METODOLOGIA PARA IDENTIFICAÇÃO DOS CORREDORES ECOLÓGICOS. ESTUDO DE CASO: PLANEJAMENTO PARA OS CORREDORES DO URSO PARDO NOS CÁRPATOS ROMANOS

Achieving an ecological connectivity of the existing protected areas can contribute both to avoiding landscape fragmentation and, consequently, preserving the environment, including the animal species which are most affected by human impacts, such as the brown bear. Provided that these large carnivores can move over long distances, it is very important to identify their migration corridors using specific methodologies. In the last decade, the habitat and ecosystems fragmentation has been noticeably increasing in the Carpathian ecological region. As a result, several attempts were made to develop appropriate approaches for identifying the ecological corridors of the brown bears, in order to include them in the spatial plans along with the appropriate zoning-based restrictions. This article aims at proposing a novel method, focused on identifying the ecological corridors used by the brown bear in the Romanian Carpathian. The study is very important because it implements the connectivity concept into the spatial planning practice, increasing its sustainability. The approach relies on developing a model based on specific parameters and using ArcGIS in conjunction with the CorridorDesign and Linkage Mapper applications. The crucial advantage of the method is that it addresses a very important spatial planning issue and is able to support the decision making processes in relationship to preserving biodiversity and ensuring the maintenance of ecosystems and their services. Its flexibility allows for adapting it to the particular restrictions of different planning systems. At the same time, the cross-cutting approach used for establishing the exact geographical location of ecological corridors is actually making connectivity an operational concept that can be used for drafting the spatial plans and, therefore, addressing jointly the perspectives of spatial planners and environmental conservationists, and eventually reconciling them. Last but not least, the integrated approach addresses the inter-dependency and interrelatedness of the natural and human systems. Further research is needed to improve the method, by translating it from the national scale to the local one, taking into consideration the existing specific terrain conditions and barriers, in order to obtain a more effective long-term protection.Lograr una conectividad ecológica de las áreas protegidas existentes puede contribuir tanto a evitar la fragmentación del paisaje como, en consecuencia, a preservar el medio ambiente, incluidas las especies animales más afectadas por los impactos humanos, como el oso pardo. Dado que estos grandes carnívoros pueden moverse largas distancias, es muy importante identificar sus corredores de migración utilizando metodologías específicas. En la última década, la fragmentación de hábitats y ecosistemas ha aumentado notablemente en la región ecológica de los Cárpatos. Como resultado, se hicieron varios intentos para desarrollar enfoques apropiados para identificar los corredores ecológicos de los osos pardos, a fin de incluirlos en los planes espaciales junto con las restricciones de zonificación adecuadas. Este artículo tiene como objetivo proponer un método novedoso, centrado en identificar los corredores ecológicos utilizados por el oso pardo en los Cárpatos rumanos. El estudio es muy importante porque implementa el concepto de conectividad en la práctica de planificación espacial, aumentando su sostenibilidad. El enfoque se basa en el desarrollo de un modelo basado en parámetros específicos y en el uso de ArcGIS junto con las aplicaciones CorridorDesign y Linkage Mapper. La ventaja crucial del método es que aborda un tema de planificación espacial muy importante y puede respaldar los procesos de toma de decisiones en relación con la preservación de la biodiversidad y la garantía del mantenimiento de los ecosistemas y sus servicios. Su flexibilidad permite adaptarlo a las restricciones particulares de los diferentes sistemas de planificación. Al mismo tiempo, el enfoque transversal utilizado para establecer la ubicación geográfica exacta de los corredores ecológicos está haciendo de la conectividad un concepto operativo que puede utilizarse para elaborar los planes espaciales y, por lo tanto, abordar conjuntamente las perspectivas de los planificadores espaciales y los conservacionistas ambientales. , y eventualmente reconciliarlos. Por último, pero no menos importante, el enfoque integrado aborda la interdependencia y la interrelación de los sistemas naturales y humanos. Se necesita más investigación para mejorar el método, traduciéndolo de la escala nacional a la local, teniendo en cuenta las condiciones específicas del terreno y las barreras existentes, con el fin de obtener una protección más eficaz a largo plazo.Alcançar uma conectividade ecológica das áreas protegidas existentes pode contribuir tanto para evitar a fragmentação da paisagem e, consequentemente, preservar o meio ambiente, incluindo as espécies animais mais afetadas pelos impactos humanos, como o urso pardo. Desde que esses grandes carnívoros possam se deslocar por longas distâncias, é muito importante identificar seus corredores de migração usando metodologias específicas. Na última década, a fragmentação de habitats e ecossistemas tem aumentado visivelmente na região ecológica dos Cárpatos. Como resultado, várias tentativas foram feitas para desenvolver abordagens apropriadas para identificar os corredores ecológicos dos ursos pardos, a fim de incluí-los nos planos espaciais juntamente com as restrições baseadas em zoneamento apropriadas. Este artigo tem como objetivo propor um novo método, focado na identificação dos corredores ecológicos utilizados pelo urso pardo nos Cárpatos da Romênia. O estudo é muito importante porque implementa o conceito de conectividade na prática do ordenamento do território, aumentando a sua sustentabilidade. A abordagem baseia-se no desenvolvimento de um modelo baseado em parâmetros específicos e usando ArcGIS em conjunto com os aplicativos CorridorDesign e Linkage Mapper. A vantagem crucial do método é que ele aborda uma questão de planejamento espacial muito importante e é capaz de apoiar os processos de tomada de decisão em relação à preservação da biodiversidade e garantia da manutenção dos ecossistemas e seus serviços. Sua flexibilidade permite adaptá-lo às restrições particulares de diferentes sistemas de planejamento. Ao mesmo tempo, a abordagem transversal utilizada para estabelecer a localização geográfica exata dos corredores ecológicos está, na verdade, tornando a conectividade um conceito operacional que pode ser utilizado para a elaboração dos planos espaciais e, portanto, abordando conjuntamente as perspectivas dos planejadores espaciais e conservacionistas ambientais , e eventualmente reconciliando-os. Por último, mas não menos importante, a abordagem integrada aborda a interdependência e inter-relação dos sistemas naturais e humanos. Mais pesquisas são necessárias para aprimorar o método, traduzindo-o da escala nacional para a local, levando em consideração as condições e barreiras específicas do terreno existentes, a fim de obter uma proteção mais eficaz a longo prazo

