1,720,976 research outputs found
Bringing together ecology and paleontology to assess multi-temporal Ecosystem Services: a new opportunity for young researchers?
No full textThe evaluation of ecosystem services (ESs) usually refers to the capability of the ecosystems to offer benefits for humankind, and to the benefits that flow to the people, in terms of biophysical units or intangible values. The latter has great importance when assessing the attractiveness of a study area for cultural ESs, such as tourism and educational activities, usually resulting in attractiveness maps that depend on the features of the current landscape. Nevertheless, in some places, the presence of geomorphological peculiarities, fossils, and paleontological or paleoanthropological records enhances the attractiveness of the area, allowing the visitors to couple outdoor activities with cultural benefits. In such cases, the capacity for recreational ESs that is due to the presence of the contemporary ecosystem benefits from an “additional layer” of attractiveness, which depends on the ecosystems of the deep past. Moreover, the additional layer has a higher value the more interesting the records are, considering the mind-blowing uniqueness of the unlikely conditions through which the traces of the past ecosystem came to us, and the fascination exerted by different kinds of animals on human curiosity. In this talk, we propose a new “multi-temporal approach” to assess the attractiveness for cultural ESs. We present the first application in Northern Italy, achieved thanks to the collaboration between ecologists and paleontologists. The resulting GIS-based map might represent a tool that drives decision-makers when focusing on priorities for preservation, development, or promotion of a locality. Indeed, the improved map highlights where and why the contemporary presence of more than one factor of attractiveness occurs, adding criteria for thematic pathways and guided tours that offer both the restorativeness of a natural landscape and the knowledge of the history of the Earth. We discuss how, from an early researcher perspective, this novel multidisciplinary approach offers networking opportunities between ecologists and paleontologists, providing improvement in local ESs assessment and natural capital quantification
The paradoxical need for human intervention in the conservation of natural environments in Venice lagoon
No full textThe Venice lagoon—the largest Mediterranean coastal lagoon—is characterized by the presence at its edges of 31 “valli da pesca”, types of artificial ecosystems that mime the ecological processes of a transitional aquatic ecosystem. Constituted by a series of regulated lakes bounded by artificial embankments, the valli da pesca were established centuries ago to maximize provisioning Ecosystem Services (ESs), such as fishing and hunting. As time passed, the valli da pesca underwent an intentional isolation process leading to private management. Nonetheless, the valli da pesca are still exchanging energy and matter with the “open’ lagoon and today represent an essential element within the context of lagoon conservation. This study aimed to analyze the possible effects of artificial management on both ESs supply and landscape arrangements by assessing 9 ESs (climate regulation, water purification, lifecycle support, aquaculture, waterfowl hunting, wild food, tourism, information for cognitive development, and birdwatching), along with eight landscape indicators. Obtained results suggested that the valli da pesca are today ruled under five different management strategies, according to the maximized ES. Management conditions influence the landscape pattern and achieve a series of “side effects” on the other ESs. The comparison between the managed and abandoned valli da pesca highlights the importance of anthropogenic interventions for conserving these ecosystems, as the abandoned valli da pesca show a loss of ecological gradients, landscape heterogeneity, and provisioning ESs. Nevertheless, the persistence of intrinsic geographical and morphological characteristics still prevails regardless of intentional landscape molding. The result is that the provisioning ESs capacity per unit area is higher in the abandoned valli da pesca than in the open lagoon, emphasizing the importance of these confined areas of the lagoon ecosystem. Considering the spatial distribution of multiple ESs, the provisioning ESs flow that does not occur in the abandoned valli da pesca seems to be replaced by the flow of cultural ESs. Thus, the ESs spatial pattern highlights a balancing effect between different ESs categories. The results are discussed considering the trade-offs generated by private land conservation, anthropogenic interventions, and their relevance for the ecosystem-based management of Venice lagoon
Looking for balance: Ecosystem Services and landscape features in the valli da pesca of the Venice lagoon
