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A method for the ecological use of vegetation in the built environment

Sibilla, Maurizio; Barbati, Anna

Authors

Maurizio Sibilla

Anna Barbati



Abstract

Urban reforestation is recognised as a valid strategy to counter the loss of functionalities of the ecosystem services in an urban context, where vegetation has the dual role of environmental and landscape qualitative indicator. Ecological studies have explored methods to assess these qualities, and the Index of Landscape Conservation (ILC) represents one of the most advanced approaches developed in this field. Nevertheless, this method has been mainly applied in large scale planning models (e.g. regional and provincial). Consequently, the potential of this method at the urban scale has not been explored yet. This study deals with this lacuna, analysing the environmental and landscape qualities of the rural matrix of the Latina municipality, whose naturalness and identity of this Mediterranean landscape are compromised by the urban sprawl. Specifically, urbanisation is progressively altering both the riparian vegetation of the hydrographic network (i.e. natural component) and the windbreak vegetation barriers (i.e. identity component) of the Latina landscape. Therefore, in order to contrast this phenomenon, an innovative approach has been implemented, which is based on the combined use of the re-calibration of ILC and the analysis of the level of isolation of residual natural fragments in the rural matrix. Findings are useful to formulate environmental design proposals aimed at promoting direct actions of urban reforestation by inhabitants for the conscious recovery of ecosystem services.

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jan 1, 2019
Deposit Date Jul 26, 2023
Journal Sustainable Mediterranean Construction
Print ISSN 2385-1546
Electronic ISSN 2420-8213
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 2019
Issue N9
Pages 79-85
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10940431