Search results for "environmental Protection"
showing 10 items of 289 documents
Palermo: Living Labs for Urban Regeneration
2016
The case of Palermo is described in this chapter as an example of Human Smart City (HSC) approach transferred to an extremely weak urban context in Southern Italy. The case focuses on the processes boosted through the Territorial Living Lab established in the city to tackle the topic of citizen participation in the solution of the main city challenges. It was based on a model of incremental and adaptive process of interaction, within a co-creative ecosystem, with the aim of improving housing quality. The model was shared by the players involved in the social innovation process. It would not have been possible without the Living Lab approach and the innovative momentum of design thinking tra…
In Itinere STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT of an integrated provincial waste system
2009
In the paper, the practical problem of analysing in an integrated way the performance of provincial waste systems is approached, in the framework of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). In particular, the in itinere phase of SEA is analysed herein. After separating out a proper group of ambits, to which the waste system is supposed to determine relevant impacts, pertinent sets of single indicators are proposed. Through the adoption of such indicators the time trend of the system is investigated, and the suitability of each indicator is critically revised. The structure of the evaluation scheme, which is essentially based on the use of ambit issues and analytical indicators, calls …
The Role of Fire in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations
2019
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations do not mention Fire as a key factor in achieving an environmentally-friendly human society. This paper reviews the key aspects of the impact of fire that make it necessary to update the SDGs. Upon reviewing the scientific literature, it was found that fire has been part of the Earth System for the last 400 million years, and that it is part of biogeochemical cycles. From a geological perspective, fire shaped the current Earth System. Humans have used fire in the last million years as hunter-gatherers, and the last Pleistocene period evolved with the presence of fire. Since the Neolithic revolution, humankind spread the use of fi…
Forest resources and sustainable tourism, a combination for the resilience of the landscape and development of mountain areas.
2020
The development of sustainable tourism models has been widely discussed in the economic literature. If on the one hand the demand for tourism has grown in recent years, on the other it is necessary to have adequate planning and political tools. The problems of sustainable tourism appear more complex when sustainable tourism involves development opportunities that require the support of the local community and the management of natural resources which are generally common goods. In these circumstances, new management structures need to be created, which can both meet the needs of the local community and ensure adequate management of natural resources. This study analyzes the connections betw…
Conceptualising State-Controlled Resort Islands for an Environment-Friendly Development of Tourism: The Maldivian Experience
2001
The Maldives host a sophisticated and competitive international tourist industry which has replaced fishing as the dominant economic activity. With their rich tropical reef ecosystems and the abundant biodiversity of their marine environment, a total of 86 uninhabited islands had been converted into Resort Islands by the end of 2000. Resort Islands are equipped with comprehensive facilities for accommodation, food, recreation and leisure. They are also strictly reserved for foreign tourists and guarantee complete privacy. This gives the benefit of averting conflicts of acculturation with local islanders. In the arena of impacts on the physical environment, however, the consumptive leisure l…
The study programme “Environmental protection and impact assessment” at the University of Latvia
2001
Reviews trends in environmental protection and sustainability in Latvia and introduces a programme in this field at the University of Latvia in Riga. Concludes that regional changes are necessary.
Metal–organic framework technologies for water remediation: towards a sustainable ecosystem
2018
Having access to clean water is a mandatory requirement for the proper development of living beings. So, addressing the removal of contaminants from aquatic systems should be a priority research topic in order to restore ecosystem balance and secure a more sustainable future. The fascinating structures and striking physical properties of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have revealed them as excellent platforms for the removal of harmful species from water. In this review, we have focused our attention on critically highlighting the latest developments achieved in the adsorptive removal of inorganic – metal cations, inorganic acids, oxyanions/cations, nuclear wastes and other inorganic anion…
Renewable energy evaluation in Italy and Brazil
2017
The aim of this study is a comparison among Italian and Brazilian electrical energy system with a particular focus on renewable energy sources. The energy sector has a key role in the sustainable development of a country, so it influences economic and political choices. The work would underline differences, common point among two country, specially, in this particular socio-economic period and it should emphasize that green economy could be a possible answer to the financial crisis. The work will be divided into four sections: Section I will introduce all details of the question; Section II will explain the renewable assessments for the countries, Section III will talks how renewable energy…
Application of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) to Natural Parks and reserves
2006
Natural parks and reserves have to face problems concerning the conservation of their natural resources. Citizens and firms often perceive the institution of new protected areas more as a bind or a restriction to their activities than an added value of the territory. Following the principles of sustainable development, it is necessary to integrate the environmental protection with the needs of neighbouring urban areas and production sites. The implementation of an Environmental Management System (EMS) according to international standards (ISO 14001, EMAS) can support the Park administration in their complex management activities. This paper analysed the criticisms related to the application…
Critical range of soil organic carbon in southern Europe lands under desertification risk.
2021
Soil quality is fundamental for ecosystem long term functionality, productivity and resilience to current climatic changes. Despite its importance, soil is lost and degraded at dramatic rates worldwide. In Europe, the Mediterranean areas are a hotspot for soil erosion and land degradation due to a combination of climatic conditions, soils, geomorphology and anthropic pressure. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is considered a key indicator of soil quality as it relates to other fundamental soil functions supporting crucial ecosystem services. In the present study, the functional relationships among SOC and other important soil properties were investigated in the topsoil of 38 sites under different …