http://hdl.handle.net/10174/666 2026-06-17T13:07:27Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42204 Title: Enhancing rural prosperity through social capital Authors: Noll, Dominik; Rivera, Maria; Wiesinger, Georg; Oedl-Wieser, Theresia; Giray, Handan; Bettoni, Maddalena Editors: Semih Akçomak, Ibrahim; Peiró-Palomino, Jesus Abstract: The link between social capital and economic development has received much attention in recent decades. While economic development is proven to have positive effects on social inclusion and quality of life, this happens mostly at the expense of environmental sustainability. Research should thus not only focus on the link between social capital and economic development but also prosperity, understood as ecological sustainability, social inclusion, and quality of life at large. Typically, the term prosperity has been associated almost exclusively with economic growth, but evidence has shown that this could only be achieved at the expense of environmental sustainability and that GDP as an indicator falls short in accounting for the general well-being of all humans. Prosperity should include factors such as social cohesion and engagement, achieved through cooperation and trust, environmental sustainability, and knowledge, which increases the ability people have to increase their resilience, and quality of life. All these factors are supported by, powered by, and geared towards social capital, which is one of the key building blocks of the “social web”. With our contribution, we aim at expanding the focus from the link of social capital and economic development to the impact of social capital on prosperity. We do so by providing theoretical and practical information about eight illustrative case studies from Austria, Portugal, Spain and Türkiye that serve as best practice examples for increasing the prosperity of rural regions through the building of social capital. The empirical analysis of these best practice examples shows that in all cases, social, economic, and environmental sustainability are core elements. Thus, future research must look beyond the impact of social capital on economic development, by integrating indicators that show if social capital is a valuable tool to reach this new form of prosperity, incorporating all three dimensions of sustainability. 2025-05-14T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42113 Title: Habitat services for protected flora species in Portugal. Authors: Xavier, P.; Ribeiro, Sílvia; Espírito-Santo, D.; Pena, S.; Cunha, N. Editors: Cunha, Natália; Magalhães, Manuela Abstract: This study examines the role of biodiversity conservation ecosystem services in enhancing green infrastructure (GI) planning for threatened flora species in mainland Portugal. Using species richness and abundance distribution data from the citizen science Flora-On platform and listed in the Red List of Vascular Plants, the study analyses the spatial distribution of 383 species classified as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature across 601 grid cells. Correlations to species distribution are assessed with ecological variables, including land use, water, habitat classification, natural vegetation, topography, land morphology, and soil quality. Positive correlations are found with coastal areas, sparse vegetation, and relic vegetation communities. The study maps complementary biodiversity conservation areas and identifies linear connections as blueprints for potential ecological corridors, highlighting regions not previously part of the GI network. Of the newly identified areas, 4% are additional to the original GI, while 7% overlap with existing GI areas. These results suggest that integrating the newly identified areas into landscape planning can enhance habitat connectivity and support the persistence of threatened plant species. This approach underscores the value of citizen-science data in refining national-scale conservation strategies and highlights the importance of prioritising ecological core areas and corridors within the existing GI framework. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42108 Title: EUNIS Habitat Classification – Implementation at the national level for mainland Portugal Authors: Xavier, P.; Ribeiro, Sílvia; Capelo, J.; Pena, S.; Cunha, N. Editors: Cunha, Natália; Magalhães, Manuela Abstract: Appealing to a broad audience, this book bridges different issues, from landscape to ecosystems, planning to implementation, and policies to local community willingness. This book outlines a methodology for defining green infrastructure (GI) in rural landscapes, showing how it underpins ecosystem services (ES) and aligns with various European Union (EU) directives. There are presented examples in Portuguese rural landscapes alongside international initiatives from several countries. Building on the concept of landscape as an open, autopoietic system with distinct resilience thresholds, the book demonstrates how GI serves as a versatile framework to support ES, implement nature-based solutions and the more recent Nature-Futures-Framework scenarios. Through real-world studies, the authors illustrate its flexibility and applicability across different scales and environments while respecting each location’s unique characteristics. Written for planners, designers, policymakers, and academic institutions, this book offers a valuable resource for supporting sustainable land management, public policy formulation, planning, and innovative design practices, fostering informed debate on these topics and advancing eco-conscious initiatives for a sustainable future. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42098 Title: Habitat services for protected flora species in Portugal. Authors: Xavier, P.; Ribeiro, Sílvia; Pena, S.; Espírito-Santo, D.; Cunha, N. Editors: Cunha, Natália; Magalhães, Manuela Abstract: This study examines the role of biodiversity conservation ecosystem services in enhancing green infrastructure (GI) planning for threatened flora species in mainland Portugal. Using species richness and abundance distribution data from the citizen science Flora-On platform and listed in the Red List of Vascular Plants, the study analyses the spatial distribution of 383 species classified as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature across 601 grid cells. Correlations to species distribution are assessed with ecological variables, including land use, water, habitat classification, natural vegetation, topography, land morphology, and soil quality. Positive correlations are found with coastal areas, sparse vegetation, and relic vegetation communities. The study maps complementary biodiversity conservation areas and identifies linear connections as blueprints for potential ecological corridors, highlighting regions not previously part of the GI network. Of the newly identified areas, 4% are additional to the original GI, while 7% overlap with existing GI areas. These results suggest that integrating the newly identified areas into landscape planning can enhance habitat connectivity and support the persistence of threatened plant species. This approach underscores the value of citizen-science data in refining national-scale conservation strategies and highlights the importance of prioritising ecological core areas and corridors within the existing GI framework. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z