METODOLOGIA PARA IDENTIFICAÇÃO DOS CORREDORES ECOLÓGICOS. ESTUDO DE CASO: PLANEJAMENTO PARA OS CORREDORES DO URSO PARDO NOS CÁRPATOS ROMANOS

Achieving an ecological connectivity of the existing protected areas can contribute both to avoiding landscape fragmentation and, consequently, preserving the environment, including the animal species which are most affected by human impacts, such as the brown bear. Provided that these large carnivores can move over long distances, it is very important to identify their migration corridors using specific methodologies. In the last decade, the habitat and ecosystems fragmentation has been noticeably increasing in the Carpathian ecological region. As a result, several attempts were made to develop appropriate approaches for identifying the ecological corridors of the brown bears, in order to include them in the spatial plans along with the appropriate zoning-based restrictions. This article aims at proposing a novel method, focused on identifying the ecological corridors used by the brown bear in the Romanian Carpathian. The study is very important because it implements the connectivity concept into the spatial planning practice, increasing its sustainability. The approach relies on developing a model based on specific parameters and using ArcGIS in conjunction with the CorridorDesign and Linkage Mapper applications. The crucial advantage of the method is that it addresses a very important spatial planning issue and is able to support the decision making processes in relationship to preserving biodiversity and ensuring the maintenance of ecosystems and their services. Its flexibility allows for adapting it to the particular restrictions of different planning systems. At the same time, the cross-cutting approach used for establishing the exact geographical location of ecological corridors is actually making connectivity an operational concept that can be used for drafting the spatial plans and, therefore, addressing jointly the perspectives of spatial planners and environmental conservationists, and eventually reconciling them. Last but not least, the integrated approach addresses the inter-dependency and interrelatedness of the natural and human systems. Further research is needed to improve the method, by translating it from the national scale to the local one, taking into consideration the existing specific terrain conditions and barriers, in order to obtain a more effective long-term protection.Lograr una conectividad ecológica de las áreas protegidas existentes puede contribuir tanto a evitar la fragmentación del paisaje como, en consecuencia, a preservar el medio ambiente, incluidas las especies animales más afectadas por los impactos humanos, como el oso pardo. Dado que estos grandes carnívoros pueden moverse largas distancias, es muy importante identificar sus corredores de migración utilizando metodologías específicas. En la última década, la fragmentación de hábitats y ecosistemas ha aumentado notablemente en la región ecológica de los Cárpatos. Como resultado, se hicieron varios intentos para desarrollar enfoques apropiados para identificar los corredores ecológicos de los osos pardos, a fin de incluirlos en los planes espaciales junto con las restricciones de zonificación adecuadas. Este artículo tiene como objetivo proponer un método novedoso, centrado en identificar los corredores ecológicos utilizados por el oso pardo en los Cárpatos rumanos. El estudio es muy importante porque implementa el concepto de conectividad en la práctica de planificación espacial, aumentando su sostenibilidad. El enfoque se basa en el desarrollo de un modelo basado en parámetros específicos y en el uso de ArcGIS junto con las aplicaciones CorridorDesign y Linkage Mapper. La ventaja crucial del método es que aborda un tema de planificación espacial muy importante y puede respaldar los procesos de toma de decisiones en relación con la preservación de la biodiversidad y la garantía del mantenimiento de los ecosistemas y sus servicios. Su flexibilidad permite adaptarlo a las restricciones particulares de los diferentes sistemas de planificación. Al mismo tiempo, el enfoque transversal utilizado para establecer la ubicación geográfica exacta de los corredores ecológicos está haciendo de la conectividad un concepto operativo que puede utilizarse para elaborar los planes espaciales y, por lo tanto, abordar conjuntamente las perspectivas de los planificadores