No full textThe Venice lagoon - the largest Mediterranean coastal lagoon connected to the Adriatic Sea – comprises a set of 30 “valli da pesca ”, sort of artificial ecosystems that mime the ecological processes of a transitional water environment through the management of water flows and landscape arrangement. Born centuries ago to maximize provisioning Ecosystem Services (ESs), such as fishing and hunting, the valli da pesca today represent an important element within the context of the lagoon conservation. In order to analyze the role played and the effects of different management strategies, nine ESs (climate regulation, water purification, lifecycle support, aquaculture, hunting, edible plants & honey, tourism, information for cognitive development, and birdwatching) have been analyzed along with landscape indicators. We found that different management conditions influence the landscape pattern so much so the valli da pesca that maximize the same ES appear to have similar landscape indicators (e.g., landscape heterogeneity, land and water ratio, saltmarshes and land ratio, and freshwater and brackish water ratio). Moreover, the comparison between managed and non-managed valli da pesca highlights the importance of the private contribution to the maintenance and conservation, since the abandoned ones show a loss of landscape heterogeneity and provisioning ESs. Nevertheless, the persistence of geographical and morphological connections intrinsic to the very nature of these ecosystems still emerges, if considering the spatial distribution of multiple ESs capacity and flow: indeed, the provisioning ESs which are not taking place in the abandoned valli da pesca seem to be replaced by cultural ones, so that the total ESs capacity and the total flow among all the areas appear to be balanced in depicting their contribution to human wellbeing. The results are discussed considering the relevance to the ecosystem-based management of the Venice lagoon and considering the effects of private land conservation both on ESs and landscape features
Outdoor education: are we really ready?
No full textOutdoor education (OE) has recently gained popularity also in Italy, especially after the indoor confinement experienced due to the pandemic. OE has shown to foster children’s stress recovery, cognitive performance, and affiliation with Nature, exploiting benefits produced by natural ecosystems (i.e. the Ecosystem Services, ES). To explore the hypothesis to implement OE programs in the Venice lagoon, we assessed the “information for cognitive development” ES focusing on the valli da pesca, a peculiar habitat of the lagoon that still maintain the main features of transitional waters environments. According to the results of our questionnaire addressed to teachers in the Metropolitan City of Venice, all the respondents would be very interested in conducting OE in such environments, suggesting a high demand that could potentially involve more than 2700 teachers. Obtained results, however, revealed that 37.5% of the teachers are frightened by the additional bureaucratic effort it might require, and 20.8% expressed concerns about risk/safety conditions. The results reveal also that their current idea of OE is more similar to schoolyard playtime, or to the occasional engagement in a school trip: 40.2% of the interviewed teachers consider indeed one trip per year sufficient to stand for OE, whereas only 3.9% agreed that the ideal frequency should be at least one day per month. Another frequently reported drawback dwells with the difficulty of adapting for OE a frontal lesson on the topics addressed in the classroom. Therefore, despite the high capacity of the valli da pesca to provide suitable places for OE, we highlight that a non-negligible portion of the local school system does not seem currently ready for this kind of experience, as they are portrayed simply like “experiences outside the classroom” where the environmental features don't really ‘make the difference’. The concerns expressed by the majority of the interviewed teachers suggest they need strong support in implementing a real OE program, as opposed to just “teaching in outdoor settings”, so that lack of the classical teaching tools (such as blackboard, desks and school furniture) is not seen anymore as an obstacle, but as an opportunity to discover the affordances of the environmental elements that could stimulate the students to learn-by-doing
One Health, Global Health and Planetary Health
