Papers by Rui Ferreira Santos
Actas do 5º Congresso Ibérico da Água, 2006
Ecology and Society, 2009
The social and ecological systems of Mediterranean streams are intrinsically linked as a result o... more The social and ecological systems of Mediterranean streams are intrinsically linked as a result of long human occupation. In this region, these links vary greatly across small distances due to geomorphology, resulting in great diversity across space, which poses particular challenges for understanding and managing these systems. This demands (i) interdisciplinary integration of knowledge that focuses on the social-ecological interactions, while according due consideration to the whole; and also (ii) transdisciplinary integration, integrating lay and expert knowledge to understand local specificities. To address these needs-a focus on interactions and local knowledge-the research presented here studies the human-nature relationship in Mediterranean streams. Its main objective is to improve understanding of Mediterranean streams, but it also provides practical inputs to enhance local-level management. The study adopts an applied approach from the perspective of natural resources management. A case study was developed conducting field work on streams within the Natura 2000 site of Monfurado, Portugal-a mainly privately owned area with conflicting land uses between conservation and farming. Rivers and streams in Portugal are considered to be in very bad condition, particularly with regard to water quality. The experimental design was based, from a critical realism perspective of inter-and trans-disciplinarity, on the complementarities between methodologies from (i) the social sciences: value survey and analysis of discourse; and (ii) the natural sciences: biomonitoring and integrity biotic indexes. Results characterized the connected systems from both ecological and social points of view. They also characterized the relationship between both dimensions. We concluded that well-established riparian vegetation cover of streams is a key structural element of the human-nature relationship in the Mediterranean streams of Monfurado at several levels. The central role this structure might have in the dialog between the conflicting land uses with regard to water management is discussed, and priority targets for management are identified. The tree stratum in streams may work as a conciliation factor in the conflict between farming and conservation, as it is in the interest of both sectors to maintain it; however, the shrub stratum is effectively a source of conflict between the two perspectives and needs further work at the social-change level.
Environmental Science and Engineering, 2013
In phase 3, natural and social scientific results from phase 2, modules 2–6 (assessment and analy... more In phase 3, natural and social scientific results from phase 2, modules 2–6 (assessment and analysis of the conflict), are integrated in order to design and implement conflict resolution strategies. Module 9 deals with the evaluation of policy instruments in terms of their effectiveness, their cost-effectiveness, their perception by stakeholders, and their potential for including relevant actors in wildlife decision making. If none or few instruments are present, new policies addressing the human-wildlife conflict need to be developed. Wildlife conflict resolution policies ideally are a policy mix consisting of species conservation and derogation measures, economic instruments, and action directed at civil society.
Journal of Environmental Planning and Management
Increasingly, Protected Areas (PAs) are sustained by a multilevel governance where demands for pu... more Increasingly, Protected Areas (PAs) are sustained by a multilevel governance where demands for public participation have occurred against the backdrop of state reconfiguration. Little scholarly attention has been paid to how these shifts have taken place; this paper aims to diachronically assess the involvement of non-state actors in the governance of PAs in Portugal. Our findings indicate that while the range of actors involved in the decision-making process has progressively widened, their engagement remains mainly consultative. Moreover, PAs managed by local authorities and private actors have been recognised, yet local authorities' involvement in PAs managed by state actors has been recently reduced. These apparently contradictory trends seem to illustrate a common rationale: state actors are fighting to retain control while adapting to the broadening role of multiple actors in nature conservation policies. We conclude that new governance approaches do not necessarily pave the way for more public participation in conservation.
Land Use Policy
Land use and land cover (LULC) changes, particularly land take by urbanization, can jeopardize ec... more Land use and land cover (LULC) changes, particularly land take by urbanization, can jeopardize ecosystems and their capacity to provide humans with numerous benefits, known as ecosystem services. A better understanding of the connections between land take, changes in complex LULC patterns and ecosystem services is still needed. Especially needed are forward-looking analyses that can support spatial planning in the face of targets like “no net land take,” as set in Europe. The aim of this research is to gain insight into the possible consequences of alternative pathways of demographic and urban development, in terms of land take and ecosystem services supply. Using the Lisbon Metropolitan Area in Portugal as case study, four contrasting scenarios for 2030 were developed that cover major determinants of land take (with a focus on residential development) and priority ecosystem services for the region, as well as deal with climate regulation, recreation and food production. Our findings suggest that the effects of urban development on land take are positive for a “compact city” and negative for an “urban sprawl” pattern, even for opposite demographic developments (growth versus decline). However, each pattern can have both positive and negative effects on the supply of ecosystem services. Hence, tensions can exist between the “compact city” model of urban development and the provision of ecosystem services to urban dwellers, especially across planning levels. We argue that the way land take is defined can influence the outcome of this kind of assessment, depending on which LULC dataset is used to support it. Exploring the approach developed in this research with different stakeholders while adopting more extreme scenario assumptions can provide additional insights on the topic.
Journal of Cleaner Production, 2017
This is a repository copy of Assessing the degrowth discourse: a review and analysis of academic ... more This is a repository copy of Assessing the degrowth discourse: a review and analysis of academic degrowth policy proposals.
