Special Issue "Landscape Analysis, Planning and Regional Development"

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Social Ecology and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2021.

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Patrizia Tassinari
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Biosystems engineering Group, Department of Agricultural and Food sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Interests: Spatial and landscape analysis; spatial and landscape planning; regional planning; landscape design; resilience and sustainability of territorial systems; buildings and landscape; green systems; GIS; climate change mitigation and adaptation; integrated cross-sector planning; participatory planning; landscape quality
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals
Prof. Daniele Torreggiani
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Biosystems engineering Group, Department of Agricultural and Food sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Interests: Spatial and landscape analysis; spatial and landscape planning; regional planning; landscape design; resilience and sustainability of territorial systems; buildings and landscape; green systems; GIS; climate change mitigation and adaptation; integrated cross-sector planning; participatory planning; landscape quality
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Landscape analysis and planning have been facing more and more challenging goals, with the rapid evolution of socioeconomic and environmental processes, the more and more strict connections between urban and rural areas and the increasing multifaceted nature of many landscapes, the increasing need of activating virtuous circular processes among the various landscape resources, the need of more and more integrated policies and plans at the various scales. Landscape identities and values represent strategic assets for regional development policies and programs, which must increasingly address the challenge of creating more inclusive and resilient societies, with the aim to increase the competitiveness of all regions. This poses both conceptual challenges related to the set-up of regional planning and development models, as well as methodological challenges about the implementation of plans, policies and programs.

The Special Issue addresses new challenges and cross-cutting issues in the landscape analysis and planning and regional development domains, with reference both to rural, periurban and urban landscapes, and both everyday and outstanding or degraded landscapes, in line with the European Landscape Convention. The Special Issue welcomes papers addressing innovative approaches and frameworks in the landscape analysis and planning and regional development fields; papers focusing on new methodological and technological challenges for combining development, social, environmental and economic sustainability, and landscape protection and enhancement; papers addressing the analysis of territorial challenges and the identification of innovative site-specific territorial policies aimed at multi-level, multi-sectoral and evidence-based regional development, from cities to rural areas, at various territorial scales; papers about the evaluation of the impact of landscape planning and regional development policies and plans for urban and rural development, support to policy making and decision making. Papers can also focus on relevant territorial or subject-based case studies, comparative studies, studies using multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches, integrated approaches considering the various landscape features and the various interconnected processes and actors, participatory processes and experiences involving different actors and sectors (public and private, citizens and associations, local and regional organizations and public administrations, etc.)

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in World.

Prof. Patrizia Tassinari
Prof. Daniele Torreggiani
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Landscape analysis and planning
  • socioeconomic and environmental processes
  • circular processes
  • integrated policies and plans
  • city and the countryside
  • natural and cultural assets
  • production and socio-economic processes
  • landscape identity
  • landscape values
  • regional development policies and programs
  • inclusive and resilient territories and societies
  • approaches and frameworks
  • methodological and technological challenges
  • territorial development
  • social, environmental and economic sustainability
  • landscape protection and enhancement
  • site-specific territorial policies
  • interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches
  • integrated plans and programs
  • participatory processes
  • multi-actor and multi-sector plans and programs
  • policy making
  • decision making

