1,721,012 research outputs found
MAPPING FLOOD HAZARD ALONG THE EMILIA ROMAGNA LITTORAL, ITALY
No full textAim of this contribution is to provide simple 1D tools to map risk level along large coastal stretches. The tools here proposed include existing literature methods, i.e. the pressure and impact scoring method developed by EUROSION (www.eurosion.org), the multiple regression method (Gornitz et al., 1994), and 1D modeling by means of STRUREL code (Gollwitzer, 1994) that allows to estimate the process sensitivity to selected parameters, such as incident wave height and tide.
These methods are applied to the coasts of the Emilia Romagna Region, Italy, that are located in low-lying areas of the Northern Adriatic Sea, are characterized by a high anthropogenic subsidence, and are already affected by flooding events.
The quantitative results in terms of flooding probability are compared with qualitative hazard indications in order to provide a global and objective interpretation of the flooding scenarios
Uses and conflicts in Asinara National Park (Italy)
No full textIn Italy, two acts regulate the conservation of natural environment: Act no. 979/1982 on the sea defense and Act no. 394/1991 on protected areas. Marine Protected Areas
(MPAs) and National Parks (NP) are considered one of the most effective tools in promoting the preservation and conservation of the marine environment as well as
sustainable development, providing social and economic benefits to local communities. However, without effective management, protected areas are unlikely to achieve the
high expectations of conservation and development and have been often criticized for leading to negative social, economic, cultural and political impacts to local
communities. This represents a problematic issue because the success of a protected area depends on the local perceptions of socio-economic and ecological outcomes and
on the perceptions of the effectiveness and quality of management and governance policies, institutions, and processes. Furthermore, the designation of national park also
leads to conflicts between local communities and managers. As national parks and surrounding communities are highly dependent on each other, the task of managing
stakeholder interests and potential use conflicts should be of high priority for park managers.
The study aims to identify and analyze existing and potential conflicts between park management, use, local population and their activities
Assessment of the Vulnerability of the Lucana Coastal Zones (South Italy) to Natural Hazards
Full text linkCoasts are highly dynamic and geo-morphologically complex systems that are exposed to several factors such as waves, extreme meteorological events and climate change. It is also wellrecognized that coastal zones, characterized by an increasing population growth, are vulnerable to climate change. In addition, coastal erosion, resulting from natural environment changes and human activities, acts worldwide. Consequently, it is necessary to quantify coastal hazards vulnerability and develop tools to monitor coastal risks and support making targeted climate adaptation policies. In this paper, a framework to estimate coastal vulnerability to flooding and erosion has been developed for the Ionian Basilicata coast. It is based on two methods: the integrated vulnerability index (flooding and erosion) and the CeD physical vulnerability index (multi-risk assessment). Our results are in agreement with the recent shoreline evolution: the integrated coastal risk of the Ionian Basilicata coast is generally medium to high, while the “physical erosion vulnerability” is generally high to very high. In addition, the results highlight a spatial variability of the vulnerability, probably due to the morphology of the beach, which requires developing a strategic approach to coastal management and defining mitigation measures, considering relevant risk aspects as the vulnerability and exposure degree
Coupling land use evolution and subsidence in the Po Delta, Italy: Revising the past occurrence and prospecting the future management challenges
No full textThe Po River delta is characterized by a large system of shallow lagoons, wetlands, and reclaimed lands. Like many other deltaic regions, the Po Delta has largely subsided due to natural processes and anthropogenic activities, with a strong impact on its geomorphological evolution and significant socio- economic consequences. This paper aimed at
highlighting the evolution of the study area over the last 120 years, analysing the land-uses changes in relation to the land subsidence, and using these findings to discuss the main management issues of this fragile low lying area in the decades to come. The analysis of the land use evolution from 1892 to 2015 and the information derived from the metrics measurement suggest a simplification of the land use with a decrease of the saltmarsh extent and an enlargement of the agricultural cover. The analysis of land subsidence, mainly due to gas-bearing groundwater withdrawal, confirms a strong impact on the delta territory, and in particular on its geomorphological asset. In the early 1900s the elevation of the delta plain ranged between −1.0 and +1.6 m above msl, while in 2007 it reduced between −2.8 to +0.3 m above msl. The land reclamation projects have largely increased the farmland usable for
crop production but the concurrent loss of land elevation has resulted in a territory extremely difficult to be managed. Because of its elevation, the delta is particularly vulnerable to weather and marine events. As a consequence, the present management of the area is mainly aimed at maintaining the agricultural productivity. Unfortunately, if the human impactswill continue with the actual trend, the stability of the natural ecosystems, such as the wetlands, which represent important socioeconomic realities, will be further undermined. Surely, the conservation of these natural environments should be a priority in the future land use management
Linking scenery and users’ perception analysis of Italian beaches (case studies in Veneto, Emilia-Romagna and Basilicata regions)
No full textThe main purpose of this paper is to provide a scenic assessment of Italian beaches considering both physical and
social aspects useful for defining coastal management strategies. Scenic values were calculated for 25 sites along
Italian coastline using of a Coastal Scenic Evaluation System (CSES), a fuzzy logic containing 26 physical/human
factors. The sites were categorized into five classes from Class I (top grade scenery) to Class V (poor scenery).
