Agricultural terraced systems of the tuscan archipelago: typological analysis and recovery possibilities of dry stone walls

In the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago, dry-stone walls represent an extensive cultural heritage in state of generalized abandonment. Considering the multifunctionality recognized to surviving terraced systems needs to be safeguarded through surveys aimed at providing characterization and indications for possible recovery interventions. After a preliminary quantitative G.I.S. remote analysis, qualitative characterization of the realities deemed most significant was carried out by on-site surveys. 48 sample areas have been analysed by studying parameters related to constructive, functional aspects and state of conservation. A variety of construction and management techniques has been found and it appears that there are strong differences in the state of conservation even between neighboring fields: on one side farmers and virtuous private individuals who maintain the terraces, on the other side, abandoned areas where the decay produces a fragmentation of the landscape continuity and originates sometimes non-negligible potential danger situations. Thus, technical indications are proposed for the restoration of degraded structures requiring priority interventions.