master of landscape architecture program (mla) contributions … · 2010. 11. 18. · contributions...

Contributions of Landscape Architecture toward Sustainable Water Management

in the Island of Gozo, Malta

Supported by the Programme Alßan, the European Union Programme of High Level Scholarships for Latin America, scholarship No. E07M403338AR

Damian Perez Beverinotti

Xlendi Valley – Gozo, Malta

Master of Landscape Architecture Program (MLA)

Ecological Landscape Modelling and Management for Mediterranean Islands / 21.10.2010

Presentation outline

• Brief introduction to Mediterranean and Maltese landscape

• Some issues affecting Gozitan landscape

• Research questions / Scope and limitations

• Research and planning methodology

• Results / Findings

• Conclusions

Mediterranean Landscape

4 / 43

Gozo Cultural Landscape

Gozo

• Geomorphologic characteristics

• Agricultural practices

• Strategies to address water and soil conservation

5 / 43

.


Terraces

6 / 43

.


Source: Jones & Hunt (1994)

Terraces

7 / 43

.


Dams

8 / 43


Channels

9 / 43


Cisterns

10 / 43

.


Water millsWater mills

11 / 43

.


Water mills

Dams

Agricultural stores

12 / 43

.


Cane reed boundaries Opuntia sp. boundaries

13 / 43

.


Stone boundaries

14 / 43

Challenges

Rapid population Growth � Development

1966 2004

Source: MEPA, Malta

15 / 43

Water scarcity

Climate change

+

additional uncertainties to the planning process

Diminishing water resources

Challenges

Jan Jul Dec

Rainfall distribution

16 / 43

Challenges

Agriculture less important as economic activity

Source: MEPA, Malta (2004)Abandoned and fallow rural areas

• Water scarcity• High labor costs• Cost of land• Fields size

17 / 43

Research Questions

How can landscape architecture contribute through planning to cope with water scarcity in the Maltese cultural landscape

How design may be guided in order to help in the sustainable management of water resources

In which way may landscape architecture help allocate the scarce resources to solve the water management problems

18 / 43

Scope and Limitations

While acknowledging the wider context of Gozo island, this research confines itself mainly to Xlendi basin

The most up to date georeferenced data provided by Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) dated from 2003 and 2004 reflecting the rural and urban conditions of Gozo before the ascension of Malta to the EU.

Mathematical modelling requires reliable data, scientific capacity and it is expensive. In this sense, ready available data from different sources on soil types, rainfall intensity, evapotranpiration have been used. Numerical models and results have been considered estimates and have been used as such. Conclusions consider the quality of the data available

The unavailability of finances to carry out each aspect of the study to its logical conclusion has limited it. Nevertheless, these limitations do not significantly affectthe quality of this study and are taken care of in the design of the study. Availability of ready data on related studies was also helpful .

Methodology

20 / 43

Landscape Planning and Water Management

Mathematical modelling

Quantitative approach

Non numerical approach

• Requires reliable data• Requires Scientific capacity• Expensive• Cultural aspects?

21 / 43

Source: Ecological Landscape Design and Planning / The Mediterranean Context (Makhzoumi & Pungetti 1999)

Ecological Landscape Design Paradigm

22 / 43

Schematic illustration of the Ecological Landscape Association methodology.

Source: Ecological Landscape Design and Planning / The Mediterranean Context (Makhzoumi & Pungetti 1999)

Ecological Landscape Associations

23 / 43

Water related processes

RunoffErosion Leaching

PercolationMobilization of nutrients in the soil

Mobilization of contaminantsEvapotranspiration

EvaporationDilution

24 / 43Processes integration in both temporal and spatial scales

Ecological Landscape Associations

Main water related process

Methodological approach

Watershed as spatial scale

Management units emphasizing the

relationship between water and landscape

Case Study – Xlendi basin

26 / 43

Xlendi basin

Watershed

Xlendi

Victoria

600 Ha

65% rural

25% urban

Second largest tourist related coastal settlement

Land-use:

27 / 43

Xlendi basin

High Landscape Sensitivity

Central valley is considered to be a high sensitivity landscape

Source: MEPA, Malta (2004)

28 / 43

Xlendi basin

17% of the basin‘s fields are fallow or abandoned

Most located in the high slope areas of the valley


29 / 43

Xlendi basin

18% of the basin is either irrigated or semi-irrigated

Irrigated fields are clustered.


