Studies and research

Forza della natura Quaderno 44 Fondazione CRC

  • 2023

This publication develops and describes the climate change debate with up-to-date references and evidence from the international and national scientific community. Find out more!

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The “Quaderno 44 || Forza della natura. Le sfide del cambiamento climatico e le nature-based solutions territoriali” ( Force of Nature. The Challenges of Climate Change and Territorial Nature-Based Solutions) develops and describes the debate on climate change with updated references and evidence proposed by the international and national scientific community. The provincial territory of Cuneo (in Italy) is thus analyzed through the lens of current challenges and future risks based on scenarios of temperature increase induced by greenhouse gas emissions, with a focus on the agricultural and urban contexts and the vulnerability to extreme events in anthropized areas. The study ultimately provides the indications gathered from the consultation with local stakeholders who have highlighted the priority areas for intervention and the possible solutions to be adopted at the provincial level, with a strong emphasis on nature-based solutions, i.e., mitigation and adaptation actions that utilize nature to counteract climate change.

The “Quaderni”  series collects the main results of research work coordinated by the Studies and Research Office of CRC Foundation (Fondazione CRC). The series is carried out in collaboration with public and private research institutions. The Foundation is a nonprofit, private, and autonomous organization that pursues purposes of social utility and promotes economic development.

TITLE
Forza della natura. Le sfide del cambiamento climatico e le nature-based solutions territoriali. Quaderno 44 – giugno 2023 (Force of Nature. The Challenges of Climate Change and Territorial Nature-Based Solutions. Notebook 44 – June 2023)

DETAILS

Promoted by: the Studies and Research Office of the CRC Foundation (Elena Bottasso and Francesco Carbonero).
Edited by : Etifor (research group: Giulia Amato, Alessandro Bellio, Riccardo Da Re, Silvia Franceschini, Giacomo Laghetto)
In collaboration with: the University of Padua

ISBN 978-88-98005-34-5

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Nature-Based Solutions Modeling and Cost-Benefit Analysis to Face Climate Change Risks in an Urban Area: The Case of Turin (Italy)

  • 2023

L’aumento dell’urbanizzazione e le sfide del cambiamento climatico stanno creando pressioni ambientali, economiche e sociali significative nelle città europee, tra cui l’incremento del rischio di alluvioni e l’effetto isola di calore urbano (UHI). Le Soluzioni Basate sulla Natura (NBS) sono sempre più riconosciute come strategie per fornire molteplici servizi ecosistemici, mitigare i rischi esistenti e rendere le città più resilienti e vivibili. Tuttavia, l’implementazione delle NBS incontra ancora numerose barriere tecniche e finanziarie.

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The effectiveness of NBS in mitigating heat islands and flooding in urban areas

Nature-based biopsychosocial resilience: An integrative theoretical framework for research on nature and health

  • 2023

Nature-based solutions, such as urban forests and wetlands, can help communities cope with climate change and other environmental stresses, improving social-ecological resilience. However, the mechanisms that support individual nature-based resilience remain unclear. To fill these gaps, the paper proposes nature-based biopsychosocial resilience theory, or NBRT.

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A paper investigating how contact with nature improves individual and collective resilience to environmental stresses

Integrating Nature-based Solutions in the grey infrastructure of cities

  • 2024

The EU CAP Network workshop ‘Young entrepreneurs – Engines of innovation in rural areas’ took place in Dublin, Ireland, on Wednesday 30 November and Thursday 1 December 2022. Etifor helped coordinate the development of the workshop, choosing the methodologies and supporting their implementation.

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The EC GreenScape project involves 12 partner organisations from six EC countries: Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Poland, Austria

Nature-Based Solutions Modeling and Cost-Benefit Analysis to Face Climate Change Risks in an Urban Area: The Case of Turin (Italy)

  • 2023

With the aim to promote the adoption of  Nature-based Solutions in urban areas, this study tests the the potential of NBS in mitigating climate change risks in Turin (north-western Italy).

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According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), for the first time in history, more than 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas with a forecasted increase up to 68–84% in Europe—by 2050. Urbanisation and increasing urban population lead to several environmental, social and economic challenges, which might negatively impact the well-being of citizens and the environment as a whole.

Among current and future challenges faced by cities, climate change-related ones play a major role. These include flood hazards, the urban heat island (UHI) effect, which – as consequence – leads to increased energy consumption. Therefore, adequate planning and management measures, effective in the short and long term, are needed for climate change adaptation and mitigation of the associated risks.

