Investigating Complex Landscape Systems: Inter-disciplinary Paradigms In-between Science and Policy

Mediterranean-like ecosystems host one of the world’s most significant biodiversity hotspots, where traditional land-use practices have historically shaped resilient socio-ecological systems. Among these, terraced landscapes represent complex systems that stabilize steep slopes, support agricultural production, and provide diverse and multiple ecosystem services while reflecting centuries of accumulated local knowledge. Despite their cultural, ecological, and economic value, many terraced landscapes are threatened by 52 abandonment, land degradation, and socioeconomic marginalization, being in turn are compounded by climate change and rural depopulation. Sustainable management of these landscapes requires a comprehensive understanding of their ecological functions, socioeconomic dimensions, and historical trans-formations. Integrative monitoring approaches combining multi-temporal datasets, remote sensing, field surveys, and geographic information systems enable the evaluation of biodiversity, ecosystem services, land-use dynamics, and traditional ecological knowledge. Such assessments can inform strategies for terrace stabilization, restoration of degraded areas, and adaptation of traditional practices to contemporary socio-environmental conditions. Holistic analyses of terraced landscapes emphasize their multifunctional role in promoting biodiversity conservation, supporting agro-forestry and multi-functional agriculture, and fostering socio-cultural and economic resilience in rural areas. By integrating ecological, agricultural, and socioeconomic perspectives, these frameworks facilitate informed decision-making, landscape planning, and policy development. Preserving and revitalizing terraced systems not only safeguards cultural heritage but also enhances ecological stability, supports local livelihoods, and contributes to sustainable rural development in the context of global environmental change.