Is Bioenergy Truly Sustainable When Land-Use-Change (LUC) Emissions Are Accounted for? The Case-Study of Biogas from Agricultural Biomass in Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy

Bioenergies are considered sustainable alternatives to fossil energy sources in the European Union (EU) renewable energy targets for 2030. However, their performances in terms of greenhouse gases (GHG) savings may be affected by indirect emissions related to the required land-use-change (LUC) that should be taken into account when modelling their sustainability. The European Renewable Energy Directive (RED) introduced a number of GHG emission criteria, in comparison with fossil fuels, that bioenergy deriving from agricultural biomasses must comply with. The Emilia-Romagna region (North-Eastern Italy), the second largest Italian biogas producer, has recently issued its Regional Energy Plan (REP), which set an ambitious increase of about 40% of the current installed electric power from biogas up to 2030. The aim of this study is to assess the sustainability of Emilia-Romagna REP accounting for the required indirect land-use-change (ILUC), due to the bioenergy crop expansion, potentially needed to reach the targets. Based on regional data available on biogas production, the amount of land used for maize silage to be destined to biogas production (as a model agricultural feedstock) has been calculated for the actual state-of-the art and towards 2030 scenarios provided by the REP. Starting from average GHG emissions associated with biogas production from 100% maize silage of 35 gCO(2) eq/MJ, a further contribution of 8-18.5 gCO(2) eq/MJ due to LUC has been found. Our findings indicate that it is difficult to assess the global GHG savings from the bioenergy targets fixed by regional energy plans when LUC effects are considered. Careful analysis is necessary in each case to avoid creating negative impacts

Non-market ecosystem services of agricultural aand and priorities towards a more sustainable agriculture in Italy

Ecosystems provide a range of services, commonly called Ecosystem Services (ESs), which are of funda-mental importance to human well-being, health, livelihoods, and survival. One of the largest and most productiveecosystems is agricultural land. Agro-Ecosystems provide a range of services directly linked to the market (e.g. food and raw materials production) but also many others of high ecological value, which have an indirect economical contribution in the GDP (non-market ESs). These non-market services are not usually taken into account in the development of agricultural management strategies while their contribution is reduced due to non-sustainable agricultural practices. The aim of the study is to assess the potential economic contribution of the non-market services at national, regional, and provincial level in Italy and to propose a simplified index-based method for setting priorities at different scales of administration units for the implementation of sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs). The results of the study showed that the potential non-market value of agro-ecosystem services (AESs) in Italy can reach ~46.2 billion USD$2007. This estimate shows that non-market AESs can play an important role in the national GDP if SAPs are followed. Finally, a priority ranking scheme for the implementation of SAPs was proposed at regional and provincial level which can be a valuable decision support tool for promoting sustainable agriculture policies

Assessment of air pollutants removal by green infrastructure and urban and peri-urban forests management for a greening plan in the Municipality of Ferrara (Po river plain, Italy)

Air pollution is a serious concern for human health and is even more worrying in areas that are known to be "pollution hotspots", such as the Po Plain in northern Italy. The Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI), which includes urban and peri-urban forests, enhances human health and wellbeing delivering a wide range of ecosystem services, including air quality improvement. In this research, we analyzed, in biophysical and monetary terms, the role of the UGI in removing PM10 and O-3 from the atmosphere in the Municipality of Ferrara using established removal models. We used a multiscale approach that includes geospatial data, field sampling and laboratory analysis. Then, using a local green areas database, we located public areas that could potentially undergo forestation actions without requiring any land conversion and evaluated the benefit in terms of ESs provision that these actions may exert. We found that, in 2019, the UGI in the Municipality of Ferrara removed about 19.8 Mg of PM10 and 8.6 Mg of O-3, for a monetary benefit of (sic) 2.12 million (sic) and 147*103 respectively. We then identified about 121 ha within the urban core of the Municipality that could potentially be forested. Such an action would increase the PM10 and O-3 removal by about 49% and 18%, respectively. Our findings comply with the EU Biodiversity strategy for 2030, which calls for the development of an ambitious greening plan for cities with more than 20,000 inhabitants

Changes in land use and ecosystem services in tropical forest areas: a case study in Andes mountains of Ecuador

Tropical Andes are subjected to severe land use/land cover (LULC) changes that significantly alter the capacity of the landscape to provide ecological functions for supporting human well-being. The aim of the study is (a) to investigate the LULC changes in the Ecological Corridor Llaganantes-Sangay (Corredor Ecológico Llanganates-Sangay) (Central Ecuador), a buffer semi-protected area, during the period 2000–2014 and (b) to analyse their possible consequences on ecosystem services (ESs) provision. The analysis was performed using LULC maps of 2000, 2008 and 2014. ESs were analysed using the 'landscape capacity' index, which is based on a multi-criteria assessment framework. The study captured an extremely rapid LULC transition from croplands to pastures during 2008–2014 below the 2000-m altitude, which was followed by a respective rapid socio-economic change of the local society. The landscape index changes were insignificant showing a slight decrease (−1.92%) during 2000–2014. Although the overall coverage of natural ecosystems slightly increased during 2000–2014, it was found that the passive landscape conservation might not be sufficient to maintain ESs provision. This was justified by the different ESs contribution between forest types but also by urbanization, agriculture abandonment and pasture expansion.EDITED BY Neville Crossman EDITED BY Neville Crossma

Applications of ecosystem services assessment using modelling, gis and remote sensing at different scales

