Connectivity models and green infrastructure analysis have become key tools for establishing design and planning strategies for urban environments. In this study, the influence of scale (local and regional) on the connectivity analysis of an urban area of approximately 250,000 inhabitants from Vitoria-Gasteiz, province of Álava (Basque Country, Spain) was evaluated using LiDAR technology and connectivity analysis tools. With our study we prove that local scales provide more detailed data but based on the results of the Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA) and component analysis, it is important to take into account the surrounding area, since otherwise information would disappear. Therefore, not only the resolution should be taken into account, but also the extent of the study area. It also showed that vegetation surfaces model from high-resolution LiDAR should be well-considered an input for connectivity calculations. Finally, this study highlighted the role of urban areas as source of ecological connectivity in the region, which suggests that urban policies should be focused on improving the design and planning of urban green infrastructures to promote the mobility of species.

Costa Rica is a small country in terms of land area, but it is rich in natural resources and home to between 5 and 6 percent of the world’s biodiversity. The country is a leader in the conservation and sustainable use of protected areas through tourism, which is considered a pillar of the national economy and has become one of the most important activities for generating revenue. However, like any other activity, it can exert pressure on the environment in which it takes place, making it essential to analyze and understand how protected areas are used to implement effective management strategies. This study evaluates the frequency of tourism-related use of Corcovado National Park, considering the implementation of three key elements: 1. the frequency with which companies use the park for their tourism activities, 2. visitor density per kilometer by ranger station, and 3. the frequency of trail use based on voluntary geographic information. The research enabled the collection, analysis, and visualization of data using GIS, which facilitated the identification of tourism usage patterns by highlighting the most visited areas and establishing correlations regarding visitor density within the protected area. Among the most significant findings are sites that may be experiencing increased tourism pressure, offering the possibility of managing usage restrictions in specific areas of each station. Spatial analysis has identified areas with lower visitor concentrations, which can be leveraged to promote new attractions and disperse tourist flow throughout the park, thereby reducing pressure on the ecosystem.

The Russian invasion and war have severely affected ecosystems of Ukraine, resulting in extensive deforestation, habitat degradation, and biodiversity loss. As a result, ecosystems have been disrupted, ecological stability has been altered, and vulnerability to diseases and wildfires has increased. Conducted in eastern Ukraine, this study used remotely sensed data to monitor changes in the forest cover, assessed the territorial impact of the war on forest ecosystems, and identified critical forest areas affected by the conflict under different scenarios. The Sentinel-2 data from 2020 to 2023 was processed using the Google Earth Engine. Vegetation indices were calculated and integrated with the heat map of war-related events to detect important alterations in the vegetation and identify areas where forests have been destroyed. Five key areas for restoring forest connectivity were identified as well as the optimal restoration pathways, using the Restoration Planner tool. The northern regions demonstrated strong potential for forest restoration, yet restoration requirements differed across regions and scenarios. The analysis of restoration metrics showed significant regional variation, which facilitated the localization of regions with particularly severe forest degradation. Consequently, the presented study suggests that there is an urgent need for policy measures that focus on sustainable land use and forest conservation in Ukraine.

