Enduring landscapes: documenting green heritage and local distinctiveness in a Mediterranean urban setting

Many ancient and historic Mediterranean cities have undergone periods of rapid urban expansion during the past few centuries, often involving the replacement of agricultural landscapes that once surrounded them with industrial, commercial and residential landcover. Despite this transformation, legacies of green heritage—or the traditional agricultural landscapes that supported them—can still be detected within contemporary cityscapes. Here, the authors identify examples of green heritage within the 3000-year-old city of Zadar on Croatia’s Adriatic coast. Their documentation serves as a valuable archive of information about the city’s millennia-long past while also promoting an often-overlooked aspect of its distinctive local character.