New Possibilities for Planning the Recovery of Abandoned Agricultural Land in Mediterranean Mountain Communities: The Case of Troodos in Cyprus

This paper addresses the issue of abandoned agricultural land (AAL) as a phenomenon whose containment is crucial due to its extent, the agro-ecological transition, and the development challenges faced by mountain communities. The research is organised on two levels: (a) the mountain region of Troodo...

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Main Authors: Dimitris Goussios, Dimitra Gaki, Prodromos Mardakis, Ioannis Faraslis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Land
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/1/6
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author Dimitris Goussios
Dimitra Gaki
Prodromos Mardakis
Ioannis Faraslis
author_facet Dimitris Goussios
Dimitra Gaki
Prodromos Mardakis
Ioannis Faraslis
author_sort Dimitris Goussios
collection DOAJ
description This paper addresses the issue of abandoned agricultural land (AAL) as a phenomenon whose containment is crucial due to its extent, the agro-ecological transition, and the development challenges faced by mountain communities. The research is organised on two levels: (a) the mountain region of Troodos, Cyprus, where the stance of local communities regarding the impacts of abandonment is investigated, and (b) representative communities where the findings from the diagnosis, with the contribution of spatial analysis, are used as a guide in planning the process of recovering AAL. At this scale, an interactive methodology is proposed that incorporates the spatial and production dimensions through a “zone for recovery”. The paper results in a recovery process based on the correspondence between the differentiated agricultural land uses in mountains (intensive/extensive models, self-consumption, management, etc.) and the various user groups (existing and potential farmers, diaspora, etc.). This process indicates that, as long as there is a combined institutional intervention by communities, spatial planning, and local governance, integrating recovery into the local multifunctional production system leads to its differentiation and increased resilience.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2073-445X
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Land
spelling doaj-art-90e98de86b094ee4a980e366444e0d132025-01-24T13:37:31ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2024-12-01141610.3390/land14010006New Possibilities for Planning the Recovery of Abandoned Agricultural Land in Mediterranean Mountain Communities: The Case of Troodos in CyprusDimitris Goussios0Dimitra Gaki1Prodromos Mardakis2Ioannis Faraslis3Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly, Pedion Areos, 38334 Volos, GreeceDepartment of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly, Pedion Areos, 38334 Volos, GreeceDepartment of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly, Pedion Areos, 38334 Volos, GreeceDepartment of Environmental Sciences, Campus Gaiopolis, University of Thessaly, 41110 Larissa, GreeceThis paper addresses the issue of abandoned agricultural land (AAL) as a phenomenon whose containment is crucial due to its extent, the agro-ecological transition, and the development challenges faced by mountain communities. The research is organised on two levels: (a) the mountain region of Troodos, Cyprus, where the stance of local communities regarding the impacts of abandonment is investigated, and (b) representative communities where the findings from the diagnosis, with the contribution of spatial analysis, are used as a guide in planning the process of recovering AAL. At this scale, an interactive methodology is proposed that incorporates the spatial and production dimensions through a “zone for recovery”. The paper results in a recovery process based on the correspondence between the differentiated agricultural land uses in mountains (intensive/extensive models, self-consumption, management, etc.) and the various user groups (existing and potential farmers, diaspora, etc.). This process indicates that, as long as there is a combined institutional intervention by communities, spatial planning, and local governance, integrating recovery into the local multifunctional production system leads to its differentiation and increased resilience.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/1/6abandoned landsrecoverabilitymountaincommunesagroecological transitionresources
spellingShingle Dimitris Goussios
Dimitra Gaki
Prodromos Mardakis
Ioannis Faraslis
New Possibilities for Planning the Recovery of Abandoned Agricultural Land in Mediterranean Mountain Communities: The Case of Troodos in Cyprus
Land
abandoned lands
recoverability
mountain
communes
agroecological transition
resources
title New Possibilities for Planning the Recovery of Abandoned Agricultural Land in Mediterranean Mountain Communities: The Case of Troodos in Cyprus
title_full New Possibilities for Planning the Recovery of Abandoned Agricultural Land in Mediterranean Mountain Communities: The Case of Troodos in Cyprus
title_fullStr New Possibilities for Planning the Recovery of Abandoned Agricultural Land in Mediterranean Mountain Communities: The Case of Troodos in Cyprus
title_full_unstemmed New Possibilities for Planning the Recovery of Abandoned Agricultural Land in Mediterranean Mountain Communities: The Case of Troodos in Cyprus
title_short New Possibilities for Planning the Recovery of Abandoned Agricultural Land in Mediterranean Mountain Communities: The Case of Troodos in Cyprus
title_sort new possibilities for planning the recovery of abandoned agricultural land in mediterranean mountain communities the case of troodos in cyprus
topic abandoned lands
recoverability
mountain
communes
agroecological transition
resources
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/1/6
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AT dimitragaki newpossibilitiesforplanningtherecoveryofabandonedagriculturallandinmediterraneanmountaincommunitiesthecaseoftroodosincyprus
AT prodromosmardakis newpossibilitiesforplanningtherecoveryofabandonedagriculturallandinmediterraneanmountaincommunitiesthecaseoftroodosincyprus
AT ioannisfaraslis newpossibilitiesforplanningtherecoveryofabandonedagriculturallandinmediterraneanmountaincommunitiesthecaseoftroodosincyprus