The implantation of wind farms in the European territory is being deployed at an accelerated pace. In the proposed framework, the province of La Coruña in the autonomous community of Galicia is tested, with a wide deployment of this type of infrastructure in the territory initiated in the 80s, representing the third autonomous community with the largest exploitation of wind resources, which provides sufficient information, extrapolated to the entire community, to demonstrate the practical usefulness and potential of the method of obtaining the territorial model proposed in this article The regional has been used as the basic administrative subunit of the study variables, considering that the territory thus delimited could have common physical and cultural characteristics. The methodology presented in this article involves the collection and processing of public cartographic data on various factors most repeatedly or agreed upon in the consulted bibliography based on studies by experts in the technical, environmental, and environmental areas, including explanatory variables of risk in a broader context of climate change as the first contribution of this study. Another contribution is the inclusion in the model of the synergistic impact measured as the distance to wind farms in operation (21% of the total area of the sample) to which an area of influence of 4 times the rotor diameter of each of the wind turbines im-planted has been added as a legal and physical restriction. On a solid basis of selection of explanatory variables and with the help of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and multi-criteria analysis (MCDM), techniques widely documented in the existing literature for the determination of optimal areas for the implementation of this type of infrastructure, a methodological proposal is presented for the development of a strategic, long-term territorial model, for the prioritization of acceptable areas for the implementation of wind farms, including forecasts of increased energy demand due to the effect of climate change and the population dynamics of the study region that may influence energy consumption. This article focuses on the use of multivariate clustering techniques and spatial analysis to identify priority areas for long-term sustainable wind energy projects. With the proposed strategic territorial model, it has been possible to demonstrate that it is not only capable of discriminating between three categories of acceptable areas for the implementation of wind farms, taking into account population and climate change forecasts, but also that it also locates areas that could require conservationist measures to protect new spaces or to recover the soil because they present high levels of risk due to natural or anthropic disasters considered. The results show acceptable areas for wind energy implementation, 23% of the total area of the sample, 3% conservation as ecological spaces to be preserved, and 7% recovery due to high-risk rates. The findings show that coastal regions generally show a more positive carrying capacity, likely due to less dense development or regulatory measures protecting these areas. In contrast, certain inland regions show more negative values, suggesting these areas might be experiencing higher ecological disturbance from construction activities. This information highlights the importance of strategic site analysis to balance energy production with conservation needs. The study provides insights into wind farm deployment that considers the visual and ecological characteristics of the landscape, promoting sustainability and community acceptance. For this reason, these insights can be effectively used for advancing renewable energy infrastructures within the European Union’s energy transition goals, particularly under the climate and energy objectives set for 2030.

Walkability is a modern concept that has become important in recent years due to the doubtless effects it has on aspects such as health and wellbeing, sustainable development, climate change, and tourism. It is necessary, therefore, that urban development strategies aim to achieve walkable cities. The main objective of this study is to define a methodology to calculate the walkability index in tourist cities and to predict the effects of climate change on this index, which is applied to three World Heritage cities in central Spain: Salamanca, Ávila, and Segovia. The methodology is developed in three phases. Phase I focus on the calculation of walkability, considering the following factors: facilities and services, accessibility, sidewalk width, population density, green areas, and urban trees. In Phase II, walkability in 2020, climate-related variables were added to the previous result: temperatures, solar radiation, and shadows. Finally, the third phase, walkability under climate change pressure in 2030, 2050, and 2100, establish predictions for different climate scenarios. The results show excellent walkability indices (higher) in city centers and newly built neighborhoods and low values in the rest of the peripheral areas, industrial estates, and neighborhoods. Climate predictions showed a generalized decrease in walkability over time, even higher in the scenario with high greenhouse gas emissions. Likewise, the models can be an excellent tool for the tourist management of cities since they show the most walkable areas and, therefore, the most suitable for tourist routes.

