scholarly journals The Synergy of Ecosystems of Blue and Green Infrastructure and Its Services in the Metropolitan Area—Chances and Dangers

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2103
Author(s):  
Rafał Blazy ◽  
Hanna Hrehorowicz-Gaber ◽  
Alicja Hrehorowicz-Nowak ◽  
Arkadiusz Płachta

Ecosystems have become synanthropized, and the degree of their transformation depends on their susceptibility to anthropopressure, but they are necessary for the functioning of the anthropogenic environment. They provide many ecosystem services, yet they are often not protected in any way, and their value is not taken into account at all in the process of creating local development plans. The analysis of the blue and green infrastructure covered three municipalities: Łapanów, Gdów, and Dobczyce. To calculate the benefits of ecosystem services, the method of calculating the Ve coefficient was adopted, which would enable a more accurate financial evaluation of the local development plan and make the previously synthetic economic coefficient of net present value (NPV) real. Besides, the impact of water bodies on the financial benefits of ecosystem services was analyzed. Only the protection of ecosystems introduced by including it in the local development plan enables full ecosystem synergy. Next to anthropological ecosystems, there are also natural ecosystems, which are necessary for the proper functioning of the commune. The network of those includes green (in the case of vegetated areas) and blue (in the case of surface waters) infrastructure, and their synergy is the key to the sustainable development of the commune.

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 122
Author(s):  
Teodoro Semeraro ◽  
Benedetta Radicchio ◽  
Pietro Medagli ◽  
Stefano Arzeni ◽  
Alessio Turco ◽  
...  

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.


Author(s):  
Mariia Ilina ◽  
Yulia Shpyliova

National environmental policy in Ukraine declares introducing of the ecosystem approach into all aspects of social and economic development, as well as conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems. The legislative acts sustain support of ecosystem services will enhance sustainable development of the society and ecosystems. One of the Sustainable Development Goals for Ukraine until 2030 concerns protection and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems like inland freshwaters, mountains, forests and meadows. It proves ecosystem management tools are relevant for the environmental policy and methodological basis for those tools being applied is assessment of ecosystem assets and services. Concept of ecosystem assets is quite innovative in Ukraine, and its definitions and visions of functions differ a lot. Both Ukrainian and foreign researchers focus mostly on ecosystem services, approaches to assess them and administration of the payments. Ecosystem assets and issues on their evaluations well as introduction of the ecosystem approach into the managerial practices are still underdeveloped. The paper is to define economic sense of ecosystem assets for provision of the sustainable development of territories. Evaluation of ecosystem assets is important for local communities in order to assess scope of ecosystem payments, elaborate local development strategies, and make decisions if economic activities communities carry on have to be altered. There are no universal rules for such the evaluation, and with foreign experience alone it is difficult to decide how territorial communities can assess their ecosystem assets and which tangible benefits they will get from it. Therefore, it is needed make more efforts in Ukraine too in order to introduce the tool and identify priority areas for its application, i.e. land and water use, biodiversity and so on. So that enhance implementation of the ecosystem approach into the management practices, considerable amendments in the legislation are required. Pilot projects on evaluation of ecosystem assets would be helpful and confirm feasibility of the approach. Even more, such the projects would assist to assess ecosystem services particularly produced by protected areas, water, soils and landfills.


Urban Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 54
Author(s):  
Yuejuan Yang ◽  
Hao Zhang ◽  
Xinquan Zhao ◽  
Zhizhang Chen ◽  
Aiguo Wang ◽  
...  

Ecosystem services are the material basis of economic and social development, and play essential roles in the sustainable development of ecosystems. Urbanization can remarkably alter the provision of ecosystem services. Most studies in this area have focused on densely populated metropolises with poor ecological environments, while comparatively few studies have focused on cities with low ecological pressures. Therefore, to avoid continuing to engage in the repetitive pattern of destroying first and rehabilitating later, quantitative analyses of urbanization and ecosystem services should be carried out in representative cities. In this study, based on partial least squares-discriminant analysis, kernel density estimation, and correlation analysis, we quantitatively evaluated the impact of urbanization on ecosystem services in Weifang city. The Data Center for Resources and Environmental Sciences at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research provided remote sensing data on land use, the gross domestic production (GDP), population data, and ecosystem services. The results were as follows: (1) The variation in population, GDP, and built-up areas consistently increased throughout the study period, whereas the ecosystem service values (ESVs) decreased; (2) food production, raw material production, nutrient cycle maintenance, and soil conservation were decisive ecosystem services that led to vast reductions in ESVs during the process of urbanization; and (3) the negative correlation coefficient between built-up areas and ecosystem services was greater than that between the population or GDP and ecosystem services, which indicated that the impacts of population and economic urbanization on ecosystem services lagged behind the impact of land urbanization. This study provides references for fully recognizing the ecological effects of urbanization, and make suggestions regarding the application of ecosystem services in sustainable development.


