1,721,115 research outputs found
Could different structural features affect flammability traits in Mediterranean forest ecosystems?
Full text linkKey message Mediterranean forest stands manifest diverse flammability traits according to their potential ecological successional stage and promoting a gradient from flammable to less flammable ecosystem. From a general consideration of vegetation as 'fuel', it has been well proven that plant traits have the potential to promote the forest stand gradient from flammable to less flammable. While the ever-growing literature helps to assess the relationship between plants and their flammability at species level, at the landscape scale this relationship should be evaluated along with a variety of forest features such as structural and stand parameters and from the perspective of successional forest stages. To this end, we clustered several forest stands in Southern Europe (Apulia region, Italy), characterized by oaks, conifers, and arboreal shrub species, according to their flammability traits. We hypothesized that flammability traits change along different horizontal and vertical structural features of forest stands, shifting from high to low-flammability propensity. The results confirmed that forest stands with greater height and diameter classes are associated with traits with a low-flammability propensity. It is worth highlighting the importance of shrub coverage in differentiating the clusters denoting their strong influence in increasing fuel load (litter and fuel bed traits). Finally, our findings lead us to assume that high-flammability propensity traits are associated with typical pioneer successional stages, supporting the notion that later successional forest stands are less flammable and, therefore, that flammability decreases along with succession.Key message Mediterranean forest stands manifest diverse flammability traits according to their potential ecological successional stage and promoting a gradient from flammable to less flammable ecosystem. From a general consideration of vegetation as 'fuel', it has been well proven that plant traits have the potential to promote the forest stand gradient from flammable to less flammable. While the ever-growing literature helps to assess the relationship between plants and their flammability at species level, at the landscape scale this relationship should be evaluated along with a variety of forest features such as structural and stand parameters and from the perspective of successional forest stages. To this end, we clustered several forest stands in Southern Europe (Apulia region, Italy), characterized by oaks, conifers, and arboreal shrub species, according to their flammability traits. We hypothesized that flammability traits change along different horizontal and vertical structural features of forest stands, shifting from high to low-flammability propensity. The results confirmed that forest stands with greater height and diameter classes are associated with traits with a low-flammability propensity. It is worth highlighting the importance of shrub coverage in differentiating the clusters denoting their strong influence in increasing fuel load (litter and fuel bed traits). Finally, our findings lead us to assume that high-flammability propensity traits are associated with typical pioneer successional stages, supporting the notion that later successional forest stands are less flammable and, therefore, that flammability decreases along with succession
Editorial: The Benefits of Nature-Based Solutions to Psychological Health
Full text linkNature-based solutions (NBS) have been defined by the European Commission as actions aiming to provide environmental, social, and economic benefits through the inclusion of natural features in the urban environment. The exposure to natural environments, including NBS in urban contexts, has been associated with a large number of health benefits (Ulrich et al., 1991; Berman et al., 2008; Spano et al., 2020), particularly mental health and well-being among those most studied. Earlier studies on such benefits have been mainly experimental, investigating the short-term effects of brief exposure to natural environments on stress reduction and cognitive restoration (Kaplan and Kaplan, 1989; Berto, 2005; Nilsson et al., 2010; Carrus et al., 2017). More recently, large-scale epidemiological studies have provided further evidence of the long-term effects of sustained exposure to green spaces on mental health and well-being throughout the life course (Hartig et al., 2014; Gascon et al., 2015; McCormick, 2017; de Keijzer et al., 2020).