A. Hernando Gallego 1M. Gómez García1M. Legrand 1J. Velázquez Saornil 2C. Iglesias Merchan 1L.G. García-Montero 1

The planning and management of urban green infrastructure (UGI) are at the forefront of global biodiversity conservation. Building an environmental consensus rooted in environmental ethics and values is pivotal to the lasting success of UGI projects. Reflecting the specific classification into ecocentrism-anthropocentrism and Kellert's typologies and the theoretical connections between environmental ethics and ecological civilization, this study upgrades the adapted ecocentric and anthropocentric attitude toward the environment (AEA) scale accordingly to assess environmental attitudes and applies it in a survey of the main stakeholders involved in Zhangjiagang Bay Eco-Park, an ecological restoration project in China included in the UN's sustainable development goals (SDGs) Good Practice list. The paper unveils the diverse hidden value patterns of stakeholders and suggests new measures for sustainable UGI management. The authors argue that the AEA scale adapted and tested in this study connects well with the theories of environmental philosophy and is proven with good reliability, strong explanatory power, and potential value for UGI planning and management. In the policy-driven fields of urban practice, consensus building is one of the most important but, at the same time, most difficult processes to achieve. Without a good understanding of the diverse environmental perspectives of stakeholders, urban planning projects often die prematurely or gradually fade out due to unsustainable implementation or management in the long run. Drawing from the theoretical progress in environmental ethics, the authors adapted an AEA scale with two-tiered subscales that could indicate the general orientation on the spectrum of anthropocentric to ecocentric attitudes and reveal the specific motivations behind behaviors for better practical policy implications. The results of this case study indicate an overall weak-anthropocentric orientation and, more specifically, show the internal value conflicts of local officials and the significance of naturalistic and moralistic perspectives for the public. This study also pinpoints the value and urgency of ongoing environmental education on important ecological issues to enable the public to genuinely embrace the policy of ecological civilization that is currently imposed from the top down. With its strong power to explain value orientation, this AEA scale could be used to facilitate stakeholder participation from the bottom up and a process of crafting and communicating urban planning and management policies while building consensus.

THE USE OF GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS WITH OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE FOR TEACHING LANDSCAPE PLANNING IN DISTANCE EDUCATION ENVIRONMENTS

Incorporating risk analysis into physical planning is increasingly necessary to anticipate and take appropriate measures to prevent and defend against disasters. This paper extends the concept of carrying capacity by studying two models: an ecosystem-bringing capacity model and a territorial model of construction on rural land. A climate change variable was integrated into both models, and the changes that occurred depending on the emissions scenario and the time horizons were considered for developing the suitability, impact, and risk models. The data obtained in this study give us an idea of the difficulties that may exist in most of the territory for the construction location on rural land. In fact, only 14% of the occupied study area reaches positive values for the carrying capacity of ecosystems; besides, there are no constructions on rural land located on positive values if we include the risks in the planning. Contextually, assigning a value to the comparable carrying capacity, based on a holistic conception of planning and scientific data, can facilitate the decision-making to initiate future studies and work. Moreover, this study enables to anticipate the effects of climate change when drawing up adaptation and mitigation policies, plans, or programs.

Tourism is an activity that generates important benefits; in the case of Costa Rica, it focuses its activity on natural areas, using the different ecosystem services (ES) and obtaining economic and social benefits. However, its ecological value can diminish, making it necessary to implement methods to estimate its sustainability. This paper proposes an evaluation of tourism around ES by applying the MIVES method (Value Integrated Model for Sustainability Evaluation), based on the multi-attribute utility theory, which implies that it transforms different variables into a 0 to 1 relationship, where the closer it is to 1, the more sustainable it is. For this purpose, it considered a decision tree, integrating environmental, economic, and social requirements, 6 criteria, and 13 indicators. The method was applied to two sites, Golfito and Jimenez in Costa Rica. It considered the following stages: (i) literature review and expert consultation, (ii) decision tree, (iii) assignment of weights, (iv) sustainability indexes, and (v) sensitivity analysis. The most sustainable site is Jiménez, obtaining an overall index of 0.40 compared to 0.25 for Golfito. The economic and social requirements are the best evaluated, while the environmental requirement was the worst evaluated for both sites. The proposed methodology can be extrapolated to other natural areas.

GAME-BASED LEARNING TO HELP STUDENTS TO STUDY THE MOST TYPICAL TREES AND SHRUBS SPECIES IN GARDENS, PARKS AND GREEN AREAS

Habitats have been undergoing significant changes due to environmental processes and human impact that lead into habitat fragmentation and connectivity loss. To improve quality habitats and maintain ecological connectivity, elements that improve the connectivity of habitats need to be identified. To meet this goal, finding optimal pathways locations plays a key role for designing corridors for biodiversity conservation. Conducted in the Castilla y León region of Spain, this paper aims to determine optimal pathways and to enhance the connectivity of protected areas. To this end, three different scenarios were developed including the Natura 2000 network and their surroundings (Natura 2000, Level 0, and Level 1). We used Restoration Planner (RP) available in GuidosToolbox to analyze the network and detect pairwise optimum restoration pathways between the five largest network objects. Our results demonstrate that connector density varies across the region for each scenario. There was also a large variability in the length of connectors. Connectors were found mainly distributed around the center and northwestern part of Castilla y León. This paper also suggests that proposed new restoration pathways should increase in the study area. Thus, the findings can be used effectively for extensive planning and interpretation in biodiversity conservation.

