City and countryside, by their mutual dependency, constitute a unique system, which is the basis for the development of a global landscape. This interaction is far from the country being simply the city's food supply. The interaction should be reinforced through ecological corridors allowing the biodiversity movement that guarantees the landscape identity. In this regard, life's standards are strictly related to the landscape quality. Moreover, landscape biophysical features determine the vegetal potential and consequently their uses and techniques adopted by man toward his territorial settlement. Contextually, two Iberian case studies have been selected and analyzed from a multidisciplinarity perspective, aiming to determine how vegetation series may influence the maintenance and sustainability of urban green spaces. Bearing this in mind that a landscape architecture project is dynamic and considering the fourth dimension: time-mainly regarding the vegetation development, creating new volumes and spaces-considering their natural evolution, a deep knowledge of the plant material is seen as a critical factor for a sustainable landscape planning at several levels.
This chapter discusses the available financial mechanisms and public expenditures to foster research and development (R&D) applied to environmental conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in order to meet the Brazilian commitments to the sustainable development goals (SDGs). First, the authors estimate the financial needs for environmental-related R&D for the selected SDG. Then they analyze the specific characteristics of the Brazilian science, technology, and innovation (STI) financing system, and its strengths and barriers, especially the sectoral funds. Finally, they discuss possible improvements in STI funding policies to promote technological development aligned with the 2030 Agenda. The study shows a significant financial gap for environment-related R&D and that there is an urgent need to create alternative sources of funding and improvements of the existing financing mechanisms. Brazil has developed policies and financing mechanisms that have enabled the country to advance R&D indicators. However, the STI funding pattern results in project fragmentation and decreases the likelihood of resulting in innovative process and products. Besides increasing STI investment, it is also necessary to prioritize environmental-related R&D. Therefore, institutional and budgetary adjustments will be necessary to enhance the financial R&D efforts to help Brazil meet the environmental SDG targets.
This paper analyses the vegetation system as a matter of design and configuration of the urban green infrastructure of Castelo Banco, Portugal, taking into account the current environmental challenges—air quality, biodiversity and the climate crisis. Being one of the components of nature-based solutions, it explores among its multiple functions those of ecological and cultural order. Furthermore, it deals with integrating the knowledge of phytosociological science into the projectual practice of landscape architecture. Specifically, it explores the choice of the most appropriate vegetation system to be used in order to meet the future needs of this city.
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