Rosalba D'Onofrio Knihy

Focusing on sustainable urban development, this volume introduces a decision-support system designed to assist public administrations in creating effective strategies for city transformations. It is structured into five parts: the theoretical foundations, relevant policies and influencing indicators, the connection between these indicators and policies, a case study of Ancona, Italy, and future research directions. The approach aims to enhance the quality of life for city inhabitants while promoting sustainable practices.

This book is the result of an applied research on protected areas, with the aim of exploring the role of protected areas in a time of global change (climate, social).0The book explores the means of protected areas management, with reference to global strategies for risk reduction and territorial cohesion. In doing so, the book examines the extraordinary role that local communities, suitably sensitized and oriented to co-planning as recommended by the European Landscape Convention (2001), could play in nature conservation, and, by both increasing the quality of life of local inhabitants and by improving their socio-economic conditions, in increasing the territory?s attractiveness. Moreover, the book presents interviews with international experts on the management of protected areas and on local planning; and the results of international researches whose follow-up has enhanced the unexpressed potential of fragile territories, as is the case with protected areas. The book aims to be a reference for researchers, practitioners and policymakers involved in territorial planning and in the management of natural and cultural resources.

This publication retraces the 4-year Sun Life project through thematic studies that describe the project's process divided in two stages. The first seeks the development of the framework of analysis regarding the conservation status of species and habitats; identified synergies and interferences of the various levels of governance with Natura 2000; and the state of the ecosystem services and green jobs. The second part describes the project outputs, including the new Financial Plan (PF) and the updating of the Priority Action Framework (PAF); the guidelines for farmers and foresters; the interventions for the development of green jobs and post Life projects; and a focus on the main project action corresponding to the definition of the Strategy for the management of the Natura 2000 Network in Umbria, as a governance tool for the protection and conservation of natural systems and Umbrian landscapes. The final part describes the monitoring, dissemination and communication phases of SUN LIFE