No full textOver the past two decades, the ecological approach to health has emphasized the interconnectedness between human health, biodiversity, ecosystem integrity, and socioeconomic conditions. As these systems are deeply interlinked, social and environmental justice must be considered interdependent, since crises in one area have the potential to impact other areas, particularly threatening vulnerable populations due to the feedback loop between poverty, social fragility, and environmental degradation. An interdisciplinary approach is essential for addressing these complex issues and should be prioritized in policy decisions. While the One Health approach advocates for collaboration across disciplines to achieve optimal health for people, animals, and the environment, it needs updating to address new challenges posed by climate change and global threats. The Planetary Health paradigm offers a more comprehensive framework by emphasizing the interdependence of human and ecological health and advocating for multiand transdisciplinary research and action. Healthcare professionals play a vital role in promoting such an approach, especially in advancing sustainability and ecosystem health. We suggest they should advocate for healthy, low-impact behaviors and support rapid decarbonization and the reduction of the environmental footprint of healthcare facilities, according to the principle of “Health in all policies”. Only by fostering an interdisciplinary approach and emphasizing the need to care for Nature can we better understand and address the complexity of the interconnections between environmental, social, and health systems. A holistic approach and a team-focused perspective are crucial for tackling current crises, preventing future pandemics, promoting sustainable development, and ensuring the well-being of all life forms on Earth
Exploring the interplay of landscape changes and ecosystem services maximization in man-managed lagoon areas
No full textCoastal lagoons have long been subject to continuous changes caused by mutual interactions with human activities. Monitoring such changes becomes critical, particularly when modifications in landscape and land cover classes can affect their capacity to ensure Ecosystem Services (ESs). In the Venice lagoon, some confined areas called “valli da pesca” supply provisioning ESs, namely aquaculture and hunting, but also other ESs important for the entire lagoon, such as regulating and cultural ones. Being heavily modified ecosystems under human control, valli da pesca underwent considerable morphological evolution depending on the maximized ES and the applied management. Using remote sensing data from different sources, we reconstructed changes in land cover and landscape elements in valli da pesca over the last century. By calculating landscape indicators related to land, saltmarshes, and water, we found that landscape features were initially similar for all the valli da pesca. Then, a process began between 1975 and 1987, in which management devoted to maximizing different ESs shaped the land cover in specific patterns. This study confirms the importance of these areas in the context of the entire lagoon and suggests the need to monitor their land cover changes to avoid the depletion of their capacity to conserve landscape elements and the related ESs. In this task, remote sensing data represents an important source of historical data that can deepen the knowledge about human-Nature interactions, capable of tracing the landscape evolution and the dynamics in the ESs supply as responses to human interventions
Ecosystem services’ capacity and flow in the Venice Lagoon and the relationship with ecological status
Full text linkEcosystem services (ES) are theoretically linked to healthy ecological conditions, but this relationship seems to be rather challenging to demonstrate in the real world. Therefore, shedding light on these aspects can be crucial for implementing effective ecosystem management strategies, for instance within the context of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) implementation. This work aims to present a spatially-explicit assessment of the ecological potential (capacity) and actual use (flow) of 12 ES in the Venice lagoon and to explore the relationships with the ecological status. Quantitative indicators of capacity and flow for each ES have been assessed and mapped and the results summarised with a set of aggregated indicators. The outcomes reveal a positive relationship between the overall capacity and flow of ES, suggesting that where the first is degraded, an overall loss of ES delivery occurs. A complex picture emerges when exploring the links with the ecological conditions, as the relationship changes with the ES and ecological status indicators considered. Structural indicators of ecological status, such as the Biological Quality Elements adopted by the WFD (assessed by MAQI and M-AMBI metrics), seem to be weakly linked with ES, while functional indicators (Kempton Q-90 diversity and secondary production) showed stronger links, especially when aggregated ES indicators are considered. Concerning different ES, it appears that the flow of the ES that are mediated by human uses (provisioning and cultural ES) is negatively related with some of the ecological status indicators. Finally, our results suggest possible limitations of the zonation adopted under the WFD, when it comes to the analysis of ES. We argue that ES could play a role in the management of the Lagoon ecosystem, as their analysis could be used to preserve the ecological functioning by managing the ‘uses’ we make of the ecosystem
Like Little Lagoons: The Contribution of Valli da Pesca to the Ecosystem Services Supply of the Venice Lagoon