Ecosystem Services, 2016
Ecosystem services (ES) assessments have been undergoing rapid developments. Despite considerable... more Ecosystem services (ES) assessments have been undergoing rapid developments. Despite considerable advancements it is still difficult to comprehensively assess a large suite of ES, often requiring a selection of the most relevant ones. However, documented and tested procedures to select ES, particularly through participatory processes, are scarce. The aim of this research is to explore the participatory selection of ES, illustrated with the case of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area in Portugal, southwestern Europe. Drawing from a spatial planning context, different types of stakeholders were involved through a combination of participatory techniques. It was possible to identify differences in stakeholders' ES selection, while at the same time arriving at a set of priority ES and linking them with spatial planning goals that entail potential effects on ES. The strengths of the approach include the use of different participatory techniques, of drivers that help translating plans and of an existing ES classification system to support it. On the other hand, the exploratory nature of the research meant that a limited range of types of stakeholders was covered. The participatory approach developed in this research has the potential to be adapted for ES selection in other planning contexts or in strategic environmental assessments.
ABSTRACT Europe has been experiencing a significant increase in temperatures per decade and clima... more ABSTRACT Europe has been experiencing a significant increase in temperatures per decade and climate change scenarios are projecting high probability of more frequent heat waves. Although climate change has been the driver for the increase in energy efficiency in buildings and for the promotion of stricter regulations for energy and thermal performance, adaptation in the building sector has not attracted much attention. Several studies suggest it is not guaranteed that an energy-efficient building will be able to continue providing adequate indoor comfort conditions in a changing climate. The research presented here frames this issue from a resilience perspective. A framework and methodology for assessment of thermal performance resilience of existing dwellings is presented for the case of heat waves, using an adaptive model of comfort. A 1960 typical building in Lisbon is adopted as a case study to illustrate the use of framework and to analyse the impact of energy retrofitting measures.
Ecological Indicators, Aug 27, 2014
The assessment of decoupling between development and resource use is a central issue in current d... more The assessment of decoupling between development and resource use is a central issue in current debates on sustainability. Traditionally, resource use intensity has been measured in terms of resource use units per economic growth unit using the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This paper explores the use of the Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare (ISEW) to complement the analysis of resource use intensity and the decoupling assessment, comparing the results obtained for two countries. The ISEW values for Portugal and the United States are computed for the period between 1960 and 2010, as well as estimates of the intensity of the use of several resources. We compare the empirical results of resource use intensity using the GDP and the ISEW, and also test the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC). The results show that the ISEW has greater sensitivity in assessing resource use intensity and can provide additional and important information about countries'decoupling patterns.
Building and Environment, 2015
ABSTRACT The world has been experiencing a significant increase in daily average temperatures per... more ABSTRACT The world has been experiencing a significant increase in daily average temperatures per decade and climate change scenarios are projecting high probability of more frequent heat waves. In vulnerable regions, like Southern Europe, where most of the residential buildings still rely on natural ventilation for cooling, impact on thermal comfort can be significant in terms of health, well-being and also energy consumption. The question is particularly important for the existing building stock, which was not designed considering the projected future climate conditions and is prone to be subjected to interventions with the purpose of improving thermal performance. The study presents a vulnerability framework and methodology for the assessment of thermal comfort in existing dwellings in the context of climate change. Results relating to a 1960s typical building case study in Lisbon, Portugal, suggest that specific dwelling characteristics, such as orientation, and occupancy profiles are relevant when assessing vulnerability, suggesting significant differences, of up to 91% in discomfort hours on an annual basis. Furthermore, increased insulation seems to be effective in decreasing discomfort, as the best results (48% in discomfort hours decrease) stem from a context of external insulation for a heatwave situation. The methodology can be useful for assessing vulnerability in existing dwellings and its specific conditions. It can also contribute to understanding the effect of energy retrofitting measures in future climate conditions, assisting energy efficiency policies and decision-making regarding retrofit interventions.
Environmental Conservation, 2015
SUMMARYHabitat banking and tradable development rights (TDR) have gained considerable currency as... more SUMMARYHabitat banking and tradable development rights (TDR) have gained considerable currency as a way of achieving ‘no net loss’ of biodiversity and of reconciling nature conservation with economic development goals. This paper reviews the use of these instruments for biodiversity conservation and assesses their roles in the policy mix. The two instruments are compared in terms of effectiveness, cost effectiveness, social impact, institutional context and legal requirements. The role in the policy mix is discussed highlighting sequential relationships, as well as complementarities or synergies, redundancy and conflicts with other instruments, such as biodiversity offsets and land-use zoning.Habitat banking and TDR have the potential to contribute to biodiversity conservation objectives and attain cost-effective solutions with positive social impacts on local communities and landowners. They can also help to create a new mind-set more favourable to public-private cooperation in bio...
Environmental Policy and Governance, 2014
ABSTRACT Biodiversity conservation policies have relied on regulatory approaches, such as the des... more ABSTRACT Biodiversity conservation policies have relied on regulatory approaches, such as the designation of protected areas, which have generally been insufficient to ensure long-term conservation. This is partially explained by the mismatch between those who bear the costs of and those who benefit from conservation. While local actors, private and public, face management and opportunity costs due to conservation policies, the benefits reach beyond local borders. In this paper, we argue that a successful biodiversity conservation policy mix should include economic instruments directed at public and private local stakeholders. These instruments should be mutually reinforcing and target decision processes regarding land-use zoning and land management practices. To illustrate our argument, we focus on European agri-environmental measures (directed at private landowners) and ecological fiscal transfers (for local governments). We describe each of these instruments and derive main lessons from their implementation. Finally, we present proposals for linking them to reinforce their individual contributions to the overall goal of halting biodiversity loss, taking the Portuguese case as an example. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
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Papers by Rui Ferreira Santos