We are pleased to announce the second presentation in our 2025-2026 seminar series.
We are especially delighted to welcome Roberta Cevasco, Associate Professor of Geography at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo (Bra, Cuneo, Italy). The presentation will take place on Tuesday, May 5, at 12 p.m. (CET) and will be online.
Access the webinar here – there is no need to register!
Meeting ID: 363 675 634 702 37/Password: s3Nb797X
Abstract
The approach of historical ecology, in conjunction with the tools of environmental archaeology, shows significant potential in the field of managing mountainous rural landscapes, their biodiversity, and other so‑called “ecosystem services.” It allows, in fact, for a different reading of traces and sources aimed at a contextual reconstruction of the agro‑silvo‑pastoral practices through which mountain environmental systems were managed prior to the major post–World War II rural exodus.
A case study from the Ligurian–Emilian Apennines (north‑western Italy), focused on Turkey oak wooded pastures, will illustrate the interpretation of multiple sources at the site and slope scales in order to reconstruct post‑medieval environmental changes, and will provide some insights for reflecting on the effects of abandonment at different observational scales.
Brief biography of Roberta Cevasco
Roberta Cevasco is associate professor of Geography at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo (Bra, Cuneo, Italy). Her research focuses on the study of rural landscapes, historical agro-silvo-pastoral practices and biodiversification processes through the approaches of historical ecology and historical-geographical microanalysis. After graduating in Natural Sciences (Geobotany) she got a degree in Geography, a PhD in Geographical Sciences and a PhD in Historical Sciences at Genoa University. She worked on many interdisciplinary research projects on the historical environmental heritage of Apennines and European Mountains in collaboration with the Laboratory of Environmental Archaeology and History (LASA) at the University of Genoa.
