High Environmental Value Research Articles

Environmental Volunteering Values among University Students: Comparison between Gender and Study Stream

Environmental education has been embedded across the curriculum in the primary and secondary school curriculum to foster the value of volunteerism in environmental conservation. In this regard, students’involvement in environmental volunteerism requires support from different parties, especially educational institutions. In this light, students often face constraints that damper their intention to continue their involvement as environmental volunteers. The values of environmental volunteerism, specifically religion, biospheric, egoistic, and altruistic, are predictive factors in sustaining students’ involvement in environmental volunteerism. Thus, this study aims to examine the values of environmental volunteerism among university students and compare these values based on respondents’ gender and study streams. This quantitative study employed the survey research method where sets of the questionnaire were distributed to 357 respondents chosen from environmental volunteers across Klang Valley, Malaysia. The data was analysed using descriptive, t-test and ANOVA. The results showed that students demonstrate high environmental volunteerism values, specifically religious, biospheric, egoistic, and altruistic values. There are significant differences in the egoistic and religious values among female and male respondents. The male respondents showed a higher egoistic value, while female respondents demonstrated a higher religious value. Furthermore, respondents from different study streams demonstrateddifferent environmental volunteerism values. This study’s findings emphasize that different approaches based on gender and study streams should be taken to foster environmental volunteerism values among university students. This could also help sustain university students’ involvement in environmental volunteering activities.

Separation of pyrrolidine from tetrahydrofuran by using pillar[6]arene-based nonporous adaptive crystals.

Pyrrolidine, an important feedstock in the chemical industry, is commonly produced via vapor-phase catalytic ammoniation of tetrahydrofuran (THF). Obtaining pyrrolidine with high purity and low energy cost has extremely high economic and environmental values. Here we offer a rapid and energy-saving method for adsorptive separation of pyrrolidine and THF by using nonporous adaptive crystals of per-ethyl pillar[6]arene (EtP6). EtP6 crystals show a superior preference towards pyrrolidine in 50 : 50 (v/v) pyrrolidine/THF mixture vapor, resulting in rapid separation. The purity of pyrrolidine reaches 95% in 15 min of separation, and after 2 h, the purity is found to be 99.9%. Single-crystal structures demonstrate that the selectivity is based on the stability difference of host–guest structures after uptake of THF or pyrrolidine and non-covalent interactions in the crystals. Besides, EtP6 crystals can be recycled efficiently after the separation process owing to reversible transformations between the guest-free and guest-loaded EtP6.

Factors influencing winegrowers’ adoption of soil organic carbon sequestration practices in France

The adoption of soil organic carbon sequestration (SCS) practices on agricultural land offers the double advantage of offsetting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improving soil quality. However, little is known about the drivers that might influence winegrowers to adopt these practices, whose uptake remains low on viticultural land. Better understanding these drivers will be crucial to evaluate the efficacy of current policies in the viticulture sector in promoting and incentivising soil organic carbon sequestration in vineyards. This paper identified the factors influencing the adoption of SCS practices by winegrowers in France. A survey of 400 winegrowers investigated current rates of adoption and winegrowers’ perceptions of the practices. A binary logistic model suggested that winegrower’s age, being an independent winegrower, farm size, the number of workers hired, vine’s age, being certified High Environmental Value (HVE), being certified organic, practising irrigation, receiving subsidies, and winegrower’s perceived resources, attitude towards SCS practices and confidence significantly influenced the decision to adopt the practices, though their influence differed depending on the practice. The findings provide insights for GHG mitigation planning targeting the viticulture sector

Analysis of the effect of environmental protected areas on land-use and carbon storage in a megalopolis

