L’Horta de València: Past and Present Dynamics in Landscape Change and Planning

L’Horta de València: Past and Present Dynamics in Landscape Change and Planning

Carme Melo

Inter-university Institute for Local Development and Geography Department, University of Valencia, Spain

Page: 
28-44
|
DOI: 
https://doi.org/10.2495/SDP-V15-N1-28-44
Received: 
N/A
|
Revised: 
N/A
|
Accepted: 
N/A
|
Available online: 
N/A
| Citation

© 2020 IIETA. This article is published by IIETA and is licensed under the CC BY 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

OPEN ACCESS

Abstract: 

This paper assesses the evolution in the preservation, management and planning of a cultural landscape: the historical Mediterranean huerta of Valencia, l’Horta de València. After a characterization of l’Horta as a traditional cultural landscape and a description of its main elements and functions, an account of the driving forces behind changes in this landscape is offered. This account highlights the way in which shared patterns of landscape transformation in Europe materialize in the particular case of l’Horta. It is argued that the negative changes and impacts are not simply the outcome of global dynamics but the result of the region’s planning trajectory and approach to landscape management. This has been shaped by the lack of a territorial and supra-municipal perspective and the primacy of aspects related to culture, identity and heritage over the productive dimension of the landscape. This claim unfolds through an overview of the planning and policy background that has determined the fate of l’Horta over the past decades and an analysis of the new planning tools recently adopted by the Valencia regional government, L’Horta Law and the Territorial Action Plan for the Management and Revitalization of L’Horta, both from 2018. The paper reflects on the general approach of these documents in the light of the literature on landscape planning and peri-urban agricultural landscapes and assesses the main differences and similarities with respect to the previous institutional and planning contexts.

Keywords: 

L’Horta de València, la Huerta de Valencia, Mediterranean huertas, cultural landscapes, peri-urban agriculture, landscape planning, landscape preservation, Valencia

  References

[1] Barbera, G. & Cullotta, S., An inventory approach to the assessment of main traditional landscapes in Sicily (Central Mediterranean Basin). Landscape Research, 37(5), pp. 539–569, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1080/01426397.2011.607925

[2] Déjeant-Pons, M., The European landscape convention. Landscape Research, 31(4), pp. 363–384, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1080/01426390601004343

[3] Council of Europe, European Landscape Convention, CoE: Strasbourg, 2000.

[4] Selman, P., The European landscape convention. Rebalancing our approach to landscape? Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Section A, 2012.

[5] Roe, M.H., The European landscape convention: A revolution in thinking about ‘cultural landscapes’. Journal of Chinese Landscape Architecture, 23(143), pp. 10–15, 2007.

[6] Antrop, M., The concept of traditional landscapes as a base for landscape evaluation and planning. The Example of Flanders Region. Landscape and Urban Planning, 38(1–2), pp. 105–117, 1997. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0169-2046(97)00027-3

[7] Moreira, F., Queiroz, A.I. & Aronson, J., Restoration principles applied to cultural landscapes. Journal for Nature Conservation, 14(3–4), pp. 217–224, 2006. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.jnc.2006.05.007

[8] Antrop, M., Sustainable landscapes: contradiction, fiction or utopia? Landscape and Urban Planning, 75(3–4), pp. 187–197, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2005.02.014

[9] Per l’Horta Web Site, Valencia, http://perlHorta.info/index.php/2016/02/26/revisio-critica-del-path-de-valencia/ (accessed 6 December 2018).

[10] Meeus, J.H., Wijermans, M.P. & Vroom, M.J., Agricultural landscapes in Europe and their transformation. Landscape and Urban Planning, 18(3–4), pp. 289–352, 1990. https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-2046(90)90016-u

[11] Meeus, J.H., Pan-European landscapes. Landscape and Urban Planning, 31(1–3), pp. 57–79, 1995. https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-2046(94)01036-8

[12] Antrop, M., Why landscapes of the past are important for the future. Landscape and Urban Planning, 70(1–2), pp. 21–34, 2005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2003.10.002

[13] Sooväli, H., Palang, H. & Külvik, M., The role of rural landscapes in shaping Estonian national identity. European Landscapes: From Mountain to See. Proceedings of the Permanent European Conference for the Study of Rural Landscape, ed. T. Unwin, London and Aberystwyth, pp. 114–121, 2003.

