Mediterranean Island Landscapes: Natural and Cultural Approaches

Possessing many similarities, yet having their share differences, Mediterranean island landscapes receive complete coverage in this comprehensive volume. The book examines their biotic ecological, physical, and environmental characteristics. It also explores the major environmental changes that the islands experienced during the Quaternary period. Coverage first details the natural and cultural factors that have shaped the island landscapes. It describes the environmental and cultural changes of the Holocene and their effects on biota, as well as on the current human pressures that are now threats to the sustainability of the island communities. It then focuses on the landscapes of the largest islands namely Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Cyprus, Crete, Malta and the Balearics. In ending, the book presents important strategies for action towards sustainability in Mediterranean islands.