Carbon storage in terrestrial ecosystems plays a vital role in climate control. However, urban expansion and damage to natural areas, especially the rise of megalopolises, have affected carbon storage. To mitigate this damage, various policies have been established by international, domestic, and local governments. This study focuses on the establishment and management of environmental protection areas and analyzes their impact on carbon storage. The study targets the cities of Gyeonggi-do province, South Korea, which make up a representative megalopolis, and the effectiveness of protected areas was analyzed by typifying the cities based on the proportion of available development areas and environmentally protected areas. In this study, the SLEUTH (Slope, Land-use, Excluded Area, Urban, Transportation, Hillshade) land-use change model was used to predict future land-use changes, and carbon storage was estimated using the InVEST (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs) Carbon model. When operating the model, we tested a control group scenario that only preserves the water zone, a scenario that preserves the legally protected areas, and a scenario that protects the areas with high environmental value. There are two significant effects of setting up protected areas: First, the “development inhibition effect” of reducing the development area itself. Second, the “development replacement effect” of moving development to relatively low environmental value areas. These two effects differ depending on the availability of development areas, with “development replacement effects” prominent in areas with high development availability and “development inhibition effects” predominant in areas with low development availability. Future policies for setting up and managing protected areas can be used in megalopolis in conjunction with policies focusing on securing the area of carbon sinks.

A design study into multi-level living labs for reuse and repair activities in France

The European economy is surprisingly wasteful and continues to operate a take-make-dispose system. Addressing this challenge requires moving from a centralizing and top-down logic of waste management to territorial approaches integrating reuse and repair activities and involving local stakeholders. To do so, living labs are a relevant approach to support the transition towards territorial repair and reuse networks. The purpose of this paper is to question how living lab thinking can integrate the development of such repair and reuse networks.This paper first explores literature on transition design, living labs and repair and reuse activities. Secondly, it examines the design and deployment of a multi-level repair and reuse oriented living labs: (1) at the product level, it supports the participants in both learning and experimenting the basic stages in repair/upcycling practices; (2) at the repair workshop level, it helps imagine the implementation of a repair workshop and its business model, and (3) at the territorial level, it stimulates new synergies based on territorial metabolism of repair and reuse networks. A qualitative analysis on the experiment is then developed around five different objectives: (i) to strengthen the repair and reuse culture in order to (ii) collectively imagine (iii) territorialized repair and reuse networks with (iv) high social and environmental values and (v) considering how a decision taken at a system level can affect other levels, This research contributes to the transition design, developing intermediary tools to support the co-creation and/or evolution of system structures of production-consumption based on repair and reuse grassroots initiatives at the territorial level.

The modern methods and means of diagnostics and repair of underwater crossings of the pipelines

Introduction. The subject of the study is the process of diagnostics and repair of underwater crossings of the pipelines that transport natural and waste water, gas, oil and petroleum products. Comprehensive diagnostics helps to maintain the reliability of the pipeline system, reduces the cost of repair and restoration work, and also has a high environmental value. Optimization of the diagnostic procedure includes the selection of the most appropriate technical means and methods of inspection and the sequence of work for the location. No less important for organizations that maintain and operate underwater crossings are the issues of current and major repairs of such facilities: the choice of the most optimal engineering and technical solutions has a significant resource-saving effect. The purpose of this work is to present and describe the most effective methods and tools for diagnostics and repair of underwater pipelines to date. Materials and methods. In order to fully study the processes of diagnostics and repair of underwater crossings of the pipelines, a review of the relevant regulatory and technical documentation was conducted, scientific works of domestic and foreign scientists were analyzed, methodological developments and patents of organizations operating and servicing underwater crossings were considered. The review of the market of modern devices, devices and materials used for complex diagnostics and repair of underwater crossings of the pipelines was carried out. The main method of research is documentary. Results. Based on the survey, systematization and analysis of information on modern methods and advanced means of diagnostics and repair of underwater crossings of the pipelines were carried out. The types, methods and stages of diagnostics, devices and apparatuses for conducting surveys of underwater crossings, methods for detecting leaks, types, methods and stages of repairs, devices, apparatuses and materials used for carrying out repair and restoration work, methods of dismantling underwater crossings are considered. The limits of applicability of the considered methods and means of diagnostics and repair were outlined. Conclusions. The theoretical significance of the research consists in a complete description of the methods and means of diagnostics and repair of underwater crossings of the pipelines. The practical significance is the possibility of using the results of the research by specialists in the field of pipeline transport of natural and waste water, gas, oil and petroleum products.

