Characterization of the landscape vulnerability in a natural environment. Exploratory study in Valle del Ambroz, Hervas municipality

Current studies of landscape vulnerability estimate the quality and fragility of the landscape using spatial analysis tools for evaluation and metric analysis, characterizing ecological aspects, aesthetic and assessing the vegetation as a crucial element of the landscape. In this way, this article presents a landscape characterization methodology, analyzing both, natural and non-natural elements, and assessing them through two numeric scales, a suitability scale and a maintenance scale, identifying which elements fragment more or less the landscape and the natural environment and which areas of the natural environment should be remodeled regarding landscape. The results of this type of research can be used in different levels of governance: First, municipalities are able to identify the most conflictive elements present in the area under study; and second, from the identification of those more or less vulnerable areas, Autonomous Communities can use this information to draw up Management Plans for Natural Resources.