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

Article
How Ecosystem Services Can Strengthen the Regeneration Policies for Monumental Olive Groves Destroyed by Xylella fastidiosa Bacterium in a Peri-Urban Area
Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 8778; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13168778 - 05 Aug 2021
Viewed by 492
Abstract
The Apulian Region (Italy) is a socio-ecological system shaped by the millennial co-evolution between human actions and ecological processes. It is characterized by monumental olive groves protected from Regional Law 14/2007 for the cultural value of the landscape, currently threatened by the spread [...] Read more.
The Apulian Region (Italy) is a socio-ecological system shaped by the millennial co-evolution between human actions and ecological processes. It is characterized by monumental olive groves protected from Regional Law 14/2007 for the cultural value of the landscape, currently threatened by the spread of a devastating phytopathogen, the bacteria Xylella fastidiosa. The aim of this paper is to apply landscape resilience analysis focusing on ecosystem services to understand the potential effects and trade-offs of regeneration policies in a peri-urban area characterized by monumental olive groves land cover. The study involved land-cover and land-use analysis, supported by a survey on the inhabitants and an ecosystem services analysis. The results showed a mismatch between the agroecosystem and the social and economic use linked to leisure or hospitality. The study area was defined as a peri-urban landscape characterized by tourist use. From the interviews of the users, the cultural heritage of olive groves seems linked to the presence of olive trees like a status quo of the landscape and olive oil productions. The culture aspect could thus be preserved by changing the type of olive trees. In addition, the analysis showed that the microclimate could be preserved and enhanced in terms of air temperature and thermal comfort, by replacing the olive trees with varieties resistant to Xylella, such as cv. Leccino. Therefore, regeneration policies that promote replacing dead olive groves with new olive trees could be efficient to stimulate social components of the landscape and improve the resilience of ecosystem services in peri-urban areas in the interest of the cultural heritage of the users and benefits that they provide. An ecosystem services analysis at a local scale could be a strategy for an integrated regenerate approach between land-use and land-cover with social, ecological, and economic evolutions vision orientated to a sustainable and desirable future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscape Analysis, Planning and Regional Development)
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Article
Role of Urban Greening Strategies for Environmental Sustainability—A Review and Assessment in the Context of Saudi Arabian Megacities
Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 6457; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116457 - 06 Jun 2021
Viewed by 878
Abstract
The review and assessment of urban greening patterns play a crucial role in sustainable urban planning and green spaces (GSs) management, helping to improve human well-being. In recent years, various methods and strategies were applied to examine the relationship between GSs and environmental [...] Read more.
The review and assessment of urban greening patterns play a crucial role in sustainable urban planning and green spaces (GSs) management, helping to improve human well-being. In recent years, various methods and strategies were applied to examine the relationship between GSs and environmental sustainability, but so far, no studies on systematic review and empirical assessments were carried out in Saudi Arabian context. Thus, a comprehensive review and assessment of current GSs patterns and planning strategies are important for achieving urban environmental sustainability. This study aims to assess spatial pattern of GSs across the cities and a bibliographic review on the urban greening strategies in the Saudi context. These six urban strategies were further supported from empirical evidence on Saudi cities. Geographical information system (GIS) techniques and questionnaire surveys were performed for spatial mapping of GSs and the perceived role of GSs strategies of the respondent to environmental sustainability across cities. The findings showed that (i) highest PCGS was reported from Dammam (5.4 m2) followed by Riyadh (1.18 m2), and Jeddah (0.5 m2); (ii) most of the respondents use GSs for picnic (59%), mental well-being (53%), and physical activities (47%), respectively; (iii) GSs play a significant role for local climate regulation such as temperature control (78%) and UHI reduction (81%), and GSs provide thermal comfort (84%), respectively; and (iv) 40% respondents do not use GSs due to the lack of availability, accessibility, design, management, and safety of GSs. Thus, such findings of the study surely assist planners and policy makers to understand and implement the suggested GSs strategies to meet the satisfaction level of the respondents as well as to manage GSs at neighborhood and city level for urban environmental sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscape Analysis, Planning and Regional Development)
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Article
Development of Riparian and Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystem Assessments for National Forests in the Western U.S.
Sustainability 2021, 13(8), 4488; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084488 - 17 Apr 2021
Viewed by 424
Abstract
In 2012, the U.S. Department of Agriculture adopted a new planning rule that outlined a process for developing, amending, and revising land management plans for the 155 National Forests, 20 National Grasslands, and one Tallgrass Prairie managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The [...] Read more.