Going green: increasing organizational attractiveness via sustainable practices and environmentally-conscious recruitment

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings In an increasingly environmentally aware world, businesses are progressively obliged to mitigate harmful effects of their operations on the environment. Integrating sustainable practices with human resource management leads to environmentally aware employees. Green human resource management (GHRM) practices can be used in the recruitment process to attract quality prospective employees. A company with higher GHRM appears a more reputable and responsible employer and has higher attractiveness to candidates. They in turn have higher job pursuit intentions. This is strengthened when the candidate themselves has high environmental values and attitudes, leading to better person-organization fit, increased performance and competitor advantage. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Assessment and management of coastal erosion: Insights from two tropical sandy shores in Mauritius Island

Rising sea level and increasing tropical storm frequency caused by the changing climate are threatening small Island economies which depend on their coastal environments and resources. Owing to the high socio-economic and environmental values of tropical sandy beaches, monitoring the evolution trends of shorelines are regarded as an essential strategy to improve the resilience of Island states. The present study conducted in Mauritius, indicates a net erosional effect at Le Morne amounting to 8049.7 ± 5% m2 which is attributed to the hydrodynamics of the lagoon, whilst a net accretional effect has been observed at Flic-en-Flac, equivalent to 6571.3 ± 5% m2 and attributed to periodic beach nourishments. The shoreline evolution at Le Morne is predominantly influenced by Passe de la Prairie where an average energy of 0.162 m2/Hz, corresponding to an average wave height of 1.16 m, carries enough energy and momentum to influence the sediment transport near the peninsula. At Flic-en-Flac, longshore currents propagating on either sides of the central region and directed northwards and southwards influence the shoreline, resulting in an accretion zone extending 62.5 ± 15 m near Villa Caroline over the 2009–2018 period. To dampen this problem, a beach management strategy is proposed which revolves around the restoration of corals in front of eroded shores, replacement of casuarina trees, and enforcement of regulatory laws.

Unravelling spatio-temporal patterns of suspended microplastic concentration in the Natura 2000 Guadalquivir estuary (SW Spain): Observations and model simulations

Microplastics (MPs) patterns in a weakly-stratified estuary were investigated using a combined approach of observations and modeling. The study was conducted in the Guadalquivir River Estuary, which is of high environmental value, yet significantly altered by human activities. The study aims to contribute to understanding and quantifying the land-ocean transport of MPs. Mean concentrations of MPs in the estuary were 0.041itemsm−3, with maximum values up to 0.20itemsm−3, in agreement with the range reported in other estuaries. Polyethylene floating MPs were predominant. Relationships between increases in MP concentration and local rainfall events were identified in the middle estuary when there were no significant discharges from the head dam. Modeling results mimicked observations and revealed the effects of tidal straining, density-driven, and river flow-induced circulation on the net transport. Convergence of transports favors the MPs trapping in the vicinity of Doñana National Park, overlapping the location of the Estuarine Turbidity Maximum.

