Dynamics of agricultural intensity and the related provision of ecosystem services in Mediterranean peri-urban areas

Mediterranean agricultural areas have undergone strong changes in the last decades, and farming systems are being threatened affecting important ecosystems services (ES). The common change processes in Europe are identified as: the urbanization of coastal plains, intensification on productive agricultural land, changes in land management and on farm diversification and the land use extensification (abandonment of traditional/extensive production systems) (Serra, Pons, & Saurí, 2008; van Vliet, de Groot, Rietveld, & Verburg, 2015). Consequently, special attention has been focused on the impact on ecosystem services not only biodiversity but also for land planning, food security, economic policy and climate change (Verburg, Mertz, Erb, Haberl, & Wu, 2013). The change processes have followed different trends from subsistence agriculture to a market oriented (Caraverlli) that have been intensified in the periurban areas: e.g., irrigation has become indispensable in order to guarantee producers a satisfactory income. However, few studies have been carried out in Southern Mediterranean countries, where agricultural dynamics are assessed at farm level paying attention to spatial relationships between farmers and its land use management. This PhD thesis aims to: (i) understand the main indicators of agricultural intensity and intensification; (ii) analyse the land use patterns changes in Mediterranean periurban areas; (iii) study the farming system typologies at farm level in terms of intensity; (iv) analyse the subtle farming system changes and their drivers; and finally (v) evaluate the related provision of ES (i.e. provision and regulation services). To revalidate our results, two case studies will be carried out in Mediterranean medium-sized cities: the Pisa area (Tuscany, Italy) and the peri-urban zone of Avignon (Vaucluse, France). Both areas share common demographic trends but their land use dynamics, especially in agriculture, are different. The purpose of this PhD is to contribute to the food planning, local and regional land planning as well as urban planners for the improvement of sustainable development plans related to urban-rural links.