Dalla lava ai muri in pietra a secco: il paesaggio terrazzato delle Isole Eolie

The present contribution focuses on the fragile ecosystem of terraced landscapes in Aeolian Archipelago (Italy) which, due to their geographic, historical and cultural position, are particularly affected by even minimal changes with influences disproportionally the socio-economic system of the territory and its environment as well. It is widely recognized in fact that in Europe as a whole, precipitation extremes such as heavy rain events have become more intense in the past fifty years and are projected to become more frequent and severe. Observed data show that droughts and water shortages are longer and more severe in drought-prone regions such as southern and eastern Europe, due to decreased rainfall and enhanced evaporation. This trend is likely to continue in the future. Catastrophic floods and prolonged periods of drought are the main "water" challenges facing insular and coastal areas, where current water management practices may not be robust enough to cope with the impacts of climate change. Combined works of nature and human kind, terraced landscapes express a long and intimate relationship between peoples and their natural environment and reflect specific techniques of land use that guarantee and sustain biological diversity and resilience to environmental impact. With this work, we aim at drawing up the importance of terraced cultural landscapes in the Aeolian Archipelago, focusing primarily on the traditional construction techniques of dry-stone walls, which are nowadays often replaced with modern methods using cement mortars and reinforced concrete, due also to a lack of knowledge and of local craftsmanship. The main structural characters and functions of terracing in Aeolian Islands will be presented in relation to the peculiar geological and climatic context of this fragile area. Moreover the cross-landscape distributive importance and the state of conservation of terraces in the seven Aeolian Islands will be discussed in consideration of the land use, which is currently aimed at tourism and agriculture activities. The restoration project recently performed in Filicudi will be presented as example of good practice, as well as the on going experiences aiming at landuse change, which are expected to have positive effects on the recovery and maintenance of terraces of the Archipelago.