espaciales y los conservacionistas ambientales. , y eventualmente reconciliarlos. Por último, pero no menos importante, el enfoque integrado aborda la interdependencia y la interrelación de los sistemas naturales y humanos. Se necesita más investigación para mejorar el método, traduciéndolo de la escala nacional a la local, teniendo en cuenta las condiciones específicas del terreno y las barreras existentes, con el fin de obtener una protección más eficaz a largo plazo.Alcançar uma conectividade ecológica das áreas protegidas existentes pode contribuir tanto para evitar a fragmentação da paisagem e, consequentemente, preservar o meio ambiente, incluindo as espécies animais mais afetadas pelos impactos humanos, como o urso pardo. Desde que esses grandes carnívoros possam se deslocar por longas distâncias, é muito importante identificar seus corredores de migração usando metodologias específicas. Na última década, a fragmentação de habitats e ecossistemas tem aumentado visivelmente na região ecológica dos Cárpatos. Como resultado, várias tentativas foram feitas para desenvolver abordagens apropriadas para identificar os corredores ecológicos dos ursos pardos, a fim de incluí-los nos planos espaciais juntamente com as restrições baseadas em zoneamento apropriadas. Este artigo tem como objetivo propor um novo método, focado na identificação dos corredores ecológicos utilizados pelo urso pardo nos Cárpatos da Romênia. O estudo é muito importante porque implementa o conceito de conectividade na prática do ordenamento do território, aumentando a sua sustentabilidade. A abordagem baseia-se no desenvolvimento de um modelo baseado em parâmetros específicos e usando ArcGIS em conjunto com os aplicativos CorridorDesign e Linkage Mapper. A vantagem crucial do método é que ele aborda uma questão de planejamento espacial muito importante e é capaz de apoiar os processos de tomada de decisão em relação à preservação da biodiversidade e garantia da manutenção dos ecossistemas e seus serviços. Sua flexibilidade permite adaptá-lo às restrições particulares de diferentes sistemas de planejamento. Ao mesmo tempo, a abordagem transversal utilizada para estabelecer a localização geográfica exata dos corredores ecológicos está, na verdade, tornando a conectividade um conceito operacional que pode ser utilizado para a elaboração dos planos espaciais e, portanto, abordando conjuntamente as perspectivas dos planejadores espaciais e conservacionistas ambientais , e eventualmente reconciliando-os. Por último, mas não menos importante, a abordagem integrada aborda a interdependência e inter-relação dos sistemas naturais e humanos. Mais pesquisas são necessárias para aprimorar o método, traduzindo-o da escala nacional para a local, levando em consideração as condições e barreiras específicas do terreno existentes, a fim de obter uma proteção mais eficaz a longo prazo

METHODOLOGY FOR ASSESSING THE ROMANIAN FUNCTIONAL URBAN AREAS USING GIS AND LAU 2 TERRITORIAL INDICATORS

The territorial dimension of the European convergence policy is represented by polycentricity. The main challenge in promoting a polycentric and balanced territorial development is represented by an accurate delineation of the functional urban areas. Effective development strategies require the extension of functional areas to be scientifically defined as a critical mass. According to several studies, Functional Urban / Metropolitan Areas can be determined based on the number of commuters going to the core city, in different shares of the total economically active population. The evaluation of the polycentric development of the network of settlements in Romania is hampered by the lack of reliable data on the number of commuters at the settlement level. The indicator is not statistically monitored and consequently misses from the list of indicators quantified by the National Institute of Statistics. Therefore, the present study has as main purpose to identify the Functional Urban Areas in Romania for cities with more than 30,000 inhabitants. The methodology is based on the statistical support of ArcGIS 10.3 and on analyses based on indicators such as population and number of employees (absolute values and dynamics) at the level of settlements (LAU 2). The results of the study consist of mapping the functional urban areas of the large Romanian cities, which allows an assessment of the legally constituted metropolitan areas of Romania

