Category: Uncategorized

Alexandra Marta-Costa

Associate Professor; Centre for Transdisciplinary Development Studies (CETRAD); Department of Economy, Sociology and Management (DESG); University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro; Quinta de Prados, 5000-911 Vila Real, Portugal, Tel: (+351) 259302201; Fax: (+351) 259302249; amarta@utad.pt.

Filipa Torres-Manso

Mountain Research Centre (CIMO); Department of Forest Science and Landscape Architecture; University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro; Quinta de Prados, 5000-911 Vila Real, Portugal, ftorres@utad.pt.

Luís Tibério

Centre for Transdisciplinary Development Studies (CETRAD); Department of Economy, Sociology and Management (DESG); University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro; Quinta de Prados, 5000-911 Vila Real, Portugal, mtiberio@utad.pt.

Abstract

Serra de Montemuro Site is a Natura 2000 classified area in northern Portugal, especially for its role in preserving both the landscape, environmental and cultural heritage. Based on the main features of the territory in question, as well as on the agroforestry activities developed therein, this article aims at depicting the main aspects which characterize the (un)sustainability of the afore mentioned activities, namely some of the challenges that a sustainable agroforestry development must be able to meet. The methodological procedures included several complementary processes of information gathering such as: bibliographical research, field research, interviews, participatory meetings and sectoral meetings. Two implications arise from this sustainability diagnosis: 1) the revenue isn’t sufficient to maintain the agroforestry systems; 2) the conservation of this territory is imperative and the agroforestry systems are essential for this purpose.

read more

Luís TIBÉRIO

PhD researchers at CETRAD and Lectures at Department of Economics, Sociology and Management/University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Av. Almeida Lucena, 1. 5000-660 Vila Real – Portugal.

and

Diniz Francisco

PhD researchers at CETRAD and Lectures at Department of Economics, Sociology and Management/University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Av. Almeida Lucena, 1. 5000-660 Vila Real – Portugal.

Correspondent Author, fdiniz@utad.pt,  Tel.: +351 2593092200, Fax: +351 2593092249

Abstract

(EC) Regulations 2081/92 and 2082/92, replaced by Council Regulations (EC) 510/2006 and 509/2006, respectively, are an important contribution to establishing the foundations of European Policy on agri-food quality. They include the protection of agricultural as well as food product designations at European level, particularly those which bear a close relationship with their production area and which, due to their geographical origin and/or specific modes of production, present distinctive characteristics.  Under those regulations a thousand designations are estimated to be protected within the European Union, of which about eight hundred are regularly present in the markets, accounting for a 14.2 billion Euro turnover. Portugal alone has 120 protected designations (15% of all European designations) which originate a seventy million Euro turnover (0.5% of the turnover generated by the PDO/PGI at European level). Fifteen years after the first PDO/PGI products have appeared on the national market, we believe it is important to look into the state of the art of these products in Portugal. The main goal of the present paper is to provide an overall view on the main trends of the PDO/PGI products sector at national level. The methodology used consists of a descriptive analysis of a set of specific indicators regarding three main variables: Production; Prices and Commercialization. Globally, this type of products is not very commercially widespread, despite the positive sustained evolution registered by some. As a rule these products have a poor productive dimension, which in a way may explain the lack of internationalization of the sector.

read more

Rosa Grazia De Paoli

Architect, Phd, Contract Lecturer, DASTEC Department, Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria

Abstract

The renewal of the city started from the examination of urban conditions of comfort/discomfort (safety, mobility, environment, social cohesion); this required the direct involvement of the city’s inhabitants as experts of the urban environment, and therefore able to suggest solutions.

Nowadays in Italy the renewal tools of the city cannot be found in planning laws, but in new tools with participated procedures. These participated procedures have put the public administration and the private entrepreneurial class in agreement. In the ’90’s, the so-called Complex Programs both in the national and regional domain have been realized. The Complex Programs aim to propose urban improvement through innovative procedures to improve urban life quality. Among the Complex Programs, the District Contracts have been realized in January ’98 and proposed in 2002 by the Infrastructure Administration. They set the aim of district renewal in places characterized by buildings degradation, urban environment lacking services, scarce social cohesion and marked housing problems as well as the presence of an elevated seismic vulnerability.

This paper underlines a methodology of urban retraining with participated procedures applied in a historical centre of  a town in southern Italy.

read more