CIRCE Integrating Case Studies

Rural case study: Tuscany, Italy

Landuse map

Tuscany is an extremely rural area, with a landscape that has high economic value for culture, heritage, agriculture and tourism. The rural economy is heavily dependent on agriculture which is particularly sensitive to climate change. Rural tourism has increased exponentially over the last 15 years in Tuscany, so that now it represents the main income for many farmers. The expected changes in temperature and precipitation may have negative effects such as increasing management costs (water supply, electricity for air conditioning, etc.) and reducing the production of traditional local crops and livestock.