Cross scale spatial and temporal indicators for measuring the effects of landscape heterogeneity on pollination service

Spatial heterogeneity as well as landscape services’ provision are a function of spatio-temporal scales, therefore, pattern–process relationships must be assessed at the multiple scales. In this context, this research aims at: (1) analyzing at the regional scale how pollination service can be affected by landscape heterogeneity, using two landscape indicators useful to quantify the multiscale landscape composition and landscape configuration simultaneously; and (2) assessing the effect that the infection of Xylella fastidiosa has exerted on the pollination services. The multi-scale spatial assessment has been focused on two land-covers: forests and olive groves that can act as source of pollination services. The multi-temporal analysis, based on the annual NDVI, has been used to assess the functionality of olive groves before and at the beginning of the infection of Xylella fastidiosa, and currently. The results have shown that in 2012 the most representative cluster (C1) (73.6% for forests and 63% for olive groves) is in the lower left part of the multiscale metric space, meaning that both land-covers show a fragmented spatial configuration at small spatial scales and tend to be aggregated at large scales. The multitemporal analysis has allowed to show the evident change in the landscape functioning in the provinces interested by the infection of Xylella fastidiosa (Lecce, Brindisi and Taranto) from 2013 to 2021, highlighting that the stability of the landscape has resulted completely changed for the loss of permanent land-covers (olive groves). In this study the spatio-temporal analyses have helped in giving a more complete indication in the assessment of landscape services where different factors can play a crucial role. The analysis of spatial patterns along a continuum of scale has been implemented by the analysis of multi-temporal dynamics to consider the effect of Xylella fastidiosa infection on pollination. The temporal behavior of NDVI has resulted completely changed in the provinces interested by this infection, meaning that recovering policies need to be undertaken to regenerate the landscape. When studying landscape services, some considerations must be considered in choosing the suitable spatial and temporal scale for its assessment. One of the recent drivers of change, represented by the infection of Xylella fastidiosa, and the planning of landscape functionality recovery interest higher spatial scales and will affect the scale at which landscape services, included pollination, are delivered

Patterns of disturbance at multiple scales in real and simulated landscapes

We describe a framework to characterize and interpret the spatial patterns of disturbances at multiple scales in socio-ecological systems. Domains of scale are defined in pattern metric space and mapped in geographic space, which can help to understand how anthropogenic disturbances might impact biodiversity through habitat modification. The approach identifies typical disturbance ’profiles’ based on the similarity of trajectories in a pattern metric space over a range of spatial scales. When different profiles are coherent in pattern metric space, they describe a regional spatial pattern. The divergence of a profile indicates a scale-dependent transition to a local spatial pattern, which can be examined for correspondence to different regions of geographic space. We illustrate the conceptual model with simulated maps and real disturbance maps from satellite imagery in south Italy. The results suggest that management of disturbances in the study region depend less on local drivers of disturbance and more on broader-scale drivers within the socio-ecological framework

Sustainable landscape development and value rigidity: the Pirsig's monkey trap

New broader, adaptable and accommodating sets of themes have been proposed to help to identify, understand and solve sustainability problems. However, how this knowledge will foster decisions that lead to more desirable outcomes and analyses necessary to transition to sustainability remains a critical theoretical and empirical question for basic and applied research. We argue that we are still underestimating the tendency to lock into certain patterns that come at the cost of the ability to adjust to new situations. This rigidity limits the ability of persons, groups, and companies to respond to new problems, and can make it hard to learn new facts because we pre-select facts as important, or not, in line with our established values. Changing circumstances demand to reappraise values like in the case of Pirsig's monkey and its rice. There is an urgent need to go beyond such local, static and short-term conceptions, where landscape sustainability has been incorrectly envisioned as a durable, stable condition that, once achieved, could persist for generations. We argue that to manage a global transition toward more environmentally efficient and, therefore, more sustainable land-use we have to reappraise societal values at the root of overregulation and rigidity

Fostering the Resiliency of Urban Landscape through the Sustainable Spatial Planning of Green Spaces

none5siBackground: It has been recognized that urban green spaces play a crucial role in providing many landscape services. The research aimed at identifying the main knowledge gaps in this framework and to support urban planning, taking into account the spatial configuration of green areas through a pilot study area, and mapping urban landscape services. Methods: In this research, (1) a systematic review, analyzed through a network analysis; (2) an urban pilot study to map the Urban Green Index and, jointly, the spatial composition and configuration of urban green areas, through the integration of three landscape metrics; and (3) the mapping of Urban Landscape Services Index have been carried out. Results: The 37% of the reviewed articles focused on regulating services, while the network analysis identified four clusters. The total Urban Green Index was 26%, and some districts showed a percentage that surpassed it. The total overall Green Connectivity Index was 21%. Some districts were the best providers of landscape services. Conclusions: This research was in line with the EU Joint Science for Policy Report suggesting giving emphasis to the spatial pattern map of green spaces in European cities to provide spatial data available for decision-makers in relation to GI deployment.openDonatella Valente, María Victoria Marinelli, Erica Maria Lovello, Cosimo Gaspare Giannuzzi, Irene PetrosilloValente, Donatella; Marinelli, MARIA VICTORIA; Lovello, ERICA MARIA; Gaspare Giannuzzi, Cosimo; Petrosillo, Iren