Salt marsh resilience to sea-level rise and increased storm intensity

Salt marshes are important ecosystems but their resilience to sea-level rise and possible increases in storm intensity is largely uncertain. The current paradigm is that a positive sediment budget supports the survival and accretion of salt marshes while sediment deprivation causes marsh degradation. However, few studies have investigated the combined impact of sea-level rise and increased storm intensity on the sediment budget of a salt marsh. This study investigates marsh resilience under the combined impact of various storm surge (0 m, 0.25 m, 0.5 m, 1.0 m, 2.0 m, 3.0 m and 4.0 m) and sea-level (+0 m, +0.3 m, +0.5 m, +0.8 m and +1.0 m) scenarios by using a sediment budget approach and the hydrodynamic model Delft3D. The Ribble Estuary, North-West England, whose salt marshes have been anthropogenically restored and have a high economic and environmental value, has been chosen as test case. We conclude that storm surges can positively contribute to the resilience of the salt marsh and estuarine system by promoting flood dominance and by triggering a net import of sediment. Conversely, sea-level rise can threaten the stability of the marsh by promoting ebb dominance and triggering a net export of sediment. Our results suggest that storm surges have a general tendency to counteract the decrease in sediment budget caused by sea-level rise. The timing of the storm surge relative to high or low tide, the duration of the surge, the change in tidal range and vegetation presence can also cause minor changes in the sediment budget.

The Effects of Urban and Economic Development on Coastal Zone Management

The land transformation process in the last decades produced the urbanization growth in flat and coastal areas all over the world. The combination of natural phenomena and human pressure is likely one of the main factors that enhance coastal dynamics. These factors lead to an increase in coastal risk (considered as the product of hazard, exposure, and vulnerability) also in view of future climate change scenarios. Although each of these factors has been intensively studied separately, a comprehensive analysis of the mutual relationship of these elements is an open task. Therefore, this work aims to assess the possible mutual interaction of land transformation and coastal management zones, studying the possible impact on local coastal communities. The idea is to merge the techniques coming from urban planning with data and methodology coming from the coastal engineering within the frame of a holistic approach. The main idea is to relate urban and land changes to coastal management. Then, the study aims to identify if stakeholders’ pressure motivated the deployment of rigid structures instead of shoreline variations related to energetic and sedimentary balances. The influence of coastal protection (described by an indicator taking into account the linear density of the rigid protection extension alongshore) measures have been considered. Finally, the economical performances in the period just after the land transformation have been studied by means of a dimensionless index based on the concept of the local unit. The method has been applied to the case study of the Abruzzo Region. Results reveal a large urbanization growth and a generalized over-protection of the coast with a resulting spatial alternation of shoreline retreat and advance. On the other hand, the analysis of the local economy reveals that the presence of tourism activities does not necessarily lead to an increase in the local economy. Indeed, the most important improvement in local economies in the region can be associated with coastal stretches characterized by a high environmental value.

А TAXONOMIC ANALYSIS OF BRIOFLORA OF THE AYU-DAG OF RESERVE

he article summarizes the hterary and proprietary data on the moss flora of Ayu-Dag State Nature Reserve. The features of the taxonomic stmcture of bryophytes in this territory are considered. The brioflora of Ayu-Dag mount is represented Ьу 98 species belonging to 66 genera, 41 families, 12 orders and 4 classes: of which 17 аге liverworts and 81 leafy moss. Identified taxonomic features аге characteristic of southem floras. А comparison with the Crimean bryoflora is given, showing а high percentage of species diversity of the study агеа, The high sozological value of bryoflora has been estabhshed - 56.1% of the species are included in the regional Red Books of the Russian Federation, and 11 species аге hsted in the Red Book of the RepuЫic of the Crimea, which сопбппз the high scientific importance and environmental value of the territory of the Ayu-Dag reserve.