Furthermore, a survey through questionnaires on Users' Perception (UP) was performed to obtain social assessment of the beaches and to define the beachgoer's characteristics for each scenic class. Five parameters
(beach cleanliness, sea-water, beach width, landscape and crowding) were also combined to obtain a scenic and
social analysis of the beaches. Three beaches belonged to Class I, e.g. remote or resort areas with a low impact of
human activities and high score of natural parameters. Two Class II beaches were located at remote or rural areas
having sand beaches, turquoise water and vigorous vegetation together with a low impact of tourist developments. Classes III, IV and V presented a wide distribution and their lower scores were linked to a poor environmental setting. These beaches were generally located in urban localities. Three aspects that were considered by the beach's users as the most important were beach cleanliness, good sea water and high quality of the
services. However, UP assessment showed negative judgments on sea-water and landscape especially for Class IV
and V beaches. On the other hand, cleanliness, recreational activities and facilities were well-judged for the Class
III, IV and V beaches mainly due to the presence of private beach establishments. Scenic and social analysis of
the beaches indicated that beach width was the best parameter both for scenic and social assessment; while
crowding factor was a contradictory parameter presenting opposite trends of CSES and UP. Beach cleanliness,
sea-water and landscape were depended to scenic Class of the beaches, both for CSES and UP. The excellent
scenic values were associated to the environmental settings whereas human parameters usually showed low
scores especially for urban beaches due to marine litter and the presence of coastal defense structures like groins
and breakwaters. Nevertheless, users frequented both beaches with high and low parameters, due to their habitually frequentation and proximity to the beach. Finally, the results indicate that management strategies are
also needed to improve the scenic quality and users' judgement of some beach features
Secular diachronic analysis of coastal marshes and lagoons evolution: Study case of the Po river delta (Italy)
No full textCoastal lagoons and salt marshes are rapidly changing under the influence of sea level rise and human induced changes. Within this context, the proposed study describes the evolution of the lagoons of the Po Delta (Italy) and the historical transformations of the salt marshes using historical maps and aerial data from 1892 to 2018. The methodology applied provides a crucial quantification of coastal lagoon and salt marsh evolution. Image analysis shows that most of the lagoons were formed between 1892 and 1934, while the most recent are developed between 1978 and 1988. Lagoons reached their actual shape and dimensions by 1955. Lagoons present different morphological characteristics with the lagoon of Caleri having a higher morphological diversity due to the presence of salt marshes and a complex hydraulic network. Since 1988, fringing salt marshes were the dominant morphology, then marsh morphology switched to a fringing, isolated and channelized morphology. Over the last 120 years, the Po Delta lagoons have experienced a high rate of erosion and environmental degradation. Our analysis suggests that three main phases are present in coastal lagoon marsh evolution that explain the development. In the last years, those lagoons experienced a progressive reduction of fringing and isolated salt marshes. The first one (1892–1934), characterized by high fluvial sediment input and a fast seaward progression of the river mouths, corresponds to the maximum salt marsh development. The second phase (1934–1978), characterized by a negative sediment budget and human activity induced alterations (subsidence), presents a small increase of the lagoon extension associated with a reduction of the salt marsh. Finally, the third phase (after 1978), characterized by a low sedimentary budget and high human control, is characterized by a stabilization of the lagoon extension and a drastic reduction of the salt marshes
CONFLITS ENTRE LA SAUVEGARDE DES PAYSAGES CÔTIERS ET LES ACTIVITÉS HUMAINES
No full textPour mieux comprendre l’impact de l’anthropisation sur le paysage côtier, une évaluation scénique des trois sites a été réalisée, en utilisant une liste pondérée de contrôle basée sur un système de logique floue, comprenant 26 facteurs physiques/anthropiques. Les sites ont été divisés en considérant 5 classes. Une enquête de perception touristique des usagers de la plage a été réalisée pour évaluer le paysage et la connaissance des enjeux environnementaux
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