Several dimensions characterize the human–nature interaction. In this sense, the present Research Topic was intended to provide an overview of studies focusing on the association of exposure to natural environments in urban, peri-urban, and rural settings with psychological well-being and mental health from different perspectives
The European Union roadmap for implementing nature-based solutions: A review
No full text\ua9 2021 Elsevier LtdThe present paper traces a chronological history, or roadmap, of the documentation produced by the European Union (EU) to promote and implement nature-based solutions (NBS) as an innovation action aiming to establish a socially inclusive, economically vibrant and ecologically resilient society. The EU\u27s ambition is to position Europe as the world leader in NBS Research (via scientific research aiming at generating knowledge and theories) and Innovation (NBS implementation via identifying innovative approaches and best practices), as well as in a global market (for sharing, communicating, collaborating and promoting NBS). Considerable efforts have been made by the European Commission (the executive branch of the EU) as featured in a number of documents, funding programmes and Horizon 2020 (Research and Innovation) projects that span the period from 2012 to 2020. While the European Commission\u27s commitment to promoting NBS within its Member States and beyond is still an ongoing process, we aim to review the efforts undertaken, knowledge gained, and practices accomplished. This roadmap intends to provide interested practitioners, policymakers, researchers, as well as civil organisations with an updated understanding of the leading role of the EU in NBS conceptualisation and operationalisation. This can inform future directions of NBS Research and Innovation actions, which in turn address environmental and societal challenges prompted by urbanisation/re-urbanisation, globalisation/de-globalisation, climate change and, more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic
Likelihood and frequency of recurrent fire ignitions in highly urbanised Mediterranean landscapes
Full text linkFire recurrence plays a key role in shaping landscapes in Mediterranean ecosystems. Short-term recurrent fires, in particular, are increasingly affecting highly urbanised landscapes. Studies worldwide have addressed fire recurrence by analysing environmental, climatic and human-driven factors. Current models use fire recurrence polygons as the dependent variable; yet no published study has focused its analysis on fire recurrence considering recurrent ignition points as the response variable. To fill this gap, remote sensing and available local data were combined to analyse the influence of human and biophysical variables in predicting both the likelihood and frequency of recurrent fire ignition points over a 9-year period (2004-12) in southern Italy. For this purpose, we used the Negative Binomial Hurdle model owing to the stochastic nature of the phenomenon of fire recurrence and the (large) number of non-occurrences. Results on the likelihood and frequency of recurrent fire ignition points (dependent variables) suggested that road distance was the strongest predictor, followed by the presence of shrublands and grasslands. The response variable showed a negative relationship with population density and road distance and a positive relationship with land-cover variables. Vegetation indices were also good predictors of fire recurrence. More broadly, this study is intended to be a further experimental step in fire-management analysis characterised by the continuous interaction between human and natural systems. Constant changes between these systems due to causes such as urban sprawl and climate change can create the conditions for short-term-interval recurrent fires
Assessing the current status of urban forest resources in the context of Parco Nord, Milan, Italy
No full textComparison of two different approaches for assessing the psychological and social dimensions of green spaces
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Usage of urban green space and related feelings of deprivation during the COVID-19 lockdown: Lessons learned from an Italian case study
Full text linkThis study investigated perceptions and behavioral patterns related to urban green space (UGS) in Italian cities, during the period of national lockdown imposed due to the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in the spring of 2020. A survey was used to examine the responses of population groups in different municipal areas, comparing those in government-defined ?red zones?, mostly in the northern regions of the country, with ?non-red zones? in the rest of the country, where the rate of infection was much lower. A total of 2100 respondents participated in the survey. The majority of respondents declared themselves to be habitual users of UGS, especially of parks or green areas outside the town ? mainly visiting for relaxation and physical exercise, but also for observing nature. In the northern regions people more commonly reported the adoption of sustainable practices, in terms of the utilization of tools for "green mobility". During the lockdown, habits changed significantly: only one third of respondents reported visiting UGS, with frequent visits made mainly for the purpose of walking the dog. Other motivations included the need for relaxing, mostly in the red zones, and for physical exercise in non-red zones. The reduction in travel to urban parks was accompanied by increased visitation of gardens and other green spaces in close proximity, as social distancing and other regulations imposed restrictions on movement. In all regions, respondents who could not physically access UGS expressed a feeling of deprivation which was exacerbated by living in towns located in red zones, being a usual visitor of UGS and having no green view from the window. The extent to which these visitors missed UGS depended on the frequency of visitation before the pandemic and the UGS distance, as well as the type of previous activity. In fact, those activities that were most common before the pandemic were missed the most, reinforcing the importance of green areas for social gathering, sports, and observing nature ? but simply ?spending time outdoors? was also mentioned, even by those who visited UGS during the lockdown, as the time outdoors was not enough or not fully enjoyed. The feeling of missing UGS was only partially alleviated by the green view from the window ? only a more open view to a natural landscape or adaptation to a view with little greenery reduced such feeling
Remote sensing of urban forests
Full text linkUrban forests and green infrastructures at large are of critical importance for contemporary cities as they provide a wide range of ecosystemservices (ESS) that enhance the quality of life of urban dwellers. Remote sensing technologies have greatly contributed to assessing and mapping the spatial distribution of ESS in urban areas, although more research is needed given the availability of new sensors from multiple satellites and platforms and the particular characteristics of urban environments (e.g., high heterogeneity). This Special Issue hosts papers focusing on the temporal and spatial dynamics of urban forests with special attention given to the most recent remote sensing technologies as well as advanced methods for processing geospatial data and extracting meaningful information
Citizens and urban forests in Italy: environmental perception and psychosocial implications
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