[14] Santamarina, B. & Moncusí, A., De huertas y barracas a galaxias faraónicas. Percepciones sociales sobre la mutación de la ciudad de Valencia. Papers, 98(2), pp. 365–391, 2013. https://doi.org/10.5565/rev/papers/v98n2.468

[15] Prytherch, D.L., Elegy to an iconographic place: reconstructing the regionalism/landscape dialectic in L’Horta de València. Cultural Geographies, 16(1), pp. 55–85, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1177/1474474008097980

[16] Guinot, E., La Huerta medieval de Valencia: origen y transformación de un paisaje histórico. La Huerta de Valencia, eds. J. Romero & M. Francés, PUV: Valencia, pp. 55– 75, 2012.

[17] i Garcia, J.M., Environmental management of peri-urban natural resources: L’Horta de Valencia case study. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 192, pp. 99–110, 2015. https://doi.org/10.2495/eco150101

[18] Glick, T.F., Irrigation and Society in Medieval Valencia, Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1970.

[19] Courtot, R., Agriculture irriguée et organisation ou l’espace dans les huertas de Valencia et de Castellon, Université Paris VII: Paris, 1986.

[20] Ostrom, E., Governing the Commons: the Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action, Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1990.

[21] Termorshuizen, J.W. & Opdam, P., Landscape services as a bridge between landscape ecology and sustainable development. Landscape Ecology, 24(8), pp. 1037–1052, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-008-9314-8

[22] Petrella, R., The Water Manifesto, Arguments for a World Water Contract, Zed: London and New York, 2001.

[23] Scovazzi T., Intangible Cultural Heritage as Defined in the 2003 UNESCO Convention. Cultural Heritage and Value Creation, ed. G. Golinelli, Springer: Cham, 2015.

[24] Von Haaren, C., Landscape planning facing the challenge of the development of cultural landscapes. Landscape and Urban Planning, 60(2), pp. 73–80, 2002. https://doi. org/10.1016/s0169-2046(02)00060-9

[25] Davoudi, S. & Stead, D., Urban-rural relationships. An introduction and brief history. Building and Environment, 28(2), 269–277, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1017/ s0963926801002073

[26] Muñoz, A., Plan de la Huerta de Valencia. Un paisaje cultural milenario, Valencia: Conselleria de Medi Ambient, Aigua, Urbanisme i Habitatge, 2009.

[27] Carmona, P. & Ruiz, J.M., El medio físico de l’Horta. El patrimonio hidráulico del bajo Tiria: l’Horta de València, ed. J. Hermosilla, Consellería de Cuñtura y Deporte y Departament de Geografia de la UVEG: Valencia, pp. 30–44, 2007.

[28] Marques-Perez, I., Segura, B. & Maroto, M., Evaluating the functionality of agricultural systems: social preferences for multifunctional peri-urban agriculture. The “Huerta de Valencia” case study. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 12(4), pp. 889–901, 2014. https://doi.org/10.5424/sjar/2014124-6061

[29] Antrop, M., Continuity and change in landscapes. Landscape change and the urbanization process in Europe. Multifunctional Landscapes, Continuity and Change, Vol. 3, eds. U. Mander & M. Antrop, WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment: Southampton, 2003.

[30] Marignani, M., Rocchini, D., Torri, D., Chiarucci, A. & Maccherini, S., Planning restoration in a cultural landscape in Italy using an object-based approach and historical analysis. Landscape and Urban Planning, 84(1), pp. 28–37, 2008. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2007.06.005

[31] Nilsson, K., Pauleit, S., Bell, S., Aalbers, C., & Nielsen, T.A.S. (eds)., Peri-Urban Futures: Scenarios and Modes for Land Use Change in Europe, Springer: London and NY, 2013.

[32] Mander, Ü., Printsmann, A. & Palang, H., Development of European Landscapes. Proc. of the Conference of the International Association for Landscape Ecology, European Conference, Vol. 2, Publicationes Instituti Geographici Universitatis Tartuensis: Tartu, p. 804, 2000.

[33] Pedroli, B. (ed), Landscape—Our Home. Lebensraum Landschaft. Essays on the Culture of the European Landscape as a Task, Indigo. Zeist—Freies Geistesleben: Stuttgart, pp. 145–150, 2000.

[34] Klijn, J. & Vos, W. (eds), From Landscape Ecology to Landscape Science, Kluwer Academic Publishers, WLO: Wageningen, 2000.

[35] Green, B. & Vos, W. (eds), Threatened Landscapes: Conserving Cultural Environments, Spon Press: London and New York, 2001.

