Search Results (48)

The ongoing decade of UN restoration matches with the European goal of bringing nature back into our lives, including in urban systems, and Nature Restoration Regulation. Within such a framework, this work is aimed at highlighting the ecological rationale and strategic value of an NRRP measure devoted to forest restoration in Italian Metropolitan Cities, and at assessing respective preliminary results. Therefore, the measure’s overarching goal (not to create urban parks or gardens, but activate forest recovery), geographic extent and scope (over 4000 ha and more than 4 million planted trees and shrubs across the country), plantation model (mandatory use of native species consistent with local potential vegetation, density of 1000 seedlings per ha, use of at least four tree and four shrub species in each project, with a minimum proportion of 70% for trees, certified provenance for reproductive material), and compulsory management activities (maintenance and replacement of any dead plants for at least five years), are herein shown and explained under an ecological perspective. Current implementation outcomes were thus assessed in terms of coherence and expected biodiversity benefits, especially with respect to ecological and biogeographic consistency of planted forests, representativity in relation to national and European plant diversity, biogeographic interest and conservation concern of adopted plants, and potential contribution to the EU Habitats Directive. Compliance with international strategic goals and normative rules, along with recognizable advantages of the measure and limitations to be solved, are finally discussed. In conclusion, the forestation model proposed for the Italian Metropolitan Cities proved to be fully applicable in its ecological rationale, with expected benefits in terms of biodiversity support plainly met, and even exceeded, at the current stage of implementation, especially in terms of the contribution to protected habitats. These promising preliminary results allow the model to be recognized at the international level as a good practice that may help achieve protection targets and sustainable development goals within and beyond urban systems. Full article

Mediterranean subtidal reefs host ecologically significant habitats, including forests of Cystoseira spp., which form complex benthic communities within the photic zone. These habitats are increasingly degraded due to climate change, invasive species, and anthropogenic pressures, particularly in the eastern Mediterranean. In support of habitat monitoring under the EU Natura 2000 directive and the Nature Restoration Regulation, this study investigates the utility of high-resolution satellite remote sensing for mapping subtidal brown algae and associated benthic classes. Using imagery from the SuperDove sensor (Planet Labs, San Francisco, CA, USA), we developed an integrated mapping workflow at the Natura 2000 site GR2420009. Aquatic reflectance was derived using ACOLITE v.20250114.0, and both supervised classification and spectral unmixing were implemented in the EnMAP Toolbox v.3.16.3 within QGIS. A Random Forest classifier (100 fully grown trees) achieved high thematic accuracy across all habitat types (F1 scores: 0.87–1.00), with perfect classification of shallow soft bottoms and strong performance for Cystoseira s.l. (F1 = 0.94) and Seagrass (F1 = 0.93). Spectral unmixing further enabled quantitative estimation of fractional cover, with high predictive accuracy for deep soft bottoms (R² = 0.99; RPD = 18.66), shallow soft bottoms (R² = 0.98; RPD = 8.72), Seagrass (R² = 0.88; RPD = 3.01) and Cystoseira s.l. (R² = 0.82; RPD = 2.37). The lower performance for rocky reefs with other cover (R² = 0.71) reflects spectral heterogeneity and shadowing effects. The results highlight the effectiveness of combining classification and unmixing approaches for benthic habitat mapping using CubeSat constellations, offering scalable tools for large-area monitoring and ecosystem assessment. Despite challenges in field data acquisition, the presented framework provides a robust foundation for remote sensing-based conservation planning in optically shallow marine environments. Full article

