Soil resources, land cover changes and rural areas: Towards a spatial mismatch?

Ferrara, Agostino; Salvati, Luca; Sabbi, Alberto; Colantoni, Andrea

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.01.040

Cited by 99 publications

(69 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Secure tenure is essential for both effective and sustainable land use, including adequate levels of investment in enhancing land productivity and allocating land to the most efficient user(s) [5]. As the key to meeting commitments for both national and international policy targets (e.g., Agenda 21), the sustainable management and use of land resources is essential for urban sustainability [6][7][8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-Term Urban Growth and Land Use Efficiency in Southern Europe: Implications for Sustainable Land Management

Zitti¹,

Ferrara

Perini³

et al. 2015

Sustainability

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226

140

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Abstract:The present study illustrates a multidimensional analysis of an indicator of urban land use efficiency (per-capita built-up area, LUE) in mainland Attica, a Mediterranean urban region, along different expansion waves : compaction and densification in the 1960s, dispersed growth along the coasts and on Athens' fringe in the 1970s, fringe consolidation in the 1980s, moderate re-polarization and discontinuous expansion in the 1990s and sprawl in remote areas in the 2000s. The non-linear trend in LUE (a continuous increase up to the 1980s and a moderate decrease in 1990 and 2000 preceding the rise observed over the last decade) reflects Athens' expansion waves. A total of 23 indicators were collected by decade for each municipality of the study area with the aim of identifying the drivers of land use efficiency. In 1960, municipalities with low efficiency in the use of land were concentrated on both coastal areas and Athens' fringe, while in 2010, the lowest efficiency rate was observed in the most remote, rural areas. Typical urban functions (e.g., mixed land uses, multiple-use buildings, vertical profile) are the variables most associated with high efficiency in the use of land. Policies for sustainable land management should consider local and regional factors shaping land use efficiency promoting self-contained expansion and more tightly protecting rural and remote land from dispersed urbanization. LUE is a OPEN ACCESSSustainability 2015, 7 3360 promising indicator reflecting the increased complexity of growth patterns and may anticipate future urban trends.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-Term Urban Growth and Land Use Efficiency in Southern Europe: Implications for Sustainable Land Management

Zitti¹,

Ferrara

Perini³

et al. 2015

Sustainability

Self Cite

226

140

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Salvati and Carlucci, 2011). Finally, providing an objective way to identify in a joint fashion the factors shaping soil variables and socioeconomic attributes according to their potential of change is an important contribution to both environmental science and regional studies (Ferrara et al, 2014). Integrating different approaches typical of social sciences and environmental disciplines may provide interesting insight in the analysis of socioeconomic disparities and (sustainable) rural development paths (Briassoulis, 2001).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Soils play a key role in plant growing, agricultural production, water conservation, CO 2 sequestration, preservation of biodiversity and nutrient cycles (Acosta et al, 2013;Bellezoni et al, 2014;Ferrara et al, 2014;Huub and Holger, 2014;Wagg et al, 2014). As a non-renewable resource, soils undergo degradation limiting or inhibiting their functionality (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards a socioeconomic profile for areas vulnerable to soil compaction? A case study in a Mediterranean country

Ferrara

Barone

Salvati³

2015

Geoderma

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“…In particular, the SO and WO combinations highlight the central role of sustainable land management, with the enhancement of local conditions, landuse and landscapes. This opportunity is intended to be realised in an integrated system of eco-tourism activities linked to agricultural and pastoral activities as a key element to combat the abandonment of inland areas and the preservation of natural land from soil erosion and landslides (Ferrara et al 2014a). The increased levels of academic and professional qualification also stimulate the adoption of models of sustainable use of land contrasting unemployment and the consequent depopulation of the inland areas.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the multiplicity of soil–human interactions: organic carbon content, agro-forest landscapes and the Italian local communities

Salvati¹,

Barone

Ferrara

2015

Environ Monit Assess

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Topsoil organic carbon (TOC) and soil organic carbon (SOC) are fundamental in the carbon cycle influencing soil functions and attributes. Many factors have effects on soil carbon content such as climate, parent material, land topography and the human action including agriculture, which sometimes caused a severe loss in soil carbon content. This has resulted in a significant differentiation in TOC or SOC at the continental scale due to the different territorial and socioeconomic conditions. The present study proposes an exploratory data analysis assessing the relationship between the spatial distribution of soil organic carbon and selected socioeconomic attributes at the local scale in Italy with the aim to provide differentiated responses for a more sustainable use of land. A strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis contributed to understand the effectiveness of local communities responses for an adequate comprehension of the role of soil as carbon sink.

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Soil resources, land cover changes and rural areas: Towards a spatial mismatch?

Cited by 99 publications

References 24 publications

Long-Term Urban Growth and Land Use Efficiency in Southern Europe: Implications for Sustainable Land Management

Long-Term Urban Growth and Land Use Efficiency in Southern Europe: Implications for Sustainable Land Management

Towards a socioeconomic profile for areas vulnerable to soil compaction? A case study in a Mediterranean country

Exploring the multiplicity of soil–human interactions: organic carbon content, agro-forest landscapes and the Italian local communities

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