Strategic Planning for the Development of the Danube Area

The article includes concepts, information, methodologies of spatial planning focused on the Danube carried out within the European projects "Donauregionen" and "Donauregionen+", financed by the European Union through the South East Europe Transnational Cooperation Programme. The article proposes solutions for solving problems related to the opportunities offered by the Danube as an important corridor to support the economic growth and competitiveness of functional regions in the Danube area. The current situation in the Danube River riparian land-use planning policies involves (a) creating the spatial concept of the Danube area interregional level, b) developing integrated strategies to develop sectoral strategies embodied in the Danube area, the Transdanube strategy and development strategies for the Danube region as a whole. In this general scheme, indicators have been proposed, designed on four main areas (natural conditions, housing and human resources, technical infrastructure and transport, and economy). Based on the analyses conducted in the project, five Danube sub-regions and 19 Transdanube regions were established. Using the forecasting methodology proposed in the “Donauregionen+” project, three types of scenarios were developed for each sub-region: pessimistic, realistic and optimistic. All these scenarios have resulted in GIS cartograms, based on groups of territorial indicators that highlight the socio-economic development capacity of the Danube sub-regions

Methodology for Identifying Ecological Corridors: A Spatial Planning Perspective

Recent studies carried out by landscape and urban ecologists have shown that habitat fragmentation has negative environmental effects and is accountable for the loss of biodiversity. The development and extension of road infrastructure to support economic growth, the urbanization and the land-use changes are major drivers of habitat fragmentation. Planners have attempted to develop tools for restoring connectivity and stopping biodiversity loss at the landscape scale and which can be applied at the urban scale, too. The study fills in the gap by developing a methodology for identifying the ecological corridors of a Romanian large carnivore (brown bear) in the Romanian Carpathian Mountains at several spatial scales. The methodology relies on geospatial data; this is equally its most important advantage and challenge. Our findings suggest that the implementation of ecological corridors in current planning practice must be completed cautiously, provided the possible restrictions are imposed on economic activities by plans, and highlight the importance of field data in increasing the scientific soundness of the results. In addition, the findings show the need to interconnect spatial planning policies with environmental policies by improving the actual legislation

Methodology for Identifying Ecological Corridors: A Spatial Planning Perspective

Recent studies carried out by landscape and urban ecologists have shown that habitat fragmentation has negative environmental effects and is accountable for the loss of biodiversity. The development and extension of road infrastructure to support economic growth, the urbanization and the land-use changes are major drivers of habitat fragmentation. Planners have attempted to develop tools for restoring connectivity and stopping biodiversity loss at the landscape scale and which can be applied at the urban scale, too. The study fills in the gap by developing a methodology for identifying the ecological corridors of a Romanian large carnivore (brown bear) in the Romanian Carpathian Mountains at several spatial scales. The methodology relies on geospatial data; this is equally its most important advantage and challenge. Our findings suggest that the implementation of ecological corridors in current planning practice must be completed cautiously, provided the possible restrictions are imposed on economic activities by plans, and highlight the importance of field data in increasing the scientific soundness of the results. In addition, the findings show the need to interconnect spatial planning policies with environmental policies by improving the actual legislation

CRISALIDE decision support system for urban development: from idea to implementation. Rostov-on-Don, Russia

This paper aims to synthesize the results of the two-year experience in implementation of the decision support system for urban development. CRISALIDE project (City Replicable and Integrated Smart Actions Leading Innovation to Develop Urban Economies) started in October 2018 and was one of the very few projects financed between E.U. and Russian Federation through the ERA NET RUS PLUS (ENRP) program. It was also the only financed project in ENRP dealing with urban planning topics in this current E.U. programming period (2013-2020). The project became possible due to the rising requests for innovations in urban life resulted in a noticeable shift in a political discourse towards the innovative ICT led economy, the new digital technologies, and the smart city policy in Russia. Though new initiatives seem too focused on technological solutions and lack a comprehensive understanding of smart development, they provoke the appearance of public discussions of the mentioned issues in cities, which themselves are the ecosystems for developing innovation. The missing components might be provided from the bottom level by using the place-based approach and implementing smart planning tools responding to the wicked local problems. This assumption lies in the basis of the CRISALIDE project aiming at bringing together technological, social, and organizational innovations. CRISALIDE was experimenting in the Russian city Rostov-on-Don through a collaborative approach involving E.U. and Russian researchers, creating an innovative digital platform to facilitate the renewal and regeneration of brownfields. The first selected experimental field was the area of the old airport relocated outside of the city. Attracting notable attention of different local and regional actors due to its size, location, marketing potential, and regional significance, the selected brownfield helped involve local experts, activists, and policy-makers to develop an innovation tool and raise a public discussion on urban development. A series of consortium events, new collaborations, and discussions became essential for designing future development scenarios. CRISALIDE system has an open, flexible structure based on urban ontology. It is a variant of artificial intelligence and will serve diverse issues in different cities. Oriented towards support in three main activities in urban development – new construction, reconstruction, and services provision – the system functions in three different modes. Three modes allow implementing required levels of public participation: from the internal communication within city administration to the public discussion involving all citizens