage Value: The Alentejo Central (Portugal) as a Case Study. Land. 2021; 10(3):307. https://doi.org/10.3390/land10030307

Chicago/Turabian Style

Batista, Teresa, José Manuel de Mascarenhas, Paula Mendes, and Carlos Pinto-Gomes. 2021. "Assessing Vegetation Heritage Value: The Alentejo Central (Portugal) as a Case Study" Land 10, no. 3: 307. https://doi.org/10.3390/land10030307

APA Style

Batista, T., de Mascarenhas, J. M., Mendes, P., & Pinto-Gomes, C. (2021). Assessing Vegetation Heritage Value: The Alentejo Central (Portugal) as a Case Study. Land, 10(3), 307. https://doi.org/10.3390/land10030307

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