Biophysical and socioeconomic drivers of oil palm expansion in Indonesia

Indonesia has been the largest supplier of palm oil since 2007, and now supplies around 56% of the global market. While the existing literature has paid serious attention to the diverse impacts of oil palm plantation on socioeconomic factors and the environment, less is known about the joint role of biophysical and socioeconomic factors in shaping the temporal and spatial dynamics of oil palm expansion. This research investigates how the benefits and costs of converting other land use/ land cover (LULC) types to oil palm plantation affects these expansion patterns. We employ a spatial panel modeling approach to assess the contributions of biophysical and socioeconomic driving factors. Our modeling focuses on Sumatra and Kalimantan, two islands which have accounted for more than 90% of oil palm expansion in Indonesia since 1990, with Sumatra holding the majority of the country’s plantations, and Kalimantan having the highest growth rate since 2000. The results show that the expansion in Kalimantan, which has been strongly stimulated by the export value of palm oil products, has occurred in areas with better biophysical suitability and infrastructure accessibility, following the ‘pecking order’ sequence, whereby more productive areas are already occupied by existing agriculture and plantations, and avoiding areas with high environmental values or socioeconomic costs. As demand for palm oil continues to grow, and land resources become more limited, the expansion in Kalimantan will tend towards the dynamics observed in Sumatra, with plantation expanding into remote and fertile areas with high conversion costs or legal barriers. Bare ground seems to have served as a clearing-up tactic to meet the procedural requirements of oil palm plantation for sustainable development. This research facilitates the improved projection of potential areas liable to future expansion, and the development of strategies to manage the leading drivers of LULC in Indonesia.

Analysis of the impact of high voltage power lines on the value of properties in environments of high ecological value and rural tourism: the case of the Lecrín Valley (Granada - Spain)

Plenty of studies analyse the impact of the passage of high voltage power lines (HVPLs) through areas of high ecological and tourist value in specific ecosystems. However, there are no similar studies conducted in Spain especially with regard to the impact on the value of proximate properties as well as the loss of business to tourist establishments and commerce in areas with high environmental value. This study analyses the case of the Lecrin Valley in Granada (Spain) through which a HVPL project intended to cross over the region. Through a comparative methodology, the projected losses to property values in the municipalities of the area and the economic and social implications caused by the visual impact of the HVPL are quantified. The conclusions point out that the infrastructure would rupture of the regional balance while generating precariousness, loss of wealth in economic and patrimonial terms for the region as a whole.

Habitat Suitability, Connection Analysis and Effectiveness of Protected Areas for Conservation of the Barbastelle Bat Barbastella barbastellus in NW Italy

We studied the distribution of an endangered species of bat strongly associated with woods in NW Italy. A species distribution model (SDM) was built on data collected in 2015–2016 using a presence-only technique (maximum entropy) incorporating environmental variables (19 habitat categories, and 4 topography variables). Barbastelle bat presence (132 sites) was associated with woods (beechwoods, oak-hornbeam woods, and wood arboriculture), while there was a negative selection of built or cultivated areas and open space categories. The model was highly successful when predicting the presence/absence of the species in 43 new sites sampled in 2017–2018. SDM was utilized to calculate resistance surfaces and to assess potential suitable connections among the currently utilized areas. The currently protected areas of NW Italy showed a moderate overlap both with high environmental value areas (23.5%) or high connection areas (11.3%). This study highlights a moderate effectiveness of the protected areas network for conservation of barbastelle bat, and suggests preventing land-use change in current woodland areas and increasing connections in the lowland areas of the region. Our results from predicted species occurrence obtained through SDM can be utilized for targeting survey efforts to identify new barbastelle bat sites.

Prospects for the expansion of the Carpathian national nature park in the context of the basin concept