The deterioration of European freshwater ecosystems, driven by habitat fragmentation and connectivity loss, seriously threatens biodiversity and ecosystem integrity. While restoration efforts often focus on reconnecting river networks, ecological assessments tend to overlook the broader concept of connectivity. This study highlights the need to incorporate ecological quality into connectivity assessments, ensuring more effective restoration that is aligned with European Union (EU) conservation policies. Using the dendritic connectivity index for potamodromous (DCIp) species, we analysed seven connectivity scenarios, integrating natural and artificial barriers to assess both structural connectivity and quality-weighted connectivity. These scenarios included: (1) structural connectivity considering only natural barriers (S_NB) and (2) all barriers (S_AB); (3) quality-weighted connectivity considering natural barriers (W_NB), and (4) all barriers (W_AB); three enhanced scenarios considering all barriers with (5) improved quality (W_AB_IQ), (6) improved probability of connectivity (W_AB_IC), and (7) improved quality and probability of connectivity (W_AB_IQC). Connectivity values varied across scenarios, with the natural baseline (S_NB) showing the highest connectivity values (mean = 0.98). When the natural baseline was weighted by the GES probability (W_NB), connectivity values dropped considerably (mean = 0.30). Incorporating all barriers (W_AB) further reduced the connectivity values (mean = 0.26). The improved scenario W_AB_IQC showed notable connectivity improvements (mean = 0.40). This study underscores the importance of integrating ecological quality into river connectivity assessments. It demonstrates that restoring habitat quality alongside connectivity restoration can substantially enhance river ecosystems. Prioritising restoration in high-quality areas maximises ecological and social benefits, supports sustainable river management, improves connectivity, and promotes biodiversity conservation. Full article

In September 2023, the European Commission approved a proposal for a Directive on Soil Monitoring and Resilience, representing a significant step forward in the EU’s efforts toward more sustainable land use management. The proposal mandates the monitoring of land take and soil sealing indicators but does not specify the method for determining their values. Instead, it allows for the use of scientific literature or other publicly available methods. This study presents a methodology based on GIS analyses for monitoring artificial land and the land take indicator. A quantitative analysis of two municipalities in the Podravska region in Slovenia is complemented by a qualitative assessment of detailed actual land use in these municipalities. The results show that the annual land take rate in the period 2019–2022 amounted to 881.96 m²/year·km² in the municipality of Maribor and 731.31 m²/year·km² in the municipality of Kungota. If current trends continue, the extent of (semi-)natural land will continue to decline, which is considered unsustainable. Further analysis reveals that the expansion of artificial land in these areas is mainly due to the development of new residential land, accounting for 60.8% of newly converted land in the municipality of Maribor and 50.2% in the municipality of Kungota during the period under review. As the results point to unsustainable land management, the study is aimed at policymakers and public authorities, highlighting the urgent need to limit the conversion of (semi-)natural land and to initiate land restoration measures as compensation for new land take. It may also be of interest to scientists and researchers developing methodologies for monitoring artificial land and refining land take indicators. Full article

Among its various targets on restoring natural habitats and ecosystems in the EU, the recently adopted Nature Restoration Law (NRL) introduces ambitious targets for restoring surface water bodies (SWBs) as well. Simultaneously, the Italian CAP Strategic Plan for the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy 2023–2027 has been designed to enhance sustainable agricultural practices, including water resource management. This paper provides a comparative analysis of the synergies, gaps, and challenges between these two regulatory frameworks, focusing on sustainable water use in Italian agriculture. A two-level comparative matrix methodology is employed to evaluate the alignment between the NRL’s objectives for freshwater ecosystems and the measures taken by the Italian CAP Strategic Plan on water resources. The results highlight key areas of convergence, existing shortcomings, and necessary steps for aligning Italian agricultural policies with the EU’s water restoration goals. The findings offer insights for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders engaged in water governance, biodiversity conservation, and agricultural sustainability. Full article

Fulfilling the requirements of the EU’s Nature Restoration Law in urban areas will require not only planning and administrative action but also citizen engagement. The paper at hand analyzes citizens’ willingness to change the urban environment in a study consisting of a pan-European survey with an integrated choice experiment. The majority of the 7045 respondents would support a rapid urban greening process and are willing to contribute to its financing. The latent class analysis reveals four different classes with different interests and willingness to engage: Class 1 supports the development of green areas and nature-based solutions in general and under nearly any conditions; Class 2 is sensitive to costs and accessibility disruption. For Class 3, participation will increase their interest and willingness to pay. Only Class 4 (8.6% of sample respondents) is against or disinterested in the development of urban greening. The findings demonstrate that the European goals are strongly supported by the majority of urban residents and highlight a significant interest in their implementation, to which they are also willing to contribute. These findings should encourage local initiatives and the local administration to implement the process of urban greening and the goals of the nature restauration law in a more ambitious manner. Full article

