Restoration of the dune belt in the south of the Bevano river mouth (Lido di Classe, Ravenna, Italy)
Geographical context and climate challenges The site is located in the south of the Bevano river mouth, between an integral protected area, where access by unauthorized persons is forbidden all year round, and an intermediate protection zone, forbidden for access from April to July during the nesting period of the Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus). The […]
Coastal setback zones
Description A coastal setback zone is a buffer area where certain or all types of development are prohibited or significantly restricted. A setback zone is usually defined by a specific distance from the shoreline, where the shoreline is often featured by the highest water mark or permanent vegetation line. The main functions of the coastal […]
Protection and restoration of Posidonia oceanica meadows
Description In the case of beach/coastal erosion, an important „defence role“ is played by seagrasses. Seagrasses entrap the sediment, stabilize the seafloor and thus, prevent erosion of the coasts. When seagrasses trap the sediment, the bottom gets shallower, and the waves break further away from the shoreline, resulting in less coastal erosion during storms. Seagrasses also slow […]
Green spaces and corridors in urban areas
DESCRIPTION Green spaces in cities provide cooling through shading and enhanced evapotranspiration, thus reducing the urban heat island (UHI) effect that occurs due to the modification of land surfaces and generation of waste heat. Green corridors, i.e. long green spaces in the cities and river-valleys which flow among the cities, can change the micro climate […]
Measures to reduce urban runoff
Description Extreme precipitation events are the climatic drivers of urban runoff and urban flooding, and are expected to increase in the future due to climate change. Urban runoff does not only depend on the intensity of rainfall events but also on the degree of soil permeability. In the natural environments the meteoric waters are washed […]
Water sensitive urban and building design
Description Changing climate in the Adriatic region coupled with ever increasing coastal urbanization results in the increase of water related ecological issues. Urban areas are characterized by high levels of surface sealing in the form of buildings and other impermeable surfaces such as streets, sidewalks and parking lots. As water is unable to infiltrate the […]
Škocjanski zatok – restored coastal wetland enhancing resilience of the city of Koper
Geographic context and climate challenges Škocjanski zatok is a remnant of a brackish wetland which once surrounded the city-island of Koper. Today, this Nature Reserve is an urban wetland representing a good example of the coexistence of the natural environment and urbanisation, which is making a city safe, resilient, and sustainable. The water sources […]
Green roofs
Description Green roofs are multi-layered extensions of a building roof, partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a drainage layer. Green roofs serve several purposes for a building and the surrounding environment. Primarily, they slow down storm-water runoff by increasing evapotranspiration that also decreases the air temperature. There are two […]
Optimisation of agricultural water consumption and distribution in the Reno river basin, Emilia Romagna, Northern Italy
Geographic context and climate challenges The Reno river basin is mainly located in the Italian region of Emilia Romagna and is part of the hydrographic Po river basin district , managed by the Po River Basin Management Authority, according to the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/CE). It has a total surface of about 5,000 […]
Climate smart pest management
Prepared by: dr.sc. Milan Pernek, Head of the Division for Forest protection and Game Management, Croatian Forest Research Institute Description Mass tree mortality caused by a sudden increase in pest population can have extremely detrimental effects on forest ecosystems, which is reflected in biodiversity loss, lost carbon sinks and severe disturbances in ecosystem functioning. Climate and environmental […]