Optimization of the network of territories of the nature reserve fund is currently an important condition for Ukraine’s fulfillment of its international obligations on environmental protection. The increase in the area of protected areas can be done by adding new areas with high environmental value to existing NPF facilities. An important place is occupied by the first national nature park - Carpathian, which quite fully represents the biological and landscape diversity of the Eastern Carpathians. The Carpathian National Nature Park was established in 1980 on 50,321.5 hectares of land. The first project to create the Park covered the entire basin of the upper Prut River, but during the Soviet period, the authorities preferred forestries that were actively exploiting the forest. Currently, the lower parts of the mountain slopes in the Prut basin are protected as part of the nature reserve, and the upper parts of the slopes are still being felled by Delyatyn and Vorokhta forestries. This division of the territory leads to a number of environmental problems: deciduous forests are cut down, wood is skidded along the riverbeds, and natural biodiversity is reduced. Taking into account the importance of the basin approach to the functioning of the Carpathian National Nature Park, we consider it expedient to expand the territory of the Park at the expense of the lands of Vorokhta and Delyatyn State Forestry - with an area of 25,301 hectares (48.9% of the park area). The territory planned for joining the Carpathian NNP is located within the upper and middle parts of the slopes of the Upper Prut Valley. Absolute heights range from 900 m to 1585.9 m (Mount Kostrytsia). The project area is characterized by a variety of geological structure (siltstones, argillites, sandstones, flysch, sandy limestones, limestones, marls, clays), complex landforms (peneplenized surfaces, nival and relic glacial landforms, steep, gravitational slopes of different gravitational slopes biocoenotic cover, represented by deciduous, mixed and coniferous forests. The area proposed for expansion is located in a mountainous area, which determines the hydrological regime of the river, the structure of river valleys and the specifics of other hydrological characteristics. The largest water arteries of Delyatyn and Vorokhta state forestries were studied in this territory: Prutets Chemyhivsky, Prutets Yablunetsky, Pigi, Kamyanka, Boyarsky, Zhonka, part of the basin of which is currently the territory of the Carpathian NNP, but mainly the upper tributary areas are located on the territory of state forestries. As a result of field research and additional survey of already selected nature reserves within the Delyatyn and Vorokhta state forestries, we were able to identify ecologically / biologically valuable areas that could serve as protected nuclei in the newly annexed to the Carpathian NNP. In general, a number of valuable natural objects important for the preservation of the Ukrainian Carpathians were identified on the project territory (Ozernyanske, Kremintsivske, Polyanytske, Mykulychynske, Dorivske, Polyanytske forestry): 8 natural settlements (habitats) from Annex I of the Bern Convention, 7 natural settlements (habitats) from the Annex to the Habitats Directive, 5 groups of syntaxons, which include 10 rare associations included in the Green Book of Ukraine, 24 species of plants from the Red Book of Ukraine (2009), 11 regionally rare plant species of Ivano-Frankivsk region, 31 species of vertebrates , listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, 1203.7 hectares of plantations with characteristic features of virgin and ancient forests, 37 objects of the nature reserve fund, of which 7 belong to the national. Currently, the modeling of the basin structure of the landscape using GIS technologies, which includes: a) construction in ArcGIS digital terrain model (DEM) based on digitized topographic maps; b) determination with the help of ArcHydro runoff directions, allocation of boundaries of micro-catchments and basins of Prut tributaries; c) determination of watercourses and assignment of order to the links of the erosion grid according to the scheme of V. Filosofov - A. Straller. In our opinion, the introduction of a basin-landscape approach to the territorial planning of the Carpathian NNP will create a real mechanism for sustainable development of natural and anthropogenic systems. The use of this mechanism will make it possible to eliminate many contradictions that arise in both the environmental and socio-economic spheres of the Yaremche region.

Sustainable desalination: Long-term monitoring of brine discharge in the marine environment

The environmental impact of desalination is the most important concern related to its sustainable development. We present the results of a long-term environmental plan to monitor brine discharge (BD) from a desalination plant located in a high environmental value area in Spain. Generalized additive models were used to analyze the biological parameters of biological communities. Results of 17 years of BD monitoring show how its environmental impact can be minimized through well-planned decision-making between scientists and industry. The brine dilution prior to its discharge into an artificial channel of low ecological value significantly reduced the brine influence area. P. oceanica shoot production and echinoderms abundances were relatively stable across historical series and similar values in control and impacts locations were observed. Conversely, there was a higher abundance and species richness of fishes in the BD area. The important findings reported here should be considered for future applications in similar projects.