Assessment and mapping of ecosystem services (ESs) is gaining greater attention among researchers and decision-makers because of their wide possibility of application. Recently, different methods were developed to link land use and land cover to ecosystem service provision. This work applied ES assessments to five case studies with the aim to answer to the following questions: i) are Protected Areas (PA) effective in maintaining the ES provision capacity? and ii) How ES assessments can be usefully implemented in environmental planning to support most efficient and sustainable solutions for human well-being? The case studies applied the different ES mapping methods and detected (or dealt with) the different processes through which land use/land cover changes affect ESs. The results showed that the considered PAs were not effective in maintaining ES supply because of their passive management. Even when they were effective to protect biodiversity, ES supply was not guaranteed. Moreover, the analysis highlighted some trade-offs among different ESs. ES mapping can be transferred to theory to practice by the development of instruments, which can support decision-making process. ES mapping can be applied to different problems in different contexts, such as sustainability of renewable energies in agro-environment and cost-effective investments on urban green infrastructures. Overall the finding of the study demonstrated that: i) Since the mere conservation of biodiversity does not guarantee ES supply, the governance of PAs need to switch from passive to active management, and ii) ES mapping can support decision-making process providing instruments for environmental planning

Structural and Functional Variations of the Macrobenthic Community of the Adige Basin along the River Continuum

Since the publication of the River Continuum Concept (RCC), the capacity of the longitudinal dimension to predict the distribution of species and ecological functions in river networks was discussed by different river theories. The taxonomic structures and functional attributes of macrobenthic communities were investigated along the river continuum in the river Adige network (Northern Italy), with the aim to test the reliability of RCC theory and clarify the relation between structural and functional features in lotic systems. Distance from the spring was found to be most representative proxy among environmental parameters. The analysis highlighted the decrease of biodiversity levels along the river continuum. The decrease of taxonomic diversity corresponded to the loss in functional richness. The abundances of predator and walker taxa, as well as semelparous organisms, declined along the longitudinal gradient, suggesting variations in community complexity and granulometry. Regression models also depicted the presence of disturbed communities in the central section of the basin, where intensive agricultural activities occur, that affected environmental gradients. Overall, results offered evidences that the river continuum may predict macrobenthic community structures in terms of taxonomic diversity, thus confirming the general validity of RCC. Nonetheless, the functional analysis did not provide equally clear evidences to support the theory. After four decades from its postulation, the RCC is still a reliable model to predict the general macroinvertebrates distribution. However, community functions may respond to a number of local factors not considered in RCC, which could find a declination in other theories. The relations between structural and functional features confirmed to be complex and sensitive to disturbances and local conditions

Sustainable energy potential from biomass through ecosystem services trade-off analysis: The case of the Province of Rovigo (Northern Italy)

Bioenergy production is an important Ecosystem Service (ES) provided by natural and semi-natural ecosystems, which can concur to reach EU targets of 20% of total energy production from renewable sources. Environmental concerns with respect to bioenergy are multiple. Certification Schemes, aimed at reducing the negative effects of biomass energy supply chains, are not effective in controlling possible cumulative effects at regional level caused by both macro and micro feedstock producers and users. Sustainable feedstock production is often underestimated in energy planning and in the issuing of plant permits. This study applies an ES-based approach in order to quantify and map bioenergy sustainable potential in the Province of Rovigo (Region of Veneto, Italy), an intensively farmed agro-environment, and translate bioenergy environmental impacts in terms of ES trade-offs. The results show that the share of bioenergy potential from trade-offs with other ESs is limited. The magnitude and variability of ESs trade-offs are analyzed and discussed, resulting in a spatial distribution which is place-based and context dependent. Management solutions should be considered in order to mitigate trade-offs with other ESs, increasing ecological and social acceptabilit

Renewable energy supply and landscape cultural values: an achievable harmonization

Typescript (photocopy).The effects of four concentrations of water calcium, means of 16 ppm, 86 ppm, 192 ppm, 300 ppm; three temperatures, 15.6(DEGREES)C, 21.1(DEGREES)C, and 26.7(DEGREES)C; and two concentrations of total ammonia, < 0.5 ppm and 1.00 ppm, at each of the three temperatures on the crayfish Procambarus clarkii were assessed on the basis of histopathologic lesions using light microscopy. A total of 55 crayfish were in the water calcium experiment and 44 crayfish in the ammonia and temperature experiment. The following histopathologic findings were observed in the crayfish in both experiments. Melanization was seen around the periphery of necroticareus, in the shell and the cuticular lining of the foregut, hindgut and gill and in the parenchymal tissue of the hepatopancreas, gill and hindgut. An inflammatory response composed of hemocytes, fibrocytes and collagen-like material surrounded necroticareas in the hepatopancreas. Hemocytosis was seen in the hepatopancreas and foregut wall and in the gill, where it was often accompanied by an elevated number of eosinophilic granular hemocytes. A globular, deeply basophilic, subcuticular material was present in the hindgut. An encapsulated nematode was present in the wall of the foregut and hindgut. Psorospermium haeckeli, a sporozoan protozoon, was seen in the hepatopancreas, muscle of the foregut, abdominal muscle bundles and connective tissue, connective tissue beneath the shell, and in the hindgut wall. This was the first report of P. haeckeli in the western hemisphere and in Procambarus clarkii. Ectoparasites, a stalked peritrichous ciliate and a free living oligochaete were present on the gill, only in the calcium experiment. In the calcium experiment, there was an increase in the incidence of hemocytosis in the gill in the x = 192 ppm CaCO(,3) group. There was an increase in the incidence of parasitism in the foregut in the x = 86 ppm CaCO(,3) group. The incidence of Psorospermium haeckeli in the tissues beneath the shell, eosinophilic granulocytes in the gill, and parasitism of the foregut was increased in the 21.1(DEGREES)C temperature group. The last two conditions were increased in the 21.1(DEGREES)C, < 0.5 ppm ammonia concentration group, in the temperature and total ammonia interaction experiment. . . . (Author's abstract exceeds stipulated maximum length. Discontinued here with permission of author.) UM