No abstract

The assessment of conservation values and risks to habitat biological diversity and health is herein addressed based on the occurrence of threatened species within ecotype mosaics and incorporating metrics related to current human disturbances. This assessment is made within a view of biological integrity and ecosystem health. Within the Map of Italian Nature project, that started as a result of Italian national law n. 394/91, such assessments are currently applied to approximately 1.5 million hectares in order to establish new reserves and protected areas, based on their "natural values" and "fragility" at scales in which humans generally influence the condition of the landscape, to get a more representative network of regional biological diversity. Risk and value assessments, based on distribution of species and habitats most threatened with extinction and reduction, are made in reference to the coordination of information on the environment (CORINE) habitat mosaics. To this purpose, digital thematic maps are generated as geographic information systems (GIS) coverages in polygonal (vector) format from satellite, airborne, and observed distribution data of 1) existing land cover habitat types and biodiversity component distributions, and 2) different kinds of man-induced disturbance. Habitat fragility is estimated either as "potential," through a simple conceptual model relating fragility to sensitivity and human disturbance, or as "displayed," inferred from habitat loss. Habitat sensitivity is used to compare biological health within habitat types. The Map of Italian Nature project aims at identifying gaps in the existing reserve network, and is very akin to the gap analysis approach. Map of Italian Nature intends to protect landscape mosaics at the broader scale, based on gaps in protection and threats while including finer scale data on threatened species to make sure they do not fall through the cracks. Results for a pilot study area are presented and the relevance of the approach to biological health and integrity assessments is discussed.

Each wine has its own natural and cultural landscape. The present landscape is the result of the interaction of many natural and cultural components. Some Italian areas show an alternance between special natural land features and characteristic cultural arrangements; for example, many vineyards represent a a specific use of specific portions of land and, as such, may be considered to be a very important kind of geomorphologic heritage. These areas require special management aimed at safeguarding both the natural and cultural aspects of the landscape and implementing well-balanced programs for local development that promote the typical production of the wine and its special link with the landscape. A very useful tool for such territorial planning and management is the "Carta della Natura", a project (Italian Law 394/91) that studies Italian territory following a holistic and multi-scale approach (1:250,000: Landscape Units; 1:50,000 Habitats; 1:10,000: Ecotopes) in order to obtain complete knowledge of the territory and evaluate the state of the environment. By integrating many different types of information, it is possible to analyze the link between vineyard cultivation and landscape within the framework of geomorphological settings. Moreover, it is possible to recognize and identify a number of distinctive landscapes for submission as a protected geoheritage.Shape is synthesis. Following an Aristotelian approach in studying nature, we can read the land features as the expression of the endogenous and exogenous processes that mould the surfaces of the Earth. Human activities additionally make a further, often dramatic, impression on the territory, sometimes guided and inspired by the land forms, very often against them. Therefore, landscape is everywhere, but needs to be understood and recognized as a heritage; at the same time, it needs to be protected in order to become a resource. The quality of landscape impinges on individual and social well-being; moreover, as finally embedded in the European Landscape Convention (Council of Europe 2000) "Landscape is everywhere and is an essential element of quality of life and cooperates in the development of local cultures." The key role of the landscape is in its perceptive and symbolic power: it's what mankind interacts with, its first contact with the environment, and the source of resources, risk, and emotions.The concept of heritage (patrimonio in the Italian language, from the latin pater = father and munus = duty, but also property) implies a link, based on right and duty, between the individual and a number of values: mankind owns a heritage, at the same time has the duty to protect and manage it. The first step is knowledge and awareness:

Abstract:The characterization of natural and cultural heritage using popular entertainment, such as TV movies and series, can become an effective and original way to involve society in protecting territory and enhancing local development, thanks to the dissemination of knowledge. The aim is to make the complex aspects of landscape related to its geological and ecological assessment understandable to the public. The tools here proposed are the episodes of the TV series "Inspector Montalbano" filmed in Sicily. The stories, written by Andrea Camilleri, are located in Sicily (the biggest Italian island in the southern Mediterranean Sea), in particular with some World Heritage Sites. The natural and cultural landscapes, which provide fascinating scenery to the films, represent a meaning in the representation of the plot. At the same time, if recognized and understood, they become part of the cultural heritage of each component of the local community and of society. The cognitive process activates a virtuous circle revitalizing the links between humanity and environment. Moreover, it promotes a creative participation of the public in new policies, OPEN ACCESSSustainability 2015, 7 4101 oriented towards sustainable development, and tourism-especially geotourism and ecotourism-becomes an important resource, especially in these times of crisis.

Some natural events are considered catastrophic for their damaging effects on society; however, many of these effects are due more to inappropriate management of the environment rather than the event itself. In order to prevent the continuation of the occurrence of such pernicious situations, it is necessary to spread the knowledge of natural mechanisms so that the general public becomes aware of the dynamics that characterize our planet's balance. To this aim, we argue it is indispensable to find, create and test new methods of communication in order to reach a wide audience in an understandable way. We believe in science popularization as an ethic mission: the proposal is dedicated to those Outdoor Sports that take place in the landscape, considered as an ideal vector of information, as people develop curiosity and motivation to learn about natural history. Our study focuses particularly on cycling because of its popularity as well as for its close ties to the environment.