Sub-Regional Biophysical and Monetary Evaluation of Ecosystem Services: An Experimental Spatial Planning Implementation

Preserving soil is crucial for addressing the key challenges of the new millennium, like climate change and biodiversity loss. Spatial planning plays a pivotal role in stopping soil consumption and degradation, thereby safeguarding soils that provide valuable ecosystem services. With the advent of t...

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Main Authors: Anna Richiedei, Marialaura Giuliani, Michele Pezzagno
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Land
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/2/216
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author Anna Richiedei
Marialaura Giuliani
Michele Pezzagno
author_facet Anna Richiedei
Marialaura Giuliani
Michele Pezzagno
author_sort Anna Richiedei
collection DOAJ
description Preserving soil is crucial for addressing the key challenges of the new millennium, like climate change and biodiversity loss. Spatial planning plays a pivotal role in stopping soil consumption and degradation, thereby safeguarding soils that provide valuable ecosystem services. With the advent of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting by the UN, countries are developing a shared protocol for the biophysical and monetary quantification of ecosystem services. However, downscaling efforts are necessary and must be conditioned by the national context, policies, economic dynamics, and data availability. Therefore, this research proposes a soil quality assessment methodology based on its ecosystem value at the sub-regional level in northern Italy, building upon national guidelines. This study includes modeling and mapping outputs involving six ecosystem services through eight biophysical indicators and the monetary quantification of these services. Both assessments have been conducted over two time periods to highlight the impacts of land cover transformation.
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issn 2073-445X
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publisher MDPI AG
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series Land
spelling doaj-art-ab4ab56da936461aa1482927731a5ff92025-08-20T02:03:28ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2025-01-0114221610.3390/land14020216Sub-Regional Biophysical and Monetary Evaluation of Ecosystem Services: An Experimental Spatial Planning ImplementationAnna Richiedei0Marialaura Giuliani1Michele Pezzagno2Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture, Land, Environment and of Mathematics—DICATAM, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, ItalyDepartment of Civil Engineering, Architecture, Land, Environment and of Mathematics—DICATAM, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, ItalyDepartment of Civil Engineering, Architecture, Land, Environment and of Mathematics—DICATAM, University Research and Documentation Center on the UN Agenda 2030 (CRA2030), University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, ItalyPreserving soil is crucial for addressing the key challenges of the new millennium, like climate change and biodiversity loss. Spatial planning plays a pivotal role in stopping soil consumption and degradation, thereby safeguarding soils that provide valuable ecosystem services. With the advent of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting by the UN, countries are developing a shared protocol for the biophysical and monetary quantification of ecosystem services. However, downscaling efforts are necessary and must be conditioned by the national context, policies, economic dynamics, and data availability. Therefore, this research proposes a soil quality assessment methodology based on its ecosystem value at the sub-regional level in northern Italy, building upon national guidelines. This study includes modeling and mapping outputs involving six ecosystem services through eight biophysical indicators and the monetary quantification of these services. Both assessments have been conducted over two time periods to highlight the impacts of land cover transformation.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/2/216land planningland cover changesecosystem qualityecosystem accounting
spellingShingle Anna Richiedei
Marialaura Giuliani
Michele Pezzagno
Sub-Regional Biophysical and Monetary Evaluation of Ecosystem Services: An Experimental Spatial Planning Implementation
Land
land planning
land cover changes
ecosystem quality
ecosystem accounting
title Sub-Regional Biophysical and Monetary Evaluation of Ecosystem Services: An Experimental Spatial Planning Implementation
title_full Sub-Regional Biophysical and Monetary Evaluation of Ecosystem Services: An Experimental Spatial Planning Implementation
title_fullStr Sub-Regional Biophysical and Monetary Evaluation of Ecosystem Services: An Experimental Spatial Planning Implementation
title_full_unstemmed Sub-Regional Biophysical and Monetary Evaluation of Ecosystem Services: An Experimental Spatial Planning Implementation
title_short Sub-Regional Biophysical and Monetary Evaluation of Ecosystem Services: An Experimental Spatial Planning Implementation
title_sort sub regional biophysical and monetary evaluation of ecosystem services an experimental spatial planning implementation
topic land planning
land cover changes
ecosystem quality
ecosystem accounting
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/2/216
work_keys_str_mv AT annarichiedei subregionalbiophysicalandmonetaryevaluationofecosystemservicesanexperimentalspatialplanningimplementation
AT marialauragiuliani subregionalbiophysicalandmonetaryevaluationofecosystemservicesanexperimentalspatialplanningimplementation
AT michelepezzagno subregionalbiophysicalandmonetaryevaluationofecosystemservicesanexperimentalspatialplanningimplementation