Multifunctional Landscapes_perspectives for the future_Brandt (2003)

How different types of multifunctionality can be identified and why they are useful to tackle the environmental damages coming from intensive monofunctional agriculture.


Landscape: "A heterogeneous land area composed of a cluster of interacting eco-systems that is repeated in a similar form throughout" (Forman, 1986)

Forman RTT, Godron M, 1986. Landscape  Ecology (M). New York John Wiley and Sons

This definition is in contrast with curent extensive agriculture use but more compatible with the multi-functional landscape.
Landscapes in the future might be characterised by:
1) less intensive agrricultural production
2) smaller units of land
3) more varied combination of land uses (housing, recreation, hunting grounds, nature conservation, infrastructural elements)
5) a more varied landscape
6) multi-functional use of the landscape
7) increasing conflicts between land uses and social uses

Central to the dicussion is the agricultural policy.

Types of multi-functionality: 
1) ecological (ecosystems)
2) land uses
3) social
But also multifunctionality in:
a. spatial combination (space segregation)
b.on same land unit but at different times (time segregation)
c. different uses in time and space (true multi-functionality)

Brandt, J. (2003), Multifunctional landscapes - perspectives for the future, Journal of Environmental Sciences, Vol.15, n.2, pp 187-192, 2003