No full textThe Venice Lagoon social-ecological system is characterized by a strong relationship between the natural environment and human activities. This is especially noticeable in the aquaculture and hunting reserves of the lagoon, locally known as valli da pesca. Previous works about ecosystem services (ESs) in the Venice Lagoon focused on the so-called “open lagoon,” overlooking the role of the valli da pesca. Nonetheless, despite being completely managed ecosystems, the valli da pesca have conserved typical elements of transitional water environments that the other parts of the lagoon have lost. By evaluat-ing nine ESs using a spatially explicit approach, we found that the valli da pesca, despite covering 17% of the surface, are contributing for 38% of the ESs total capacity, and for 24% of the ESs total flow, in comparison with the open part of the lagoon. Moreover, the management that aims to maximize in a perspective of sustainability of some provisioning ESs, such as extensive aquaculture, can positively influence the presence of factors on which other ESs capacity is also based. As a result, the open lagoon benefits from a sort of spill-over effect for lifecycle support, hunting, and cultural ESs such as tourism, information for cognitive development, and birdwatching. Such significant contributions could be endangered in the context of a lagoon subjected to increasing pressures from anthropic activities whereeven adaptations to impacts, as well as to climate change and sea-level rise effects, in the long run, will modify the lagoon hydrodynamics and the sea-lagoon connectivity, threatening the valli da pesca and so their ESs supply
The Kindergarten of the lagoon: a Manifesto for an outdoor education project in Venice
No full textVenice and its lagoon represent an emblematic example of co-evolution across the centuries, recognized also by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The close connection between Venetians and the surrounding ecosystem, however, has cracked in recent decades, due to many factors, driving to a significant decrease in the ecosystem state. Anyway, if we were able to reconnect young people to Nature by fostering a personal and friendly relationship with the lagoon they inhabit, we could stimulate the citizens’ pro-environmental behaviors. To achieve this goal, outdoor education seems to be a promising path that may be beneficial for developing responsibility toward the lagoon ecosystem, since it has shown to positively influence children's relationship with the natural environment, as well as improve their self-perceptions and social skills. The "Kindergarten of the lagoon" project, recently promoted in collaboration with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, aims to offer pre-school children a quite innovative outdoor education program based on the observation and exploration of the lagoon. In this work we present the “Manifesto of the Kindergarten of the lagoon”, describing the objectives of this educational program. To carry out the project in such a multifaceted, heterogeneous, and complex social-ecological system, a pedagogical approach is not enough: expertise in lagoon ecology and sustainability is also required, both to choose places representative of a transitional waters environment and to assess the overall sustainability of the proposal
"EST: an exploratory model for monitoring the Ecosystem Services in the Venice lagoon"
No full textThe Venice lagoon is a complex social-ecological system, where Ecosystem Services (ES) and benefits for people result as emergent properties from the interactions between ecological processes and human activities. Such a complex system is however threatened by several drivers, namely climate change effects, relative sea level rise and overexploitation of the resources. In order to explore the interactions among different ES, the lagoon resources and the social dynamics, it has been created EST (Ecosystem Services Screening Tool), an exploratory model based on the theory of dynamical systems to monitor ES and the possible evolution of the whole social-ecological system. Based on a conceptual model inspired by the “Social-ecological systems framework” and built with the System Dynamics modeling approach, EST has been implemented in Simile v. 6.1 software environment to improve its usability. The exploration of tendency scenarios allowed us to analyze possible reactions of different lagoon elements and the dynamics of its interacting sub-systems, shedding light on the possible outcomes in facing both climate change drivers and different governance choices. EST represents therefore a tool for the ecosystem-based management of a lagoon thriving to adapt to pressures and mitigate impacts, and could play a significant role in informing policymakers’ choices, especially within the context of a “regulated lagoon”, based on the use of the mobile barriers (MOSE) for contrasting the flooding events
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