Fragmentation Tool to Develop Ecological Network from the Local to the Municipal Scale. A Roadmap for Green Infrastructure Planning and Design

Nowadays, several experiences in the international literature show that a planning approach based on the ecosystem services (ES) paradigm can positively influence social dynamics and contribute to enhancing the quality of life in rural and urban environments. Despite this, in Italy, there is no mandatory-planning instrument that considers the green environmental issue as a priority component in planning and design land transformation. In this context, one possible way to introduce GI in spatial planning instruments consists in the design of the ecological network (EN) as a conceptual tool for nature conservation and sustainable land use planning. To do this, the article outlines a methodological framework to encourage the use of geo-mapping solutions for the spatial definition of the EN at both the territorial and municipal scales. Results show the benefit of this methodology in the spatial recognition and characterization of territory open areas fundamental to design the connectivity of natural and semi-natural habitats to develop the GI at local and municipal scale. Discussions highlight the importance of the tool to define new relationships between natural resources and agricultural landscape matrix that support high levels of biodiversity and guide green infrastructure planning.