The Impact of Urbanization on Land: A Biophysical-Based Assessment of Ecosystem Services Loss Supported by Remote Sensed Indicators
Urbanization and related land consumption are one of the main causes of ecosystem services loss. This is especially the case for soil-related services affecting ecosystem functions and limiting accessibility to natural resources. Satellite remote sensing and environmental databases enable in-depth a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Land |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/2/236 |
| _version_ | 1797478784572588032 |
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| author | Francesca Assennato Daniela Smiraglia Alice Cavalli Luca Congedo Chiara Giuliani Nicola Riitano Andrea Strollo Michele Munafò |
| author_facet | Francesca Assennato Daniela Smiraglia Alice Cavalli Luca Congedo Chiara Giuliani Nicola Riitano Andrea Strollo Michele Munafò |
| author_sort | Francesca Assennato |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Urbanization and related land consumption are one of the main causes of ecosystem services loss. This is especially the case for soil-related services affecting ecosystem functions and limiting accessibility to natural resources. Satellite remote sensing and environmental databases enable in-depth analysis of urban expansion and land changes, which can be used to monitor trends in the provision of ecosystem services. This work aims to describe a multilayered approach to the assessment of biophysical loss of ecosystem services flows in Italy caused by an increase in land consumption in the period 2012–2020. The results show higher losses in wood production, carbon storage, hydrological regime regulation, and pollination in the northern regions of Italy, as well as in some southern regions, such as Campania and Apulia. Habitat quality loss is widespread throughout Italy, whereas crop production loss varies on the basis of the locations in which it occurs and the crop types involved. Loss of arable land and fodder production mainly occurs in northern regions, whereas southern regions have experienced a drop in permanent crop production. This study highlights the importance of using integrated data and methodologies for well-founded approaches, with a view to gaining a thorough understanding of ecosystem services-related processes and the changes connected therewith. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:36:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a83b5a9215084c7bbdf431084cf053e4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:36:34Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj.art-a83b5a9215084c7bbdf431084cf053e42023-11-23T20:43:06ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2022-02-0111223610.3390/land11020236The Impact of Urbanization on Land: A Biophysical-Based Assessment of Ecosystem Services Loss Supported by Remote Sensed IndicatorsFrancesca Assennato0Daniela Smiraglia1Alice Cavalli2Luca Congedo3Chiara Giuliani4Nicola Riitano5Andrea Strollo6Michele Munafò7Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via Vitaliano Brancati 48, I-00144 Rome, ItalyItalian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via Vitaliano Brancati 48, I-00144 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Innovation in Biology, Agri-Food and Forestry Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo del Lellis SNC, I-01100 Viterbo, ItalyItalian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via Vitaliano Brancati 48, I-00144 Rome, ItalyItalian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via Vitaliano Brancati 48, I-00144 Rome, ItalyItalian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via Vitaliano Brancati 48, I-00144 Rome, ItalyItalian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via Vitaliano Brancati 48, I-00144 Rome, ItalyItalian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via Vitaliano Brancati 48, I-00144 Rome, ItalyUrbanization and related land consumption are one of the main causes of ecosystem services loss. This is especially the case for soil-related services affecting ecosystem functions and limiting accessibility to natural resources. Satellite remote sensing and environmental databases enable in-depth analysis of urban expansion and land changes, which can be used to monitor trends in the provision of ecosystem services. This work aims to describe a multilayered approach to the assessment of biophysical loss of ecosystem services flows in Italy caused by an increase in land consumption in the period 2012–2020. The results show higher losses in wood production, carbon storage, hydrological regime regulation, and pollination in the northern regions of Italy, as well as in some southern regions, such as Campania and Apulia. Habitat quality loss is widespread throughout Italy, whereas crop production loss varies on the basis of the locations in which it occurs and the crop types involved. Loss of arable land and fodder production mainly occurs in northern regions, whereas southern regions have experienced a drop in permanent crop production. This study highlights the importance of using integrated data and methodologies for well-founded approaches, with a view to gaining a thorough understanding of ecosystem services-related processes and the changes connected therewith.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/2/236ecosystem services flowsland monitoringland coverland consumptionItaly |
| spellingShingle | Francesca Assennato Daniela Smiraglia Alice Cavalli Luca Congedo Chiara Giuliani Nicola Riitano Andrea Strollo Michele Munafò The Impact of Urbanization on Land: A Biophysical-Based Assessment of Ecosystem Services Loss Supported by Remote Sensed Indicators Land ecosystem services flows land monitoring land cover land consumption Italy |
| title | The Impact of Urbanization on Land: A Biophysical-Based Assessment of Ecosystem Services Loss Supported by Remote Sensed Indicators |
| title_full | The Impact of Urbanization on Land: A Biophysical-Based Assessment of Ecosystem Services Loss Supported by Remote Sensed Indicators |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of Urbanization on Land: A Biophysical-Based Assessment of Ecosystem Services Loss Supported by Remote Sensed Indicators |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of Urbanization on Land: A Biophysical-Based Assessment of Ecosystem Services Loss Supported by Remote Sensed Indicators |
| title_short | The Impact of Urbanization on Land: A Biophysical-Based Assessment of Ecosystem Services Loss Supported by Remote Sensed Indicators |
| title_sort | impact of urbanization on land a biophysical based assessment of ecosystem services loss supported by remote sensed indicators |
| topic | ecosystem services flows land monitoring land cover land consumption Italy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/2/236 |
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