Natura 2000 network is becoming increasingly important for ecosystem services but not all human activities are limited as long as they ensure protection of conservation values. Private owned areas should harmonize biodiversity conservation and other compatible land uses with human activities sustainability. The purpose of this study is to present a methodology for the assessment of urban use capacity considering restrictions presented in a Natura 2000 site in Central Spain (Madrid). This assessment takes the advantages of high-resolution images and point clouds LiDAR data using Object Based Images Analysis (OBIA). Considering different ranges of (i) tree height, (ii) slopes and (iii) the existing protected habitats, six scenarios of Urban use capacity were obtained. A canopy height vegetation was derived, and the maximum height was assigned to each delineated crown polygon tree. The implementation of this methodology proposes the largest potential urban area (Scenario 6) but priority habitats and habitats of Community interest were entirely removed from it. Finally, plots (1000 m 2) with greater or lesser capacity of vegetation coverage change were located. A total of 145 plots (6% of the whole property) with urban use low capacity were located. This methodology can be extrapolated to any protected area that seeks to harmonize biodiversity conservation and human activities.

As a consequence of the exponential increase of the demographic and technological development of the human being, conflicts with the natural environment are accentuated. Pollution or the loss of biodiversity represent examples of problems that we must face to maintain the balance between the evolution of human beings and the conservation of nature. However, there are conflicts whose origin is not as modern as those mentioned, and we return to the Neolithic to find the origin of the conflict of man with the great predators. This condition has existed since then and at this point in history, is reaching very high levels of tension in developed countries, as a result of the depredation of livestock. Wolf is one of the species that generates more conflict and is currently suffering a slight demographic expansion. Although current laws mostly seek their recovery and conservation, the wolf is experiencing great difficulties due to the poor social perception it has. Faced with this situation, a model has been developed using geographic information systems which categorizes the areas according to their probability that the cattle could suffer a wolf attack. Based on natural and anthropogenic variables of the environment, the areas with a greater or lesser probability of attack were evaluated, with the objective of designing a prevention plan to reduce or eliminate the attacks. Since different authors demonstrate that population control measures on the species are not effective in reducing attacks on livestock, the solution to the conflict should be based on preventive measures. The use of the designed model will enable the competent authorities to apply these measures optimally, reducing expenses and allowing to anticipate future areas of conflict.

Climate projections for the near future suggest a general increase in temperatures and a decrease in precipitation in Castilla y León (Northwest Iberian Peninsula). In this context, hydrographic networks may be reduced due to the decrease in flow accumulation, which may compromise the connectivity of riparian habitats and aggravate fragmentation processes, thus potentially threatening the survival of various wild species. Regionalized climate projections were calculated based on the RCP models and the 8.5 and 4.5 scenarios for the years 2030, 2050 and 2100. From this climate modelling, flow variations in the hydrographic networks were determined for the period 2020–2100. The observed decrease in precipitation and increase in temperature point to a reduction in flow accumulation. Considering these variations, and after establishing the study habitats, the alterations in ecological connectivity were analysed using the MSPA (Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis) and the PC (Probability of Connectivity) index. MSPA reveals a significant reduction in the number and size of potential riparian habitat cores towards the year 2100, while the PC index values decrease from 3.1% (∑ dPC) in 2020 to 2.5% (∑ dPC) in 2100. These results indicate a substantial loss of ecological connectivity and an increased fragmentation of potential riparian habitats, as well as a close relation between reduced connectivity and flow accumulation for future climate projections.