30 / 43

Xlendi Flooding Risk

Source: Gozo & Comino Local Plan – MEPA 2006

and

Runoff water

Accumulation during storms

Obstructed discharge

point

31 / 43

Xlendi Flooding Risk

Planning / Design Units for Xlendi basin

33 / 43

Landscape Planning / Design Units

Slope

Geology

Drainage network

Land use

34 / 43

Landscape Planning / Design Units

• Biotic

• Abiotic

• Cultural

• Processes related with water flow

35 / 43

Upper urban areas / impervious soils / exotic species / runoff

• Architectural heritage

• Exotic and ruderalvegetation

• Sealed soils →increased runoff (volume, frequency and flow duration)

• Stormwater flowing to sewers or down slope through the streets

Unit 1

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Upper urban areas / impervious soils / exotic species / runoffUnit 1

• Stormwater pollution and excess runoff may be controlled by best management practices in streets and open spaces

• Actions to collect intercepted rain water in roofs might help reduce runoff

• Traditional materials might be combined with exotic plant species to build water related structures

37 / 43

• Extensively terraced agricultural area

• Runoff and groundwater extraction are used as sources of irrigation water

• Erosion occurs where dry-stone walls have fallen into disrepair

• Conservation of terrace cultivation should be a priority

Walled terraces / Coralline Limestone – Globigerina / crops / runoff – erosionUnit 2

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Walled terraces / Coralline Limestone – Globigerina / crops / runoff – erosionUnit 2


• Small-scale high value agricultural activities such us viticulture may be a solution for this problem

• Water harvesting and conservation techniques at field level may help reduce runoff while helping water scarcity

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Walled terraces / Globigerina - Coralline / garrigue / erosion -runoffUnit 3

• High proportion of abandoned terraced fields


• High risk of erosion associated with high slope

• Natural vegetation garrigue

• Crops in the terraces

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Walled terraces / Globigerina - Coralline / garrigue / erosion -runoffUnit 3

• Conservation of the rock walls and upper terraced fields should be a priority

• Development projects located in this unit should not impact the natural vegetation or increase erosion

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Walled terraces / blue clay / crops / erosion - runoffUnit 4

• High proportion of abandoned terraced fields

• High risk of erosion associated with nature of soils -swelling clays

• Crops

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Walled terraces / blue clay / crops / erosion - runoffUnit 4

• Irrigation water availability in this area may help preserve the terraced fields

• Cane and Opuntiasp. boundaries may be used to reduce erosion risk

• Potential for water harvesting

43 / 43

Stream valley / lower coralline Limestone – valley fill / ‘widien’vegetation / runoff - sedimentationUnit 5

• Provide unique habitat for endangered species

• Stream valley as a corridor, linking patches and allowing for the movement of species

• Farmed where slope allows

• Silted dams

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Stream valley / lower coralline limestone – valley fill / ‘widien’vegetation / runoff - sedimentationUnit 5

• Techniques of runoff water harvesting might be applied in the upper parts of the unit

• Sedimentation and the ecological functions of the stream should be taken into consideration

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Lower urban area / valley fill / sedimentation - runoffUnit 6

• Sedimentation and runoff main water processes

• Receive water, pollution and rubbish from upslope

• Tourist quality of the area

46 / 43

Lower urban area / valley fill / sedimentationUnit 6

• Actions to preserve sedimentation up-stream but avoid it in the storm-water sewers should be taken

• Development should not occur where runoff water coming from upslope might be reduced

• Low urban area should adapt to live with water

47 / 43

Conclusions

The methodology used in this study might help address the particularities of each zone of a basin in a way that scientific, cultural and ecological understanding of the landscape and the water related processes dominates the process of design/planning.

The case study assists in the understanding of the link between landscape components and water driven processes in Xlendi basin which in turn might help as a base for sustainable planning decisions.

Makhzoumi, J. & Pungetti, G., 1999. Ecological landscape design and planning: The Mediterranean Context, London: E& FN Spon. Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA). Landscape Assessment Study for the Maltese Islands. Floriana, Malta. 2004.Van Grunderbeeck P. & Tourre Y. M.; Mediterranean Basin: Climate Change and Impacts during the 21st Century, in Climate Change and Energy in the Mediterranean. Plan Blue,UNEP. 2008. 558p .Jones, A. & Hunt, C., 1994. Walls, wells and water supply: aspects of the cultural landscape of Gozo, Maltese Islands. Landscape Issues, 11, 24-29.

Referencesin this presentation

Thank you for your attention

Contributions of Landscape Architecture toward Sustainable WaterManagement in the Island of Gozo, Malta

Ecological Landscape Modelling and Management for Mediterranean Islands / 21.10.2010

master of landscape architecture program (mla) contributions … · 2010. 11. 18. · contributions...

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