CRITERIA FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF A RED LIST OF MEDITERRANEAN LANDSCAPES - 3 EXAMPLES IN TUSCANY

The following criteria could be followed in compiling a 'Red List' of landscapes: (a) the identification of a 'landscape' in its entirety an d not of single landscape elements; (b) the relevance of the landscape in relation to its area; (c) the landscape must be endangered; (d) th e further identification of areas where the particular features of the landscape are well represented. In Europe there are three main types of landscapes to be included in a Red List. They may be classified as: (1) metastable 'relict' landscapes, (2) unstable 'vanishing' landscap es, and (3) metastable 'strained' landscapes. Three Tuscan landscapes have been selected to exemplify each of the types listed above: the lo wer Farma Valley in southern Tuscany as a 'relict landscape', part of the Solano Valley in northeastern Tuscany as a 'vanishing landscape', and parts of the clay hills landscape near Siena and in the Orcia Vall ey in southeastern Tuscany as a 'strained landscape'.