Against this background, Nature-based Solutions (NBSs) can provide an extremely effective tool. Inspired by nature itself, NBSs are increasingly recognized as possible solutions to mitigate climate change-related risks due to their potential to provide multiple ecosystem services and promote more resilient, liveable, and sustainable cities. However, while there is a growing body of literature about NBSs, their implementation on the ground still faces many technical and financial barriers.

This paper aims to test the potential of selected NBS in mitigating the effects related to climate change risks, i.e., the UHI effect and urban floods, in the Turin urban area (north-western Italy). Four different intervention NBS-based scenarios are developed. The supply of ecosystem services by NBS in each scenario is assessed using InVEST models and the effectiveness of NBS investments is analysed by calculating and comparing the associated costs and benefits. Different results in terms of effectiveness and economic viability are observed for each scenario and each NBS. According to the results, flood risk mitigation using NBS seem to have the most impact, in particular forested green areas and retention ponds. The results are relevant to suggest policy mix strategies to embed NBS in city planning.

PUBLICATION TITLE

Nature-Based Solutions Modeling and Cost-Benefit Analysis to Face Climate Change Risks in an Urban Area: The Case of Turin (Italy)

AUTHORS
Anna Biasin (University of Padova, Etifor), Mauro Masiero (University of Padova, Etifor), Giulia Amato (Etifor), Davide Pettenella (University of Padova)

PUBLICATION 

Land 2023, 12(2), 280; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12020280

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Terapia Forestale 2 A new volume on Forest Therapy in Italy

  • 2022

The new volume on Forest Therapy, published by the Centro Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), offers a comprehensive and up-to-date overview that aims to become a national reference point for a rapidly expanding discipline. The publication is the result of a research campaign conducted by the CNR, which involved around 1,000 people at more than 30 sites in the Apennines, Alps and urban parks.

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Urbanisation, climate crisis, pollution, worsening mental health, these are some of the major megatrends that are taking place globally. Faced with these challenges, a growing number of studies are pointing to a solution that is as simple as it is effective: nature. In addition to supporting climate crisis adaptation and mitigation strategies, recent research is demonstrating the benefits nature and its elements can bring in terms of health, human wellbeing, and social inclusion. For this reason, today, both abroad and in Italy, more and more Green Care initiatives are emerging, i.e. initiatives that rely on nature to promote human wellbeing. Among the most widespread and well-known there are Forest Bathing, Forest Therapy and Social Farming.

Published by the Centro Nazionale delle Ricerche – CNR (National Research Centre), the new volume on Forest Therapy, offers a comprehensive and up-to-date overview that aims to become a national reference for a rapidly expanding discipline. The publication is the result of a research campaign conducted by the CNR, which involved around 1,000 people at more than 30 sites in the Apennines, Alps and urban parks. The aim of this volume is to expose the fundamental reasons that make the forest a therapeutic environment, with great potential in the field of health, as well as an irreplaceable element for the stability of life on our planet.

Davide Pettenella and Ilaria Doimo of Etifor contributed to this book with a chapter on the economic value of forests and Forest Therapy aimed at raising awareness on the importance of these areas. In particular, the analysis of the economic aspects is divided into three parts: the first frames health and wellbeing services within the broader theme of the economics of ecosystem services; the second part describes the direct and indirect economic effects of forest services for wellbeing and health, and examines estimates of the costs and benefits of Forest Therapy; finally, the third part deals with policies supporting the development of Forest Therapy.

BOOK TITLE
Terapia forestale 2

CURATORS
Francesco Meneguzzo, Federica Zabini (CNR)

COAUTHORS
A. Makarieva, A. Nefiodov, U. Bardi, A. Piotti, C. Avanzi, M. Antonelli, D. Donelli, V. Maggini, L. Neri, R. Baraldi, E. Carlo, C. Scintu, F. Attorre, F. Mancini, F. Finelli, F. Becheri, F. Giganti, F. Giovannelli, M. P. Viggiano, D. Pettenella, I. Doimo, F. Re, F. Zabini, F. Meneguzzo, L. Albanese, G. Betti, F. Centritto, G. Margheritini, E. Venturelli, A. Roncoroni, V. Pellegrinelli, V. Penati, P. Garberi, A. M. Debolini, P. Costigliola, I. Butti, A. M. Zamponi, M. Borgi, B. Collacchi, F. Cirulli, L. Massetti, F. Benesperi, R. Romano, R. Rivieccio, L. Crecco, A. Pepe, E. Gallo, F. Firenzuoli

PUBLICATION
CNR Edizioni

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