scholarly journals Assessment of Green Infrastructure in Riparian Zones Using Copernicus Programme

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 2967
Author(s):  
Laura Piedelobo ◽  
Andrea Taramelli ◽  
Emma Schiavon ◽  
Emiliana Valentini ◽  
José-Luis Molina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Riparian Zones ◽  
Soil Protection ◽  
Drought Risk ◽  
Riparian Areas ◽  
Po River ◽  
Condition Indicators ◽  
Restoration Strategies ◽  
Using Data

This article presents an approach to identify Green Infrastructure (GI), its benefits and condition. This information enables environmental agencies to prioritise conservation, management and restoration strategies accordingly. The study focuses on riparian areas due to their potential to supply Ecosystem Services (ES), such as water quality, biodiversity, soil protection and flood or drought risk reduction. Natural Water Retention Measures (NWRM) related to agriculture and forestry are the type of GI considered specifically within these riparian areas. The approach is based on ES condition indicators, defined by the European Environment Agency (EEA) to support the policy targets of the 2020 Biodiversity Strategy. Indicators that can be assessed through remote sensing techniques are used, namely: capacity to provide ecosystem services, proximity to protected areas, greening response and water stress. Specifically, the approach uses and evaluates the potential of freely available products from the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS) to monitor GI. Moreover, vegetation and water indices are calculated using data from the Sentinel-2 MSI Level-2A scenes and integrated in the analysis. The approach has been tested in the Italian Po river basin in 2018. Firstly, agriculture and forest NWRM were identified in the riparian areas of the river network. Secondly, the Riparian Zones products from the CLMS local component and the satellite-based indices were linked to the aforementioned ES condition indicators. This led to the development of a pixel-based model that evaluates the identified GI according to: (i) its disposition to provide riparian regulative ES and (ii) its condition in the analysed year. Finally, the model was used to prioritise GI for conservation or restoration initiatives, based on its potential to deliver ES and current condition.

scholarly journals Integration of Ecosystem Services in Strategic Environmental Assessment of a Peri-Urban Development Plan

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 122
Author(s):  
Teodoro Semeraro ◽  
Benedetta Radicchio ◽  
Pietro Medagli ◽  
Stefano Arzeni ◽  
Alessio Turco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Urban Development ◽  
Environmental Assessment ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Strategic Environmental Assessment ◽  
Development Plan ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
South Italy ◽  
Urban Plan

Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) can support decision-makers in constructing more sustainable plans, programs, and policies (PPPs). To be more coherent with new frontiers of sustainable cities, PPPs need to include conservation objectives and to increase ecosystem service (ES) strategies. The ES concept is not intrinsic to the SEA process; therefore, it is necessary to develop an approach and methodology to include it. In this paper, we propose a methodology to integrate the concept of ecosystem services in all phases of the SEA process for a sub-urban plan, including the design of mitigation measures. The case study is represented by a peri-urban development plan in the municipality of Gallipoli in South Italy, characterized by a strong tourism economy and valuable agro-ecosystems. The analysis shows the priority ecosystem services that are selected considering the sustainable development and environmental goals, the context of referment, and the aims of the peri-urban plan. After, we highlight the potential ecosystem services developed considering the design of mitigation actions like green infrastructure, which could be implemented in the peri-urban plan. The capacity to develop green infrastructure in SEA processes can configure the SEA as a tool for ecological urban design that is integrated with urban planning. This requires the ability to transfer ecological and planning theories into practical actions and the capacity of different disciplines to work in a transdisciplinary approach.

scholarly journals Decreased cortisol among hikers who preferentially visit and value biodiverse riparian zones

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellie Opdahl ◽  
Kathryn Demps ◽  
Julie A. Heath
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Hot Spots ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Riparian Areas ◽  
Indirect Pathway ◽  
Aesthetic Value ◽  
Gps Tracks

AbstractWhile outdoor recreationists often report increases to their well-being for time spent in nature, the mechanisms through which local ecologies affect human health have been difficult to quantify, and thus to manage. We combine data from pre-post salivary cortisol measures, GPS tracks, visitor photos, and surveys from 88 hikers traversing several types of landscape within peri-urban public lands in southwest Idaho, USA. We find that time in biodiverse riparian areas and areas of perceived aesthetic value correlates with decreases in salivary cortisol and improved well-being for hikers. Wildlife sightings were not associated with changes in salivary cortisol, but were associated with riparian travel and aesthetic preferences, indicating an indirect pathway for ecosystem services. Additionally, wildlife sightings decreased on high-use days, even though hikers did not perceive a negative impact of their recreational activity. These results suggest that cultural and physiological ecosystem services of nature depend on the ecological community of the area. Preferential visitation and high service value of riparian areas by hikers and wildlife alike target shared riparian areas as hot spots for management efforts to promote both ecological and human health within an increasingly urbanizing world.