[36] Holdaway, E. & Smart, G., Landscapes at Risk? The Future for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Spon Press: London, 2001.

[37] Antrop, M., Landscape change and the urbanization process in Europe. Landscape and Urban Planning, 67(1–4), pp. 9–26, 2004. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0169-2046(03)00026-4

[38] Olmo, R.M. & Muñoz, S.F., Paisajes y patrimonios culturales del agua. La salvaguarda del valor patrimonial de los regadíos tradicionales. Scripta Nova, 14(337), pp. 1–9, 2010.

[39] Molinero, F. (ed), Atlas de los paisajes agrarios de España, Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente: Madrid, 2013-2014.

[40] Ciriquián, P.M. & Vicente, E.M., La transformación urbana y territorial de la ciudad de Murcia y su entorno (1977–2010). Estudios Geográficos, 75(276), pp. 261–309, 2014. https://doi.org/10.3989/estgeogr.201407

[41] Olmo, R.M. & Muñoz, S.F., La Huerta de Murcia: landscape guidelines for a peri-urban territory. Landscape Research, 29(4), pp. 385–397, 2004. https://doi. org/10.1080/0142639042000289028

[42] Cárcel-García, C., Verdejo, P. & Clemente, D., Molino de Llovera, patrimonio de la arquitectura tradicional de la Huerta de Valencia. Irrigation, Society and Landscape. Tribute to Thomas F. Glick, eds. C. Sanchis-Ibor, G. Palau-Salvador, I. Mangue & L.P. Martínez-Sanmartín, UPV: Valencia, pp. 1171–1186, 2014.

[43] Marco, J.B., Las redes de regadío de l’Horta y el sistema de recursos hídricos del Turia frente al problema de la subsistencia de l’Horta de Valencia. La Huerta de Valencia, eds. J. Romero & M. Francés, PUV: Valencia, pp. 113–135, 2012.

[44] Sanchis, C., Les terres de l’Horta de València. Crònica de la recent reducción superficial del regadiu històric. Afers. Fulls de recerca i pensament, 47, pp. 111–128, 2004.

[45] Argyelan, T., Díez, I., Vallés, M. & Galiana, F., Land use change in Huerta de Valencia (2008-2013). Resilience and cultural landscapes. Irrigation, Society and Landscape. Tribute to Thomas F. Glick, eds. C. Sanchis-Ibor, G. Palau-Salvador, I. Mangue & L.P. Martínez-Sanmartín, UPV: Valencia, pp. 910–923, Valencia: UPV, 2014.

[46] Iranzo, E., L’Horta de Valencia. Incertidumbre para un paisaje cultural ancestral. Atlas de los paisajes agrarios de España, ed. F. Molinero, Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente: Madrid, pp. 513–532, 2014.

[47] Martínez, J., Lo que nos enseñan los regadíos tradicionales. Soberanía Alimentaria, Biodiversidad y Culturas, 14, pp. 21–25, 2013.

[48] Romero, J. & Francés, M. (eds), La Huerta de Valencia. Un Paisaje Cultural con Futuro Incierto, PUV: Valencia, 2012.

[49] Zonneveld, W., de Vries, J. & Janssen-Jansen, L. (eds), European Territorial Governance, IOS Press: Amsterdam, 2012.

[50] Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), p. 62, 23 March 2005.

[51] Parc Agrari del Baix Llobregat, Agroterritori and Red Agroterritorial, Charter on Periurban Agriculture, http://www.agroterritori.org/web2/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/CHARTER_ON_PERIURBAN_AGRICULTURE.pdf, 2010 (accessed 5 December 2018).

[52] Romero, J. & Farinós, J., Cities and urban and metropolitan regions in Spain: A new agenda in a global context. Urban Governance in Southern Europe, eds. J. Seixas & A. Albet, Ashgate: Farnham, pp. 123–148, 2012.

[53] Romero, J., Melo, C. & Brandos, D., The neoliberal model of the city in Southern Europe. A comparative approach to Valencia and Madrid. Cities in Crisis: Socio-Spatial Impacts of the Economic Crisis in Southern European Cities, eds. J. Knieling & F. Othengrafen, Routledge: London, pp. 73–93, 2016.

[54] Romero, J. & Melo, C., Spanish Mediterranean Huertas: Theory and reality in the planning and management of peri-urban agriculture and cultural landscapes. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 193, pp. 585–595, 2015.

