Preface: XVIII International Seminars on Overarching Issues of the European Area: “Building Sustainable and Resilient Territories” ^†

1. Conference Background

In the wake of the pandemic and amidst ongoing global conflicts, our interconnected world is grappling with significant challenges. Despite the immense threats and destruction inflicted on our planet, numerous ecosystems continue to exist, albeit suffering from critical biodiversity loss. It is common to observe dynamic, multifunctional territories thriving in some ecosystems, juxtaposed with others in decline, where the balance between development and sustainability is precarious. These regions bear the undeniable impacts of climate change, particularly exacerbated by human activities and the ongoing war in Europe.

Nevertheless, awareness of these pressing issues is growing. The environmental, economic, and social consequences of these challenges have emphasised the urgent need for action across multiple levels. As a result, strategies are being devised that prioritise inclusive development, focusing not only on conserving landscapes and cultural heritage but also on revitalising social structures. To achieve these objectives, the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), outlined in the 2030 Agenda, were defined as essential references. These goals represent critical imperatives in the current context, where warfare in the European region exacerbates social inequalities and environmental degradation.

2. Conference Theme and Topics

Emphasising SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 13: Climate Action, and SDG 15: Life on Land, this edition of Proceedings is a key output from the XVIII International Seminars on the Overarching Issues of the European Area, that took place from the 23rd to the 26th of May 2024 at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Porto, Portugal.

As part of the planet’s ecosystem, humanity has inflicted significant harm through deforestation, habitat loss, and land degradation. Promoting sustainable use of ecosystems and protecting biodiversity is not merely an agenda; it is fundamental to our survival. Therefore, this Special Issue of Proceedings will centre on regional resilience, sustainable development, and land planning and management, with a focus on the connections between rural and urban areas in a changing climate.

This issue aimed to publish papers that explore key themes such as community resilience, strategic regional development scenarios, pathways for climate change adaptation, public policies for landscape planning, land-use change, and the essential factors of sustainable tourism. Contributions from scientists, experts, and practitioners in fields such as geography, risk and civil protection, land use and land cover, economics, rural and urban landscape planning, climate change, environmental and social challenges, tourism, and sustainable development constitute this Issue.

Many communications and posters were presented under the following topics: (1) Society and culture; (2) Education and teaching; (3) Social and economic dimensions of sustainability; (4) Population ageing and rural health; (5) Tradition, heritage, and tourism; (6) Economy and sustainability; (7) Circular economy and waste management; (8) Green technologies, energy, and innovation; (9) Entrepreneurship and digital transformations in territories; (10) Urban–rural connections; (11) Resilience and transitions in rural areas; (12) Sustainable agriculture and food systems; (13) Landscape and ecosystem management; (14) Biodiversity conservation and sustainability; (15) Resource management and conservation; (16) Climate change, environment, and sustainable development; (17) Vulnerabilities, risks and civil protection; (18) Environmental policy and governance; (19) Challenges of European policy and spatial planning; and (20) European security and defence.

3. Conference Organisers

Organising institution: Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Porto, Portugal.

• Honour Committee:

• José Luís Carneiro—Minister of Internal Administration, XXIII Constitutional Government of Portugal
• Maria Leitão Marques—Member of the European Parliament, Brussels
• Frederico Francisco—Secretary of State for Infrastructure, XXIII Constitutional Government of Portugal
• Teresa Almeida—President, Commission for Coordination and Regional Development of Lisbon and Tejo Valley (CCDR-LVT)
• António Ceia da Silva—President, Commission for Coordination and Regional Development of Alentejo (CCDR Alentejo)
• Rui Moreira—Mayor of Porto
• Paulo Silva—Mayor of Mesão Frio
• Fátima Fernandes—Mayor of Montalegre
• José Manuel Gonçalves—Mayor of Peso da Régua
• Pedro Machado—Mayor of Lousada
• Miguel Nunes—Councillor of Lousada Municipal Council
• Isabel Ferreira Nunes—President, National Defence Institute (IDN), Portugal
• Maria Madalena dos Santos Alves—President, Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), Portugal
• Tiago Oliveira—President, Agency for Integrated Management of Rural Fires (AGIF), Portugal
• Duarte Costa—President, National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC), Portugal
• André Fernandes—National Commander for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC), Portugal
• José Manuel Matias—Director Regional Adjunto, (DRAP-N), Portugal
• Pedro Moreira—President, Comboios de Portugal (CP), Portugal
• Rosário Alves—Executive Director, Forestis—Portuguese Forestry Association
• Luís Almeida—President, Vale do Douro Association
• Carlos Fonseca—Chief Technology Officer, FORESTWISE
• Duarte Caldeira—President, Centre for Studies and Intervention in Civil Protection (CEIPC)
• Paula Pinto—Director, Faculty of Arts, University of Porto
• Domingos Xavier Viegas—University of Coimbra
• Mary Cawley—National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
• Atanas Dermendzhiev—University of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
• Stella Dermendzhieva—University of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
• Ana Maria Bicalho—Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Scott William Hoefle—Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Ileana Constantinescu—Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania
• Jerzy Makowsky—University of Warsaw, Poland
• Laura Sakaja—University of Zagreb, Croatia
• Borna Fuerst-Bjelis—University of Zagreb, Croatia
• Marta Arbinolo—OECD, France
• Fernanda Cravidão—University of Coimbra
• António Covas—University of Algarve
• Mercês Covas—University of Algarve
• Artur Cristóvão—University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro
• Lúcio Cunha—University of Coimbra
• Luciano Lourenço—University of Coimbra
• Nicole Vareta—Centre of Studies in Geography and Spatial Planning, Portugal
• Hélder Marques—University of Porto