Author(s):  
Adriano CIANI ◽  
Asta RAUPELIENE ◽  
Vilma TAMULIENE

In the world, the question of the good practice to manage of territory is a pillar of the implementations of Sustainable Development Goals 2015-2030. The authors are working in collaboration with a holistic approach at the topic. In this way, the Smart Communities and Smart Territories are the new paradigms in 21th Century to solve the question of the adaptation at the Climate Change and to guarantee, for the future generation, the conservation and promotion of all potentialities of each territory and identity of areas. Until now, they have use a deductive method to analyse and show, in the framework of the Sustainable Development, the Community Led Local Development (EU Programme for CLLD) and Ecosystem Services, the need to move from an emergency management approach to pre-emptive territory management. The results of this research have produced the original and autonomous configuration of a new and innovative strategy and governance based on a model that puts in synergy the three aspects of the framework that has been given the name of Territorial Management Contracts (TMC). The TMC, appear a possible shared and democratic model that could to combine the territory risk management with solutions of development driving and sharing by the local populations. This innovative approach is strictly linked with the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals 2015-2030 and the Europe 2020 (smart, sustainable and inclusive). The authors argue that the TMC model is now sufficiently mature to pass from the processing phase to that of the implementation that in the Payment of the Ecosystem Services (PES) finds a concrete reinforcement of the scientific analysis carried out.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 13-26
Author(s):  
Iaris Alagon ◽  
Ethel Reyes-Chua

Conducting community services is about building rapport, relationship, and linkages to the community.  Since service is one of the core values of EAC-Cavite, it is very significant that the neighboring community shall benefit from the community outreach programs conducted by its various schools or departments.   This study focuses on the evaluation of the outreach programs of EAC-Cavite in Bgry. San Agustin, Dasmarinas, Cavite. It uses the qualitative-descriptive method of research utilizing the survey questionnaire, observation, and impact evaluation approach.  The results of the study revealed that 48% of the respondents were very satisfied, 33% were satisfied, and 6% were somewhat satisfied in the programs.  On the other hand, there were also some problems encountered by the proponents during the actual conduct of these programs, thus, these inspired the researchers to come up with a 5-year development plan to improve the services and its program of activities. It is therefore recommended to continue to move on and reach out for the sustainable development of the community focusing more on the areas of education, health, environment, and socio-economic development. Finally, every program should be evaluated immediately to find out its strengths and weaknesses and to address all the problems encountered before, during, and after the activity using the impact evaluation approach.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shayma Jamal Bawatneh

This paper trying to assess the impact of foreign aid on the Palestinian local development by focusing on the role of PLGS and monitoring the readiness of the Palestinian local development plans to face and manage the future in case foreign aid is cut off permanently from the State of Palestine. The paper poses main question: Is foreign aid “within the framework of the PLGS” being channeled within the proper course of local development? Taking into account the exceptional circumstances of building a State under colonialism and under a centralized system of government. Main results were presented via SWOT analysis which based on deep literature review, interviewing local officials, and identification of performance indicators which used in the assessment. Findings of this study pointed out that despite the fragility of the Palestinian local governance sector which has many internal problems and external challenges; there are many opportunities that must be invested within the available potentials in order to achieve sustainable local development. Besides, reducing the value of foreign aid until do without it is the proper course toward sustainable local development through changing the mentality of consuming into investing. The study presented many valuable recommendations to correct the path of local development in the state of Palestine and how to activate the positive aspects that related to obtaining foreign aid. Developing countries can rely on the results of this study as they are similar in the fragility of their administrative systems.


