Mapping Memory, Sustaining Heritage: A New Approach to Saving Rural Landscapes

The traditional agrosilvopastoral landscapes of Mediterranean Europe—once exemplifying sustainable human–nature interaction—are increasingly vanishing due to urbanization, shifting economic structures, and widespread rural abandonment. In a recent study, Hearn and Fagerholm (2025) adopted an integrative methodology to investigate the historical, ecological, and cultural significance of Pino del Oro, a rural village in the autonomous region of Castile and León, Spain. Their research highlights how combining scientific tools with community-based knowledge can help protect these threatened heritage landscapes.