A multivariate assessment of fringe landscape dynamics in Rome, Italy, and implications for peri-urban forest conservation

The present study assesses how urban growth impacted landscape composition, structure and diversity in peri-urban Rome, central Italy, during the last 60 years (1949–2008). The spatial distribution and fragmentation of nine land-use classes derived from comparable digital maps covering the whole study area (1500 km2) were assessed by computing a total of 27 metrics using a relational approach based on exploratory data analysis. Landscape transformations were explored through hierarchical clustering applied on the selected landscape metrics. Our results indicate the increased fragmentation of peri-urban landscape over the study interval. Especially vineyards, arable land and pastures underwent patch fragmentation. This process was reflected into smaller ‘core’ areas compared with the remaining non-urban uses of land (woodland, olive groves). A negative relation between class area and patchiness was observed for all classes with the exception of forests and olive groves. Policies aimed at contrasting fragmentation and simplification of the relict landscape on the fringe of large cities are finally discussed.