This paper presents a multi-criteria methodology for the detection of optimal locations for solar photovoltaic installations connected to the electrical grid. The proposed methodology has been applied to the island of Tenerife, as it is one of the territories in Spain with the greatest solar potential. This methodology integrates an Aptitude Model (which covers variables such as connections to the electrical grid, accessibility, cloudiness, solar irradiation and slope) together with an Impact Model (which considers variables such as landscape vulnerability, land use and hydrology). Each one of the variables considered has been transformed into standardized decision criteria, which have been weighted by means of Saaty’s pair method, having also assigned them relative weights by means of expert consultation. The integration of both Models in a Hosting Capacity Model makes it possible to consider urban and environmental constraints in different possible scenarios. Finally, the Hosting Capacity Model generated is implemented through a Geographic Information System (GIS) on the island of Tenerife, so that it has been possible to detect the optimum locations for each municipality and region.

A. Hernando 1, M. Legrand 1, C. Iglesias 1, A. López 1, J. Velázquez 2, A. García-Abril1 1Polytechnic University of Madrid (SPAIN) 2Catholic University of Avila (SPAIN)

This paper presents a methodology to study the connectivity that livestock trails can offer to guarantee the transit of organisms and access to pasturelands. In this regard, a connectivity analysis was carried out in two scenarios: Basic Scenario (Scenario 1: pasture) and Extended Scenario (Scenario 2: pasture + livestock trails) by using the Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA). The result of structural connectivity analysis, MSPA, showed that livestock trails reduce the fragmentation of the optimal terrain (pasturelands) for livestock activity, since the effective corridors are more numerous, and the edge effect is also reduced. Therefore, MSPA analysis allows the classification of any landscape typology at the pixel level and mapping of corridor structures (connecting elements) and other categories of spatial patterns on a continental scale. The results of the study show the importance of carrying out this type of analysis in different times of the year, detecting the evolution of connectivity throughout the year. Spring months and larger areas of pastureland offer the best conditions for the movements of organisms. This study aims to provide useful information for landscape or territorial planning, and it could be used to improve the management of wildlife dependent on high quality pastures, as well as to promote the management of semi-extensive livestock.

The aim of the Natura 2000 Network is to ensure the conservation of habitats and species in their natural areas of distribution. Connectivity is an essential part of this conservation. For this purpose, a value map of importance for biodiversity (V.I.B) was generated proposing 4 levels of protection and overlapped with the Natura 2000 network. New boundaries for the zoning are proposed adding 1.600.000 ha. Two connectivity indices (MSPA and PC) are calculated in the 4 different scenarios. With these indices it is possible to know the number of existing nuclei and connectors in each of the scenarios. New boundaries cover more areas of interest for biodiversity as well as zones of great importance in relation to connectivity. We propose a uniform method that can be extrapolated to any European territory.

Urbanization is one of the agents that contribute most to habitat fragmentation and is therefore a threat to biodiversity conservation. Connectivity improvement is the adaptation strategy most often cited to address species conservation in a changing environment. Many studies of protection at local and regional level zones usually show separate portions of habitat, defining the protected area, but they do not provide guidance on where and how to act to preserve the habitat quality and connectivity of the populations, on a consistent scale with planning units. In this paper, the analysis of fragmentation-connectivity focuses on cereal steppes of the Jarama and Henares rivers (Spain) to study the habitat and connectivity of steppic birds populations into protected areas of the Natura 2000 network, quantifying the effect on this protected area and on the species of interest caused by the massive development of infrastructure and urbanization due to the expansion of Madrid metropolitan area. In this sense, the Great Bustard (Otis tarda) was used as a bioindicator, due to its high demand for habitat quality. The proposed methodology only needs to be based on data from wildlife sightings and land use. Once the variables (density, biophysics and urbanization) were defined, it was possible to determine the values of influence, applying them to generate the map of areas of probability of presence and movement of the Great Bustard. This can be used to support conservation plans based on habitat connectivity.