• Scientific Committee:

• Adélia Nunes, University of Coimbra, Portugal
• Aleksandar Lukić, University of Zagreb, Croatia
• Ana Isabel Boura, University of Porto, Portugal
• Ana Paula Brandão, University of Minho, Portugal
• André Santos, Univ. Federal Rural Rio Janeiro, Brazil
• Andrews José de Lucena, Univ. Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Annett Steinführer, Thünen Institute of Rural Studies, Germany
• António de Barros Cardoso, University of Porto
• Artur Costa, University Lusófona, Portugal
• Bruno Martins, University of Coimbra, Portugal
• Borna Fuerst-Bjelis, University of Zagreb, Croatia
• Brigite Botequim, Colab ForestWise, Portugal
• Célia Taborda, University Lusófona, Portugal
• Christine Fürst, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
• Cornelia Steinhäuser, Institute of Landscape Ecology, Germany
• Emmanuel Reynard, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
• Eric de Noronha Vaz, Metropolitan University, Canada
• Fátima Matos, University of Porto, Portugal
• Fátima Velez de Castro, University of Coimbra, Portugal
• Felisbela Martins, University of Porto, Portugal
• Francisco Antonio Navarro Valverde, University of Granada, Spain
• Francisco Proença Garcia, Portuguese Catholic University, Portugal
• Glória Teixeira, University of Porto, Portugal
• Hélène Roth, University of Clermont, France
• Hermínia Gonçalves, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Portugal
• Hossein Azadi, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Universidade de Liège, Belgium
• Isabel Borges, Instituto Europeu de Estudos Superiores, Portugal
• Jesús Rodrigo Comino, University of Granada, Spain
• João Luís Fernandes, University of Coimbra, Portugal
• Joaquim Esteves da Silva, University of Porto, Portugal
• Joaquim Mamede Alonso, The Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo, Portugal
• Joaquim Sande Silva, Agrarian School of Coimbra, Portugal
• Jorge Queiroz, University of Porto, Portugal
• Jorge Ribeiro, University of Porto, Portugal
• Jorge Ricardo Pinto, Higher Institute of Business and Tourism Sciences Portugal
• José António de Oliveira, The Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Portugal
• José Aranha, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Portugal
• José Azevedo, University of Porto, Portugal
• José Domingo Sánchez Martínez, Universidad de Jaén, Spain
• José Luís Zêzere, University of Lisbon, Portugal
• Karine Vargas, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Laura Sakaja, University of Zagreb, Croatia
• Luís Moreno, University of Lisbon, Portugal
• Luis Ramos, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Portugal
• Marcin Wójcik, University of Lodz, Poland
• Madalena Fonseca, University of Porto, Portugal
• Maria Elisabete Soares, Polytechnic Institute of Guarda, Portugal
• Maria Francisca Saraiva, University of Lisbon, Portugal
• Michael Woods, Aberystwyth University, United Kingdom
• Michele Salis, CNR, Institute of BioEconomy IBE, Italy
• Milen Penerliev, University of Shumen, Bulgaria
• Natália Ramos, Portuguese Open University, Portugal
• Nicole Devy Vareta, University of Porto, Portugal
• Norberto Santos, University of Coimbra, Portugal
• Paulina Tobiasz-Lis, University of Lodz, Poland
• Paulo Jorge Santos, University of Porto, Portugal
• Regina Cohen Barros, Univ. Federal Rural Rio Janeiro, Brazil
• Ronan Foley, Maynooth University, Ireland
• Sandra Lopes Luís, University of Lisbon, Portugal
• Sandra Oliveira, University of Lisbon, Portugal
• Slavi Dimitrov, Univ. Verliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
• Suk Kyeong Kang, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, Türkie
• Ulrike Grabski-Kieron, University of Münster, Germany
• Valentina Bacciu, Institute of BioEconomy IBE, Italy
• Virgílio Borges Pereira, University of Porto, Portugal
• Virgílio Falco, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Portugal

• Organising Committee:

• Ana Isabel Boura (University of Porto), Portugal
• André Samora-Arvela (University Institute of Lisbon), Portugal
• António de Barros Cardoso (University of Porto), Portugal
• Conceição Ramos (University of Porto), Portugal
• Diogo M. Pinto (University of Porto), Portugal
• Felisbela Martins (University of Porto), Portugal
• Helena Pina (University of Porto)—Chair, Portugal
• João Pedro Barreiros (University of Porto), Portugal
• José Luís Braga (European Institute of Higher Education), Portugal
• Jorge Ribeiro (University of Porto), Portugal
• Leandro Dias Oliveira (Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro), Brazil
• Lívia Madureira (University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro), Portugal
• Maria José Roxo (NOVA University Lisbon), Portugal
• Paula Remoaldo (University of Minho), Portugal

• Secretariats:

• Jéssica Fabiana Santiago Valente
• Filipa Dinis Mota
• Inês Dinis Mota
• Gonçalo José Cruz Ramos
• Paola Vicentini Boni
• Beatriz da Silva Martins
• Ana Carolina Ramalho Sampaio
• Maria Luísa Scharlau da Silva
• Célia Figueiras