The area of the Danube–Tisza Interfluve is of particular concern in terms of climate change, not only today, but it has also been in the past. In our research, we investigated the development projects of the Danube–Tisza Interfluve implemented in the last two financial cycles (2007–2013 and 2014–2020) of the European Union, regarding their climate-related impacts. Data about the development projects were retrieved from the official national project database. Development areas with positive and negative impacts regarding climate change were identified, and projects were assigned to these categories or a neutral category based on the content analysis of project titles and descriptions as well as the eligible activities included in the calls for proposals. Positive projects were also scored based on the approach they contribute to tackling climate change (mitigation: 3 points, adaptation: 2 points and indirect impact: 1 point). The number of these projects and the financial support they received were calculated for every development area category and also weighted by the impact scores. Our results show that from the 39,232 development projects completed over two EU financial cycles (2007–2020), only 11% were considered positive, less than 3% were considered negative and the rest were neutral regarding their climate-change-related impacts. Projects with negative impacts received more funding than projects with positive funding. Nevertheless, a positive trend can be seen, while more projects with positive impacts were implemented in the second cycle (2014–2020), receiving larger financial support. Our analysis also shows that development projects based on nature restoration and coupled with awareness raising can have the best impact score while they serve both mitigation and adaptation purposes and also have indirect impacts by fostering attitude change. We can conclude that much more emphasis should be laid on supporting projects for climate change mitigation and adaptations to reach our goal of climate neutrality. Full article

This study examines the market reaction to the approval of the Nature Restoration Law, a key component of the EU Biodiversity Strategy, and its implications for biodiversity-related financial risks. Using an event study methodology, we analyze the equity price movements of companies listed in the MSCI Europe Index that are equally weighted in relation to the announcement. We select the RepRisk Due Diligence Score, focusing on incidents linked to landscapes, ecosystems, and biodiversity, as a measure of biodiversity risk. At first, it seems that companies with a high RepRisk Due Diligence Score show limited or positive abnormal returns, suggesting that biodiversity risks are already priced for companies that have experienced incidents linked to this issue. Conversely, firms with lower biodiversity risk exposure see null or negative impacts, reflecting heightened investor concerns about new environmental regulations or compliance costs. Although the event does not have a systemic impact on European companies in the index, it seems that some sectors are affected when analyzed using parametric and non-parametric distributions. Full article

European grasslands and their biodiversity are declining rapidly due to land use changes, which highlight the need to develop effective restoration strategies. This study investigates the impact of reintroducing the Swedish national horse breed (the Gotland Russ) on grassland plant diversity and evenness in abandoned agricultural landscapes in Southeast Sweden. Twelve horses were introduced into three 10–13-hectare enclosure replicates (four horses per enclosure) in a three-year (2014–2016) rewilding experiment. Plant species richness, evenness, and diversity were investigated in both grazed and un-grazed conditions. The results indicate that horse grazing significantly increased grassland plant species diversity and richness, with higher Shannon and Simpson’s diversity indices in grazed areas. In addition, the abundance of white clover (Trifolium repens), a signal species beneficial to pollinators, increased significantly in grazed areas. These findings emphasize the need for integrating large herbivore grazing into ecological restoration practices. Considering the recently enacted EU Nature Restoration Law, which aims to restore 20% of Europe’s degraded ecosystems by 2030, this research provides critical insights into scalable restoration methods. The implementation of restoration strategies that include large herbivores may enhance the resilience and biodiversity of European grasslands, thereby aligning with the EU’s restoration goals. Full article

