Terraced landscapes preservation and tourism sustainability in Cinque Terre, Liguria

Cinque Terre terraced landscape represents an example of a peculiar relation between nature and humankind, thanks to its characteristic shaped territory. This area, vulnerable to natural disaster and anthropic degradation, has been involved in several actions aimed at its preservation since the 80s. The site was inscribed in the World Heritage List and various laws and agencies were created to support local agriculture and landscape preservation. Through the analysis of the regulations context and related requirements, this chapter aims to explore the relationship between mass tourism effects and landscape vulnerability, and the conflict between conservation needs and the site\u2019s real economy

Cinque Terre: terraced landscape preservation and tourism sustainability

Cinque Terre terraced landscape represents an extraordinary example of the peculiar relation between humankind and nature. For centuries its inhabitants shaped the territory, building a farmed terraced system that has characterized the image and identity of this land until today. This territory, extremely vulnerable to natural disaster and anthropic degradation, has been involved in several actions aimed at its protection and safeguard since the 1980s, through regional laws supporting local agriculture and terraces preservation. The site was inscribed in the World Heritage List as a cultural landscape in 1997 and Cinque Terre National Park was established in 1999. Through the analysis of the existing regulations context an related requirements, touristic data, promotion and strategies, this paper aims to explore the relationship between mass tourism effects and landscape vulnerability, focusing on the conflict existing between sustainability declared, or sought, by the authorities and the risks related to land consumption

Activation of Human Platelets by 2-Arachidonoylglycerol: Role of PKC in NO/cGMP Pathway Modulation

We demonstrated that the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) activated dose-dependently washed human platelets and increased intracellular calcium levels. Moreover 2-AG activated protein kinase C measured as p47pleckstrin phosphorylation. These parameters were prevented by the tromboxane A2 receptor antagonist SQ29548, by phospholipase C pathway (U73122) and protein kinase C (GF109203X) inhibitors. No effect on 2-AG-induced platelet activation and calcium elevation in the presence of inhibitors of fatty acid amide hydrolase or monoacylglycerol lipase was observed. In addition we have shown that 2-AG dose-dependently increased NO and cGMP levels. These effects were abolished by U73122, GF109203X, EGTA and the intracellular calcium chelator BAPTA/AM. Moreover, 2-AG enhanced eNOS activity through the phosphorylation of its positive regulatory residue ser1177 and by dephosphorylation of the negative one thr495. The eNOS ser1177 phosphorylation was inhibited by U73122 and GF109203X but it was unaffected by the PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitors LY294002 and MK2206. The dephosphorylation of thr495 was reversed by low concentrations of calyculin A. Taken together these data suggest that 2-AG behaves as a true platelet agonist stimulating PKC activation and calcium elevation. Likely 2-AG can modulate platelet activation by increasing NO levels through eNOS activation