In 2012, the U.S. Department of Agriculture adopted a new planning rule that outlined a process for developing, amending, and revising land management plans for the 155 National Forests, 20 National Grasslands, and one Tallgrass Prairie managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The rule outlines a framework with three phases: assessment, development/amendment/revision, and monitoring. We are assisting National Forests in the western U.S. with the first phase by completing a series of assessments of riparian and groundwater-dependent ecosystems. Here, we describe our methods and the lessons learned over the course of conducting assessments for seven National Forests. Per the requirements of the planning rule, we conduct a rapid assessment of ecological integrity that uses existing data to evaluate drivers, stressors, structure, function, composition, and connectivity. We have collaborated with National Forests, state agencies, and other research groups to obtain datasets representing various wetland landscape features. Our work supports the plan revision process, from assessment through plan approval, and informs future forest and project planning for the restoration and maintenance of structure, function, composition, and connectivity. We developed our assessment methods in collaboration with resource managers at the National Forest and regional level to ensure useful end products such as published technical reports, literature reviews, photo libraries, or collections of datasets related to riparian and groundwater-dependent ecosystems. Our approach and lessons learned throughout the process are relevant to other resource management planning applications, analyses of landscape condition, as well as assessments of other ecosystems, such as forests or grasslands. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscape Analysis, Planning and Regional Development)
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Article
Assessing Landscape Ecological Risk Induced by Land-Use/Cover Change in a County in China: A GIS- and Landscape-Metric-Based Approach
Sustainability 2020, 12(21), 9037; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12219037 - 30 Oct 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 737
Abstract
Landscape ecological risk assessment (LERA) evaluates different types of potential environmental impacts and their cumulative effects, thereby providing policy insights for sustainable regional land-use and ecosystem management. In a departure from existing literature that heavily relies on low-resolution land-use data for LERA at [...] Read more.
Landscape ecological risk assessment (LERA) evaluates different types of potential environmental impacts and their cumulative effects, thereby providing policy insights for sustainable regional land-use and ecosystem management. In a departure from existing literature that heavily relies on low-resolution land-use data for LERA at provincial or municipal scales, this study applies high-resolution land-use data to a relatively small research area (county). In addition, this study modifies the evaluation units of LERA from equal-sized grids to watersheds and refines the ecological vulnerability weight on the basis of finer-resolution data. The main findings are summarized as follows: (1) In 2011–2013, nearly 866 ha of land use in Xiapu County changed; moreover, the construction land, which was mainly concentrated in Songgang Street and Xinan Town, increased the most (340 ha). (2) Landscape ecological risk (LER) was roughly maintained, and areas of high ecological risk were mainly concentrated along the coast. (3) The spatial distribution of LER maintained a relatively aggregated pattern, with no trend toward more aggregated or more dispersed change. This study further discusses the relationship between local LER and land-use change and how to balance global and local LER in planning practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscape Analysis, Planning and Regional Development)
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Article
Identification of Marginal Landscapes as Support for Sustainable Development: GIS-Based Analysis and Landscape Metrics Assessment in Southern Italy Areas
Sustainability 2020, 12(13), 5400; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12135400 - 03 Jul 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 845
Abstract
Landscape is increasingly characterized by a multifaced nature. In scientific literature and landscape governance, new landscape definitions are often coined to explain new meanings and to define specific intervention strategies and tools. The present study purposes a framework for the identification of hybrid [...] Read more.
Landscape is increasingly characterized by a multifaced nature. In scientific literature and landscape governance, new landscape definitions are often coined to explain new meanings and to define specific intervention strategies and tools. The present study purposes a framework for the identification of hybrid landscapes as support for land-use planners, which aim to guarantee development opportunities as well as natural heritage preservation and valorization. “Marginal lands” were identified starting from EU Directives and scientific approaches, by means of multicriteria analysis. Different scenarios were built: (1) no-change; (2) energy crops; (3) green infrastructures. An ecosystem services approach, via landscape metrics analysis, was used to compare the possible effects of scenarios. About 20% of the study area, an internal area of the southern Apennines, was identified as suitable for land-use change in a medium-short time, and scenarios of land-use changes show a better condition, in terms of fragmentation, than as a current asset. Results showed the strategic role and potentialities of marginal lands, as a trade-off between nature conservation and development issues, suggesting new opportunities for green infrastructures and a renewable energies chain. The study allowed for deepening the close connection among landscape planning approaches, land use change scenarios building and environmental assessment, focused on the ex-ante evaluation stage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscape Analysis, Planning and Regional Development)
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