Urban afforestation is increasingly regarded as a key strategy for fostering biodiversity to restore and enhance the ecosystem services needed to counteract the effects of climate change in built-up areas. In Italy, several experimental afforestation projects have been launched as part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), focusing on cities or metropolitan areas such as Milan, Rome, Pistoia and Campobasso. These projects follow a multidisciplinary approach, integrating botanists, foresters, urban planners, landscape architects and remote sensing specialists. The goal is to address the challenging complexity of urban forest restoration through reforestation and afforestation actions. Key innovations include the integration of transdisciplinary methodologies (landscape analysis, landscape design, forest and plant ecology) with the application of advanced remote sensing technologies and participatory community engagement frameworks to address ecological and social challenges. Experimental plots have been set up across various urban areas, testing a range of planting schemes to maximise climate change resilience and ensure long-term ecological sustainability. Emphasis has been placed on selecting drought-tolerant and thermophilic species that are better adapted to widespread warming and local urban heat islands. ‘Biodiversity strips’ with perennial flowers for insects, shrubs with berries for birds and nests for wild bees and vertebrates have been set up to enhance biodiversity in new afforestation areas. Advanced monitoring tools, such as Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and multi-sensor drones, have been employed alongside field observations to assess forest growth, species survival, structural complexity and biodiversity enhancement over time. Historical analyses of landscape patterns and ecological connectivity over the past 200 years, along with evaluations of afforestation projects from the last 70 years, have provided critical insights into the successes and challenges of previous interventions, serving as a guide for future efforts. By focusing on ecological connectivity, the integration of afforested areas into the urban matrix, and citizen engagement, the current project aims to align urban forestry efforts with sustainable development goals. This comprehensive project framework addresses environmental restoration and the social and aesthetic impacts on local communities, contributing to the overall resilience and well-being of urban and peri-urban ecosystems. Full article

When the protective mechanisms of the gastroesophageal mucosa are overwhelmed by injurious factors, the structural and functional mucosal integrity is compromised, resulting in a wide spectrum of disorders. Poliprotect has recently been shown to be non-inferior to standard-dose omeprazole for the treatment of endoscopy-negative patients with heartburn and/or epigastric pain or burning. Here, we provide preclinical data describing the mechanism of action of the Poliprotect formulation, a 100% natural, biodegradable, and environmental friendly medical device according to EU 2017/745 and containing UVCB (unknown or variable composition, complex-reaction products, or biological materials) substances of botanical and mineral origin, according to the REACH and European Chemical Agency definitions. Different in vitro assays demonstrated the capability of Poliprotect to adhere to mucus-secreting gastric cells and concomitantly deliver a local barrier with buffering and antioxidant activity. In studies conducted in accordance with systems biology principles, we evaluated the effects of this barrier on human gastric cells exposed to acidic stress. Biological functions identified via Ingenuity Pathway Analysis highlighted the product’s ability to create a microenvironment that supports the mucosal structural and functional integrity, promotes healing, and restores a balanced mucosal inflammatory status. Additionally, transepithelial electrical resistance and an Ussing chamber showed the product’s capability of preserving the integrity of the gastric and esophageal epithelial barriers when exposed to an acid solution. Two in vivo models of erosive gastropathy further highlighted its topical protection against ethanol- and drug-induced mucosal injury. Overall, our findings sustain the feasibility of a paradigm shift in therapeutics R&D by depicting a very innovative and desirable mode of interaction with the human body based on the emerging biophysical, rather than the pharmacological properties of these therapeutic agents. Full article

As wildfires become more frequent and severe in the face of global environmental change, it becomes crucial not only to assess, prevent, and suppress them but also to manage the aftermath effectively. Given the temporal interconnections between these issues, we explored the concept of the “wildfire science loop”—a framework categorizing wildfire research into three stages: “before”, “during”, and “after” wildfires. Based on this partition, we performed a systematic review by linking particular topics and keywords to each stage, aiming to describe each one and quantify the volume of published research. The results from our review identified a substantial imbalance in the wildfire research landscape, with the post-fire stage being markedly underrepresented. Research focusing on the “after” stage is 1.5 times (or 46%) less prevalent than that on the “before” stage and 1.8 (or 77%) less than that on the “during” stage. This discrepancy is likely driven by a historical emphasis on prevention and suppression due to immediate societal needs. Aiming to address and overcome this imbalance, we present our perspectives regarding a strategic agenda to enhance our understanding of post-fire processes and outcomes, emphasizing the socioecological impacts of wildfires and the management of post-fire recovery in a multi-level and transdisciplinary approach. These proposals advocate integrating knowledge-driven research on burn severity and ecosystem mitigation/recovery with practical, application-driven management strategies and strategic policy development. This framework also supports a comprehensive agenda that spans short-term emergency responses to long-term adaptive management, ensuring that post-fire landscapes are better understood, managed, and restored. We emphasize the critical importance of the “after-fire” stage in breaking negative planning cycles, enhancing management practices, and implementing nature-based solutions with a vision of “building back better”. Strengthening a comprehensive and balanced research agenda focused on the “after-fire” stage will also enhance our ability to close the loop of socioecological processes involved in adaptive wildfire management and improve the alignment with international agendas such as the UN’s Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the EU’s Nature Restoration Law. By addressing this research imbalance, we can significantly improve our ability to restore ecosystems, enhance post-fire resilience, and develop adaptive wildfire management strategies that are better suited to the challenges of a rapidly changing world. Full article