A taxonomic analysis of brioflora of Kastel State Nature Reserve

The article summarizes the literary and proprietary data on the moss flora of Kastel State Nature Reserve. The features of the taxonomic structure of bryophytes in this territory are considered. The brioflora ofMountKastelis represented by 90 species belonging to 61 genera, 37 families, 15 orders and 4 classes: of which 19 are liverworts and 71 leafy moss. Identified taxonomic features are characteristic of southern floras. The leading position in the floristic spectrum is occupied by the families Pottiaceae, Brachytheciaceae and Grimmiaceae. In the generic spectrum, Bryum and Grimmia prevail. A comparison with the Crimean bryoflora is shown, showing a high percentage of species diversity of the study area. The high sozological value of bryoflora has been established - 53.8% of the species are included in the regional Red Books of theRussian Federation, and seven species are listed in the Red Book of the Republic of theCrimea, which confirms the high scientific importance and environmental value of the territory of the Kastel reserve.

Strategy option to improve income sustainability of private forest farmer in Ciamis District, West Java

Traditional farmers often show illogical behavior to manage their private forests. They heavily depend on forest products, but some of them are unwilling to maintain the forest properly. This discrepancy led the economic contribution of forest products to farmer incomes to fall into a subsistence level. The private forest is also characterized by a low absorption capacity of the laborer, which makes the target decrease of unemployed farmers hard to achieve. Regarding this condition, the government should make a strategy to intensify on-farm management as well as to improve farmers’ capacity. This study was conducted in Ciamis District through an interview of 13 key persons. Collected data were then analyzed using the SWOT approach. The research proposed a set of strategies that the government should provide a guide about agroforestry system based on elevation range and management unit, which has a potential product with high economic and environmental values, to meet the increasing market demand of timber. Also, farm laborers around the forest should be trained and introduced with the technology to inspire them to create a new source of income. Technology has to be considered as the primary reference at any program related to private forest development to improve the forest roles in solving the problem of the unemployed farm laborer. The government also has to facilitate forest product processing to gain added value.

Green space networks as natural infrastructures in PERI-URBAN areas.

Focusing on the analysis of green spaces of urban and peri-urban borders, this paper puts into practice a methodology designed for the analysis of green areas and peri-urban spaces as green infrastructures, but from a multifunctional and integrating perspective, as it is stated in the European Strategy for Green Infrastructures and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development goals. The deadline for implementing European legislation in this area means that strategic plans are being developed at local and regional level. In Spain there are municipal and regional strategies already developed and implemented but the national strategy has not yet been approved. To this end, the development of monitoring and evaluation tools such as the one presented in this article, can help not only in local decision-making, but also in the establishment of common criteria to help assess its future evolution.This research analyses the large peri-urban parks located in the southwest of the Community of Madrid (Spain). The evaluation is carried out from a local to a regional scale applying multifunctionality criteria to the planning, design, execution, maintenance and resilience phases. From the point of view of landscape structures, the findings of this study reflect a high environmental and social services delivery value, which makes it possible to understand the need to create networks to integrate the peri-urban spaces into the city and to attend to and understand the needs of all actors involved: citizens, political leaders, municipal technicians and private companies, providing them a common vision that improves the future of these spaces.This makes them core areas from which to design strategic plans for natural infrastructure and improvement of biodiversity in the urban area, being, likewise, an example that can be extrapolated and applied to large cities whose urban areas are adjoined and where peri-urban parks can be the starting point for designing supramunicipal strategies for open spaces.Based on these results we can conclude that south-west Madrid provides the ideal conditions for implementing a supra-municipal strategy for green infrastructures which, starting with its large forest parks, showcases the periurban areas which connect them with the urban green network. The Móstoles Green Network and Bosquesur are two strategic projects which, together with the forest parks, constitute a working framework based on which the Supra-municipal Strategy for Open Spaces in South-west Madrid can be devised.