Figure 1. Our conceptual approach is based on a fundamental
idea of Margalef (1991) according to which the relationship between the
external energy reinvested in the system (E ) and the spatial
‘distribution pattern’ (I ) of this energy flows need to be
considered to understand how society affects the functional structure of
cultural landscapes (L ). The figure shows: a small metabolic
cycle (low E , I and L values); a large metabolic
cycle (high E , and low I and L values); many small
interconnected metabolic cycles (low E , and high I andL values); and many large interconnected metabolic cycles (highE , I and L values). The latter case has stored more
energy within and has greater capacity to organize the territory in a
landscape mosaic (L ) that becomes less dependent on external
energy flows.