scholarly journals Adjusted Unit Value Transfer as a Tool for Raising Awareness on Ecosystem Services Provided by Constructed Wetlands for Water Pollution Control: An Italian Case Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1531
Author(s):  
Anacleto Rizzo ◽  
Giulio Conte ◽  
Fabio Masi
Keyword(s):  
Water Pollution ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Water Pollution Control ◽  
Italian Case ◽  
Value Transfer ◽  
Unit Value

Constructed wetlands (CWs) are nature-based solutions (NBS) for water pollution control that can also be designed to be multipurpose in terms of additional ecosystem services (ESs), such as biodiversity support and social benefits. Awareness about additional ESs of CWs can be raised with value transfer (VT) methods for ESs monetization, in particular, the simplified adjusted unit VT method. A multi-criteria analysis (MCA) was performed to compare grey and green infrastructure alternatives for the management of a combined sewer overflow in the Buccinasco town (Italy), in which the criteria related to ESs were monetized with an adjusted VT method (B£ST software). The results highlighted the potential interest in the implementation of the green infrastructure in a new urban park, due to the activation of additional ESs of interest, such as health and recreational aspects. The results were also confirmed by a sensitivity analysis, which simulated the variation of preferences among different stakeholder groups (e.g., citizens, environmentalists). In conclusion, this work provided a transparent methodology to support decisions regarding green and grey infrastructure, allowing to evaluate additional ESs from the beginning of the decision stage with low cost and efforts.

scholarly journals Estimating Air Pollution Removal and Monetary Value for Urban Green Infrastructure Strategies Using Web-Based Applications

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 788
Author(s):  
Alessio Russo ◽  
Wing Tung Chan ◽  
Giuseppe T. Cirella
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Pollutant Removal ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Tree Planting ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Online Tools ◽  
Pollution Removal

More communities around the world are recognizing the benefits of green infrastructure (GI) and are planting millions of trees to improve air quality and overall well-being in cities. However, there is a need for accurate tools that can measure and value these benefits whilst also informing the community and city managers. In recent years, several online tools have been developed to assess ecosystem services. However, the reliability of such tools depends on the incorporation of local or regional data and site-specific inputs. In this communication, we have reviewed two of the freely available tools (i.e., i-Tree Canopy and the United Kingdom Office for National Statistics) using Bristol City Centre as an example. We have also discussed strengths and weaknesses for their use and, as tree planting strategy tools, explored further developments of such tools in a European context. Results show that both tools can easily calculate ecosystem services such as air pollutant removal and monetary values and at the same time be used to support GI strategies in compact cities. These tools, however, can only be partially utilized for tree planting design as they do not consider soil and root space, nor do they include drawing and painting futures. Our evaluation also highlights major gaps in the current tools, suggesting areas where more research is needed.

scholarly journals Diversity of Angiospermic Plants in estuarine and Adjoining Riparian Areas of Sabarmati and Mahi Rivers, Gujarat, India

2020 ◽  
pp. 116-124
Author(s):  
Raj B. Patel ◽  
Ketan Tatu ◽  
R. D. Kamboj
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Flowering Plants ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Riparian Zones ◽  
Ecological Groups ◽  
View Point ◽  
Riparian Areas ◽  
Shrub Species ◽  
Religious Importance ◽  
Herb Species

The present study was conducted with an aim of documenting the diversity of flowering plants in selected localities in the estuarine and adjoining riparian zones of Sabarmati and Mahi rivers of Gujarat, India. The Sabarmati and Mahi rivers are west-flowing perennial rivers having considerable ecological and religious importance. A total of 40 species of flowering plants belonging to 26 different families were recorded in the study area which were dominated by herbaceous plants. Among the 40 species recorded 2 species were trees, 8 species were shrubs, 28 species were herbs and 2 species were grasses. Moreover, as far as ecological groups are concerned, 6 species were halophytes, 13 species were hydrophytes, 17 species were mesophytes and 4 species were xerophytes. In the study area of Sabarmati river, 28 species were recorded that included 2 tree species, 6 shrub species, 18 herb species and 2 grass species. From the view point of ecological groups 5 species were halophytes, 3 species were hydrophytes, 16 species were mesophytes and 4 species were xerophytes. In the study area of Mahi river, 24 species were recorded that included 2 tree species, 6 shrub species, 14 herb species and 2 grass species. From the view point of ecological groups 5 species were halophytes, 12 species were hydrophytes, 5 species were mesophytes and 2 species were xerophytes.

scholarly journals Reconnecting Cities to the Biosphere: Stewardship of Green Infrastructure and Urban Ecosystem Services

AMBIO ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 445-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Andersson ◽  
Stephan Barthel ◽  
Sara Borgström ◽  
Johan Colding ◽  
Thomas Elmqvist ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Urban Ecosystem ◽  
Urban Ecosystem Services
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