Agriculture and natural resources for valorizing peri-urban historical landscapes: the case study of Stupinigi Royal Natural Park (Metropolitan City of Turin, Italy)

Valorizing historical agricultural landscapes in peri-urban areas is considered a priority by the international community. Stupinigi Royal Natural Park (Metropolitan City of Turin, Italy) is a protected area of Piedmont Region, and was recognized in 1997 as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the serial site "Savoy Residences". The Park, historically used for hunting by the royal family, covers about 1700 ha and it is characterized by specific land uses, with meadows and pastures, cereals, permanent crops (poplars) and natural woodlands (oaks and hornbeams). The research aims were to assess the landscape features, and to propose a list of action and strategies for the future sustainable development of the park. Firstly, for identifying historical features of rural landscape and theoretical qualifying elements, historical and landscape analyses were performed. With the purpose of characterizing the sustainability of the present farming system and its multifunctionality, a participatory approach was adopted. Face to face interviews were performed to 29 local stakeholders (100% of the sample), investigating the farms’ main characteristics. Supply chains, product distribution channels and marketing strategies were detected, as well as the farmers’ attitude to multifunctionality. Further, with a series of Yes/No questions, the farmers perception regarding the landscape in the park was asked. The research allowed to understand the importance of the historical landmarks in the area and that their safeguard is a key point in the opinion of farmers. At the same time, it was highlighted that multifunctionality identifies the agriculture in this peri-urban context and it can be used as planning strategies for the future.