North Africa, including the Sahara Desert, was historically forested, but over the past 10,000 years, the region has undergone significant desertification due to climate change and human activity. The use of wood for heating and grazing destroyed grass cover, which was replaced by shrubby vegetation. The slow-growing nature of the forest flora, often taking thousands of years to mature, has hindered natural regeneration, accelerating desert expansion. Today, desert encroachment is a critical issue, exacerbated by intensive farming and deforestation, which have caused severe soil erosion and the loss of the humus layer, diminishing the soil’s ability to retain water and nutrients. A project led by the Estonian University of Life Sciences and Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique (Algiers) under the EU Climate Action program aims to develop effective methods for reforesting arid areas and restoring the soil’s humus layer. This approach is also suitable for establishing urban greenery in arid and semi-arid climates. The method involves planting tree seedlings equipped with individual water reservoirs in holes lined with water-impermeable biodegradable pipes. These holes are filled with a hardening composite that stores water, sustaining the plants until their roots reach deeper water sources. The composite is primarily made from locally sourced organic waste and ashes. The Djelfa region in central Algeria has been selected as the test site for this method, following comprehensive studies of the area’s soil, climate, and ecosystems. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the work was transferred to Kenyatta University in Kenya where the preliminary tests show excellent results. The conditions in Nairobi during the dry season are comparable to Djelfa area. The results reveal a significant increase in plant biomass without watering during a dry period. This is extremely important for a desert region where watering is not feasible. Full article

This study deals with the future of the traditional agroforestry systems (TAFSs) in the northern Mediterranean Basin. Important productive systems, such as ancient non-irrigated olive groves and extensive silvopastoral systems, from subalpine grasslands to coastal landscapes, are being irreversibly degraded, threatening the bio-cultural heritage of the Mediterranean region, an area recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot. In the midst of the global biodiversity and climate crisis, immediate actions are proposed for the protection and conservation management of TAFSs, within a new EU policy framework. Having the TAFSs of Greece in the spotlight of this analysis, a four-step approach was used in order to review the value of agroforestry in terms of (a) biodiversity (birds, mammals, invertebrates and soil biota), (b) agroforestry landscapes, such as traditional olive groves on terraces and valonia silvopastoral systems, (c) ecosystem services, especially concerning cultural values, and (d) the modern threats to traditional agroforestry. Through this research, problems are highlighted and European policy priorities are defined. Our conclusion is that there is an immediate need to revise the European Union rural, forestry, and environmental policies in the Mediterranean region, following the provisions of the new EU Nature Restoration Law, in order to revive agroforestry landscapes and make them productive and sustainable again for the benefit of rural economies, local communities, and biodiversity, especially in marginal Mediterranean mountainous and island areas, where depopulation and susceptibility to wildfires are major threats. Full article

A historically large percentage of the world’s population has moved to urban areas in the past few decades, causing various negative effects for the environment, such as air, noise, water, and light pollution; land degradation; and biodiversity loss. Under the current climate crisis, cities are anticipated to play an essential part in adaptation strategies to extreme atmospheric events. This study aims at developing indicators at an urban scale that can highlight adaptation progress by investigating relevant data (especially in situ) and statistics at a pan-European level in support of the EU’s strategy for adapting to the impacts of climate change. The proposed indicator, Urban Biodiversity Indicator for Trees (UBI4T), which can be derived from city tree inventories, assesses one essential component of urban biodiversity by computing the proportion of native, alien, invasive, and toxic tree species spatially across a city. According to our findings (applying the UBI4T for Amsterdam and exploring its policy potential for Barcelona), the UBI4T can offer crucial information for decision and policy makers, as well as stakeholders of a city, with the aim of conducting dedicated and effective strategic initiatives to restore, improve, and protect nature in the urban environment, thus contributing to adaptation and resilience to extreme atmospheric events in cities. Full article