Novas procuras na paisagem rural do Alentejo : as vis es e preferências dos urbanos

Society s demand for rural landscapes, mainly for its non-productive functions, has been observed throughout Europe. Urban dwellers became new users of the countryside mainly for residential and recreational activities, gaining these activities an increasing relevance, both through diversification of rural communities as through the investment entering rural areas, representing an important contribution for rural development. The growing interest on rural landscape justifies the need to gain more knowledge about the urban demand for rural space and opens new possibilities for more targeted rural development policies. Although landscape preferences of urban versus rural users are widely available in literature, there is still little on the urban demand characterization itself. This study intends to progress on the differentiation of the urban demand already in place, demonstrated by a case study in Southern Portugal. A face-to-face photo-based survey was applied to 308 individuals, from which 4 groups emerged with different preferences and perspectives towards the rural landscape.