A first analysis on the need to integrate ecological aspects into financial insurance

It is known that financial insurance can address the economic impacts of a natural disaster, but some ecological aspects can play a crucial role in mitigating the overall risks for socio-ecological systems. To better strengthen the study of these relations, the aims of this paper are: (1) to analyze the main research topics of the scientific literature on ecological and/or financial-economic insurance to face natural disasters, through a co-word network analysis; (2) to analyze the temporal trends of the total Gross Insurance Premium and Meteorological and climatological extreme events in 29 OECD countries; and (3) to carry out a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of some selected variables in order to conceptualize a first empirical model combining financial-economic and ecological insurance to face natural disasters. The literature review has shown a predominance of topics related to financial insurance (about 60%), and the co-word map of key words has highlighted a common space where economic and ecological insurances interact. PCA highlighted three major components explaining 90.6% of the overall variation and discriminating aspects more related to the “financial” insurance, from those related to the “ecological” insurance. More in detail, PC1, which represents the financial insurance, explains the 60.4% of variation, PC2 and PC3 that represent surrogates of the “ecological” insurance explain respectively the 19.6% and the 10.6% of variation. On the basis of the application of the proposed empirical model, countries with high levels of financial and ecological preparedness have been identified. The next steps of this research will be focused on a pilot study area where a quantitative assessment will be applied to better define the landscape contribution to natural disaster risk mitigation, the analysis of the role of social capital through a cross-scales approach, in terms of policies and management strategies, and the investigation of innovative economic tools to take into account specific payment for ecosystem services in the context of natural disasters

Towards Land Consumption Neutrality and Natural Capital Enhancement at Urban Landscape Scale

Among the UNCCD SDGs 2030, there is the recognition that land consumption can strongly affect the provision of ecosystem services. From the perspective of land degradation neutrality, urban level is the right scale when planning actions against land consumption. The aims of this research are: (1) to assess land consumption at urban landscape scale and its effects on natural capital flow provision; and (2) to identify sustainable strategic planning choices for land consumption mitigation and natural capital enhancement. We propose and test an approach based on multi-temporal landscape spatial analysis (land use/land cover map, land consumption map, and landscape metrics) and ecosystem services’ flow assessment for the identification of areas at risk of loss of natural capital flow. The results have shown that from 2006 to 2019, land consumption has increased with a consequent decrease of natural capital flow. LULC dynamics has been analyzed in terms of landscape risk to lose natural capital flow, highlighting that the management of Galatone urban landscape is still far from land consumption neutrality. Landscape metrics have allowed the analysis of the aggregation among land consumption areas. The mitigation of land consumption should be based on the identification of suitable nature-based solutions towards the balance between past land consumption and future land recovery

A constructed treatment wetland as an opportunity to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services.

none8noToday we have to face new challenges about decreasing water resources, wastewater treatment, limited spaces and ecological preservation. This problem must be solved in a sustainable way using innovative water management strategies that combine technology with landscape design by enhancing ecosystem services provision. An effective way of tackling this problem is to use Constructed Treatment Wetlands (CTW) as low-cost alternative to conventional secondary or tertiary wastewater treatment. The aim of this paper is to evaluate their multifunctional role in terms of biodiversity and ecosystem services’ enhancement by taking into account a case study in southern Italy. For this purpose an annual monitoring of fauna and vegetation has been carried out in order to identify species of national and international interest strongly related to the new habitats availability. Results have shown the ability of CTW in providing ancillary benefits, well beyond the primary aim of water purification, such as sustaining wildlife habitats and biodiversity at local and global scales, as well as its potential role in terms of recreational and educational opportunities.restrictedSemeraro, Teodoro; Giannuzzi, Cosimo; Beccarisi, Leonardo; Aretano, Roberta; DE MARCO, Antonella; Pasimeni, MARIA RITA; Zurlini, Giovanni; Petrosillo, IreneSemeraro, Teodoro; Giannuzzi, Cosimo; Beccarisi, Leonardo; Aretano, Roberta; DE MARCO, Antonella; Pasimeni, MARIA RITA; Zurlini, Giovanni; Petrosillo, Iren