1998 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 379-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Hull ◽  
G Vigar

The authors examine the role of development plans in managing spatial change, The impact of the enhanced status of the development plan in the UK context is assessed with the aid of research material drawn from detailed case studies in Lancashire and Kent. Two governance ‘episodes’ are highlighted: a highly structured game within the mainstream planning system; and an innovative private-sector-led approach to planning for an area with the potential for rapid change. By means of these two illustrations the authors indicate the importance of the processes of development-plan preparation in the local context, the political tensions inherent to the land-use planning system in managing growth, and explore notions of plans being a store of local consensus about future spatial change.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
João Paulo Cândia Veiga ◽  
Fausto Makishi ◽  
Murilo Alves Zacareli ◽  
Thiago Augusto Hiromitsu Terada

This article is aimed at summarizing the results of the fieldwork research conducted by a group of researchers from the University of São Paulo within local communities in the municipalities of Salvaterra, Bragança and Breves, which are located in the state of Pará in the Northern part of Brazil. The object of analysis is the production chain of oleaginous seeds obtained through the extraction activity that are used as inputs in the processing food and cosmetics industries.This article seeks to answer the following questions: what role do non-state actors play in sustainable development and biodiversity regulation at the local level?Which are the social and environmental impacts? In order to answer it, this research focuses on the impact of the extractive activity on income generation, local development and local environmental externalities caused by market incentives. The main hypothesis is that it is possible to go beyond the trade-off between welfare gains and the preservation of the environment, and thus contribute to the rational use of Common-Pool Resources (CPRs).The motivation of this article is intimately related to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15 and the sustainable use of biodiversity. It is argued that the whole process is subjected to a multilevel context in which actors and arenas interact with each other through ‘authoritative mechanisms’. Both quantitative and qualitative data have been collected through surveys conducted among local families.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 17-24
Author(s):  
Maria Heldak ◽  
Katarzyna Przybyla

The study discusses the problem of financial impact on Wrocław Municipality exerted by the costs of implementing decisions resulting from the selected local spatial development plans. Currently in Poland, at the stage of local spatial development plan establishment, a forecast of financial consequences is prepared. The expected own revenues and the costs of financial impact exerted on the municipal budget are presented in this document. The study facilitates making decisions about the final version of the local development plan. Taking into account the planned spatial development in the area of Wrocław city, the urbanization costs exerting financial impact on the municipal budget were identified. The study analyses only the cost of implementing investments within the scope of the municipality own tasks, including the cost of constructing municipal roads, sanitary sewerage system, water supply system, public greenery facilities and land purchase for public investments. The analyses covered two selected areas of the city, located in its different parts. These are largely uninvested areas, predominantly constituting agricultural land, and such land development requires the construction of technical and social infrastructure facilities. The anticipated costs of implementing local development plans in force in various parts of Wrocław indicate significant expenses to be covered by Wrocław Municipality in order to build sewage systems and municipal roads. Taking up new development sites is also correlated with taking over the real properties by Wrocław city, on which the implementation of public goals is planned.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (suppl 1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Cavalcanti Lembi ◽  
Cecilia Cronemberger ◽  
Caroline Picharillo ◽  
Sheina Koffler ◽  
Pedro H. Albuquerque Sena ◽  
...  

Abstract: The Atlantic Forest is an important hotspot of biodiversity and ecosystem services that contributes to the well-being of its 125 million human inhabitants, about three quarters of the Brazilian population. In the coming decades, forecasts show that urban areas in the Atlantic Forest will grow at the expense of natural ecosystems, leading to increasing pressure on biodiversity and ecosystem services. We used the Nature Futures Framework (NFF) for envisioning positive scenarios for cities in the Atlantic Forest. First, we developed a conceptual model based on the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) approach to describe consequences of urban growth for the three NFF perspectives: Nature for Society, Nature for Nature and Nature as Culture. Second, we proposed scenario storylines that encompass multiple social-ecological values of nature and could be used by policy makers to plan desirable futures for the Atlantic Forest. Then, we discussed the impact of distinct policies on these values, identifying the different ways in which the management of urban green and blue spaces, natural ecosystems, and urban densities can lead to different social-ecological outcomes. We further detail the complexity, trade-offs, and synergies regarding city development, nature conservation, and human well-being in this tropical hotspot. Applying NFF can contribute to the ongoing debate regarding urban sustainability, by providing an interdisciplinary and integrative approach that explicitly incorporates multiple values of nature and the visualization of positive futures.


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