Variability of agro-silvo-pastoral systems in Tuscany, Central Italy

The variability of climates, soils and management intensity present in Tuscany has favoured the development of diversified and sometimes complex agro-silvo-pastoral systems. This research has investigated the variability of systems organized in all the Provinces of the regional territory. The number of resources that compose the systems is higher in farms located on mountains and high hills than in farms of plains, and it is higher in large farms than in little units. The variability of resources favours the maintenance of landscape beauty and the integration of rural economy with farm services offered to tourists. The conservation of resource variability and their valorisation by integration of rural activities and town economy can be advised also in developing countries in order to increase farmers incomes.