[55] Criado, A.M., La política de paisaje de la Comunitat Valenciana. Cuadernos Geográficos, 43(2), pp. 99–121, 2008.

[56] de Orueta, E.L.B., La planificación territorial en la Comunidad Valenciana (1986–2009), Scripta Nova. Revista electrónica de geografía y ciencias sociales, Vol. 13, 2009.

[57] Moreno, P., Valencia reserva cien hectáreas de huerta protegida para grandes proyectos privados, Las Provincias, http://www.lasprovincias.es/valencia-ciudad/201412/19/valencia-reserva-cien-hectareas-20141219013417-v.html, 19 December 2014 (accessed 6 April 2015).

[58] Vázquez, C., 20.000 alegaciones contra la pérdida de huerta en Valencia, El País, http://ccaa.elpais.com/ccaa/2015/02/24/valencia/1424806616_984606.html?rel=rosEP, 25 February 2015 (accessed 6 April 2015).

[59] García, H., La Universitat de València pide a Barberá que retire el PGOU y preserve la Huerta, Levante, http://www.levante-emv.com/valencia/2015/03/04/universitat-valencia-pide-barbera-retire/1233725.html, 4 March 2015 (accessed 6 April 2015).

[60] Ros, M., Rodear Valencia en bicicleta para reivindicar la huerta. Levante, http://www. levante-emv.com/valencia/2015/03/13/rodear-valencia-bicicleta-reivindicar-huerta/1237734.html, 13 March 2015 (accessed 6 April 2015).

[61] Generalitat Valenciana, Llei 5/2018, de 6 de març, de la Generalitat, de l’Horta de València, http://www.habitatge.gva.es/documents/20551069/165095422/Ley+5-2018%2C%20 de+6+de+marzo%2C%20de+la+Generalitat%2C%20de+la+Huerta+de+Val%C3%A8n cia/6002e462-b64e-4c0b-83c9-f856b246deab (accessed 1 December 2018).

[62] Generalitat Valenciana, PAT Horta de València, http://www.habitatge.gva.es/web/planificacion-territorial-e-infraestructura-verde/pat-horta-de-valencia (accessed 1 December 2018).

[63] Simón Rojo, M., Zazo Moratalla, A. & Morán Alonso, N., Nuevos enfoques en la planificación urbanística para proteger los espacios agrarios periurbanos. Ciudades, 15(1), pp. 151–166, 2012. https://doi.org/10.24197/ciudades.15.2012.151-166

[64] Zasada, I., Multifunctional peri-urban agriculture: A review of societal demands and the provision of goods and services by farming. Land Use Policy, 28(4), pp. 639–648, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2011.01.008

[65] Gómez-Limón, J.A., Barreiro, J., Mármol, E. & Marcos, C. (eds), La Multifuncionalidad de la Agricultura en España, Eumedia: Madrid, 2007.

[66] Bomans, K., Steenberghen, T., Dewaelheyns, V., Leinfelder, H. & Gulinck, H., Underrated transformations in the open space – the case of an urbanized and multifunctional area. Landscape and Urban Planning, 94(3–4), pp. 196–205, 2009. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2009.10.004

[67] Brandt, J. & Vejre, H., Multifunctional landscapes – motives, concepts and perspectives. Multifunctional Landscapes, Volume I –Theory, Values and History, eds. J. Brandt & H. Vejre, WIT Press: Southampton, pp. 3–31, 2004.

[68] Paül, V. & McKenzie, F.H., Peri-urban farmland conservation and development of alternative food networks: Insights from a case-study area in metropolitan Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain). Land Use Policy, 30(1), pp. 94–105, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. landusepol.2012.02.009

[69] Giacché, G. & Mazzocchi, C., Gli instrumenti de pianificazione territoriale in relazione alla funcionalità dell’agricoltura periurbana, Projet de paysage, p. 21, www.projetsdepaysage.fr, 2011 (accessed 2 January 2015).

[70] Vidal, R. & Fleury, A., La place de l’agriculture dans la metropole verte. Nostalgies, utopies et realités dans l’aménagement des territoires aux franges urbaines, Projet de paysage, p. 15, www.projetsdepaysage.fr, 2009 (accessed 2 January 2015).

[71] Stanners, D. & Bourdeau, P. (eds), Europe’s Environment: The Dobris Assessment, European Environmental Agency: Copenhagen, 1995.