Embracing the desert. A landscape design approach to resilient agriculture and biodiversity in the Simeto River Basin, Sicily

This contribution addresses the pressing challenges facing agricultural landscapes, specifically focusing on desertification processes in the Simeto River Basin, Sicily. Characterized by diverse morphologies and intensive agricultural practices, the Simeto basin is experiencing increasing environmental degradation due to climate change, unsustainable land use, and water scarcity. Rather than resisting this transition, the research project explores adaptation strategies that embrace the emerging desert landscape as a new ecological reality. The objective is to govern the inevitable transformation of the environment and extract potential benefits in terms of agricultural sustainability and enhanced biodiversity within a system currently dominated by monoculture. Desertification, affecting over 30% of the Earth’s surface, is a key concern. This study moves beyond conventional mitigation strategies by proposing a design framework that integrates desert-adapted solutions into the existing agricultural matrix. The approach acknowledges the “intrinsic fragility” of ecosystems altered by urbanization and pollution and emphasizes the need for adaptation rather than outright prevention. Through a comprehensive environmental analysis, the study identifies three key macro-areas within the Simeto basin: the Next Desert Area, the Arid Crops Area, and the Oasis Area. The Next Desert Area includes regions with high susceptibility to desertification and hilly morphology. Here, interventions focus on water retention through weir systems that encourage spontaneous vegetation growth, alongside experimental agricultural practices to identify drought-resistant crops. The Arid Crops Area consists of fertile flatlands currently subjected to intensive monoculture. To improve resilience, the study promotes crop diversification by introducing species such as prickly pear, which require less water, along with the implementation of underground basins for rainwater harvesting. The Oasis Area corresponds to ecologically valuable environments along seasonal watercourses, which require protection and enhancement. In this case, interventions prioritize the removal of agricultural activity to foster native vegetation, creating riparian woodlands and wetlands that contribute to increased biodiversity. A central element of the project is the establishment of ecological connections between these macro-areas, fostering a resilient landscape capable of adapting to increasing aridity. The proposal also integrates flood management strategies, viewing flood events as opportunities for ecological growth through controlled inundation and nutrient redistribution. Additionally, the study advances three key objectives. First, it promotes biodiversity by encouraging the use of native and drought-resistant species, creating a more sustainable ecosystem. Second, it respects the cultural significance of existing agricultural heritage, ensuring traditional practices are integrated into sustainable methods. Finally, it enhances community well-being by improving long-term food security and economic resilience through diversified agriculture. The study adopts a scenario-based approach, projecting the landscape evolution to 2050 under both current trends and the proposed interventions. Without intervention, projections indicate a 24.4% increase in desertified areas within the Simeto basin. However, the implementation of the proposed strategies aims to reduce this increase to 14%, while simultaneously mitigating the exposure of agricultural and oasis areas through a more biodiverse and structurally resilient landscape. By embracing the concept of “arid cultural landscapes” and integrating them into a functional and sustainable ecosystem, this project provides a replicable model for regions facing similar environmental challenges.