Mapping and assessing ecosystem services to support territorial planning strategies: a case study in Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Italy

Abstract

Ecosystem services (ES) mapping and assessment is an important tool for policy- and decision-makers to better understand the spatial links between ecosystems and their benefits for society. These benefits include climate change mitigation and adaptation, environmental risk reduction (e.g., reducing air pollution, improving water quality), resource supply (e.g., food and water), biodiversity support, and nature-based recreation opportunities, among others.

The use of ES mapping and assessment methods is therefore essential for ensuring proper consideration and integration of ES into (spatial) planning practices that involve the development and management of land and human assets, including but not limited to land use, infrastructure and mobility, landscape, and conservation planning.

For example, spatially explicit mapping and assessment of ES can be used to spot problem areas in need of intervention, to identify current and potential ecologically valuable areas that should be safeguarded or enhanced, or to assess the impacts of (future) development. Their use as a planning support tool can thus lead to more informed decisions dealing with the spatial allocation and prioritization of planning strategies and interventions aimed to tackle sustainability objectives and development options, address societal challenges, and provide socio-environmental benefits (also) through ES.

This study presents an application of ES maps and assessments to support the definition of integrated planning strategies aimed at both improving sustainable mobility networks (in particular water and cycle routes) and conserving and enhancing the natural/seminatural ecosystem assets in the coastal area of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Italy.

This area presents different valuable ecosystems (e.g., coastal lagoon, river, inland wetland, terrestrial, and karst ecosystems) – some of them already included in a protection scheme such as Natura 2000, regional natural reserves and parks, protected natural biotopes – that are extremely important not only for biodiversity but also for their scenic beauty and the opportunities offered to people for nature-based recreation activities. In addition, the Region is highly committed to supporting and improving sustainable mobility and tourism (especially bike tourism), also taking advantage of the highly attractive natural assets and cultural heritage disseminated throughout the region, including in the coastal zone and immediate surroundings. However, given its characteristics (e.g., many coastal areas are well below sea level), this is also one of the regional areas that are (and will be) more prone to suffer from climate-change-related impacts, especially due to projected sea level rise, the high risk of coastal and river floodings, and wildfires.

The overall aim of this study is to support the development of win-win planning strategies dealing with the development of territorial projects that entail a sustainable mobility network system (which can serve both tourism and, to some extent, everyday use) that also considers the role of ecosystems in delivering ES (e.g., environmental risk reduction, recreation, biodiversity support) through greenway-like routes. It is a win-win strategy since the benefits are multiple. Because greenway routes are rich in nature and wildlife, they can supply several ES and support biodiversity. For the same reason, they are more attractive to people, increasing walking and cycling trips.

The potential of ES maps and assessments will be shown to inform the definition and indicative spatial allocation of different nature-based measures that should be applied along with the development of the sustainable mobility network to ensure that ES are considered an integral part of the territorial strategy. Results will be discussed in light of the potential of developing greenway-like sustainable mobility networks to address the environmental challenges of this coastal area, with special attention to climate change adaptation.