Spatial Structure of the Landscape and Agricultural Practices in the Peri-Urban Environment: Metropolitan Area of Concepción (Chile)

The peri-urbanization processes developed under the logic of neoliberal urbanism have contributed to intensifying socio-spatial segregation, reducing areas of ecosystem value and rendering agricultural practices invisible. The study at the landscape scale is a fundamental tool to integrate urban problems in a multi-scale manner. Approached with a mixed methodological focus, cases are selected according to different ecosystems: wetland, river and hillside. On the one hand, peri-urbanization is studied through the historical evolution of the built environment and the classification by dominance between biotic, abiotic and anthropic elements. On the other hand, semi-structured interviews were conducted to identify the social, cultural and economic dynamics. The results varied according to the conformation of the relief and functional complexity; however, they share the adoption of global urban typologies decontextualized from territorial particularities. It is concluded that rururban practices can promote the functioning of spaces for joint action among populations, local governments and civil society.