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Funding Information: This work was supported by EIT-CLIMATE-KIC [grant number TC_2.1.5_190294_P018-1A, 2019]. The sponsor was not involved in the preparation of the article. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors The development of legitimate, operative, and feasible landscape adaptation planning for climate change is dependent on the specific characteristics of the landscape and its inhabitants. Spatial patterns, culture, governance systems, socio-economic structures, planning methods, history, and collectively envisioned futures need to be accommodated. The literature suggests that landscape is a complex and dynamic socio-ecological system, the management and adaptation of which requires systemic and integrative approaches to respond to a wide variety of drivers of change, challenges, and interests. Based on activities developed in 15 European pilot landscapes, we identify some of the key factors and conditions affecting the generation of representative local networks for landscape adaptation to climate change. We illustrate how social learning and co-creation processes can be implemented in them and how their co-produced outcomes can help local communities overcome barriers and address critical issues in adaptive planning. Our results provide a framework for the creation of similar networks in other landscapes, exploring at the same time the interactions between the composition of networks, social learning, and the quality of the co-produced outputs as a fundamental step for the development of Landscape Adaptation Plans to Climate Change.

[EN] This article provides a perspective on nature-based solutions. First, the argument is developed that nature-based solutions integrate social and ecological systems. Then, theoretical considerations relating to relational values, multifunctionality, transdisciplinarity, and polycentric governance are briefly outlined. Finally, a conceptual model of the social¿ecological system of nature-based solutions is synthesised and presented. This conceptual model comprehensively defines the social and ecological external and internal systems that make up nature-based solutions, and identifies theoretical considerations that need to be addressed at different stages of their planning and implementation The model bridges the normative gaps of existing nature-based solution frameworks and could be used for consistent, comprehensive, and transferable comparisons internationally. The theoretical considerations addressed in this article inform practitioners, policymakers, and researchers about the essential components of nature-based solutions. The conceptual model can facilitate the identification of social and ecological interconnections within nature-based solutions and the range of stakeholders and disciplines involved., The authors would like to thank the Aalto Seed Funding, Aalto University, for the financial support in organising a co-authors workshop for the development of this perspective paper.

[EN] Architectural education plays a fundamental role in achieving sustainable development by training future professionals who can contribute to sustainability through their practice. Nevertheless, to ensure the introduction of sustainable development in the education of future architects, it is fundamental to understand what is being done and what could be improved. Despite this, a big gap has been detected in the assessment of architectural education in Spain and worldwide. Thus, a close-ended questionnaire for students has been designed based on the outcomes from a literature review, exploratory interviews with specialists, and the qualitative analysis of two schools of architecture. Additionally, it has been revised by experts, through the pilot study of a preliminary version, and with the supplementary analysis of the answers to a final test with students from different schools from Spain. In particular, this questionnaire allows for comprehensively measuring the students¿ perception of their sustainability learning outcomes, their learning experience, and the connection between, with the aim of facilitating the adjustment of Spanish architectural education towards the introduction or enhancement of sustainable development by education managers, teachers, policymakers, and professional associations., This research was funded by theMinistry of Universities of Spain, grant number FPU15/05228

Funding Information: To all the students and tutors of the iWater Summer Schools, with a special mention to those who kindly answered the questionnaire. We also thank the iWater Project funded by the INTERREG Central Baltic Programme 2014–2020. Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2022. Through this paper, we investigate the key characteristics of planning studios and how they relate to new demands in planning education. The research is conducted through an analytical framework that is applied to a highly transferable case study (iWater Summer Schools). Results confirm that the prototypical characteristics of planning studios can support the design of multidisciplinary, research-oriented, personalized, and intensive courses, and that all these demands can be simultaneously satisfied. In addition, results indicate that positive alignments and connections can be established between different pedagogical variables (e.g., learning methods, assessment methods, provided skills) and the educational demands mentioned above.

The increasing interest in urban nature and its connection to urban sustainability and resilience has promoted the generalized use of new concepts such as green infrastructure, ecosystem services and nature-based solutions. However, due to their heterogeneous origins and interpretations, the usage and understanding of these concepts may vary considerably between different academic and professional groups, affecting their coordinated and synergistic use in integrative planning education and emphasizing the need for the exploration of clearer syntaxes and articulations between them. Accordingly, the main aim of this research was to develop a relational model and to investigate, through an external evaluation process, the benefits that these types of models can provide in higher education and in professional practice. This article presents the background theory and process that led to the development of the relational model, the outcomes of its academic implementation and the results of the assessment of both the model and the students’ work by different types of planners, researchers and practitioners. The findings show the potential of the defined relational model to integrate different concepts operating in complex socio-ecological systems and the benefits of developing, testing and validating models by linking research, education and professional practice.

Keeping in mind the need of defining specific conditions for each specific hunting preserve, the Game Management Plan of the Sierra Calderona Strategic Plan establishes a set of directives to demarcate the hunting areas, the fauna reserves and the areas for restocking of game. It also defines the management works and the role that hunters, together with other actors, can play in the management of natural areas.

The Natural Environment Plan of the Sierra Calderona Strategic Plan defines the conditions to make compatible nature conservation, public use, fire protection and forest management. It also estimates the labour and monetary impact of the permitted economic activities (biomass production, wood extraction, honey production, etc.) and of the management works. This impact is not very remarkable in terms of money and job creation but it is socially essential in order to recover the relationship between local communities and their natural areas. Finally, the Plan explores the different actors (administrations, collectives, associations, etc.) which could participate in the management of forests. The Natural Environment Plan includes the following pilot projects: (1) Models for the management of forest areas, (2) Timber and biomass harvesting, (3) Network of forest nurseries.

The Tourism and Public Use Plan of the Sierra Calderona Strategic Plan assumes and develops the methodology defined in the Plan for the Touristic Areas of the Valencian Region for the promotion of tourism in rural areas. According to this methodology, a set of objectives is proposed for the provision of services, for the more effective utilization of existing services and for the promotion of tourism. In a second stage, the plan defines a series of actions and programmes aimed at the implementation of the previously mentioned objectives. The Tourism and Public Use Plan is deeply interlinked with other sectoral plans, since visitors are expected to use or enjoy the elements defined in many of them. The plan also emphasizes the role that traditional villages and towns should play in the provision of touristic services, in order to foster compact urban fabrics and support their economic activity. The plan includes a pilot project promoted by a local entrepreneur and aimed at the establishment of a company specialized in family tourism.

The Cultural Heritage Plan of the Sierra Calderona Strategic Plan includes a detailed inventory of the existing cultural heritage and then continues to define three cultural sectors or systems linked respectively with the three main physiographical corridors that have historically supported the human presence in the Sierra Calderona: The Gatova-Olocau ravine, the Portaceli ravine and the Serra-Naquera ravine. In addition, the plan proposes a set of objective and measurable criteria for prioritizing the rehabilitation and reactivation of the cultural heritage. The Cultural Heritage Plan includes the following pilot projects: (1) Rehabilitation and reactivation of the abandoned hamlet of Olla and (2) Rehabilitation and reactivation of “La Prunera” mountain lodge (constructed in 1914).

The Socioeconomic Development and Sustainability Plan of the Sierra Calderona Strategic Plan incorporates the information and proposals of all the sectoral plans that have clear and direct economic implications (natural environment, agriculture, livestock farming, game management, urban planning and wellbeing, tourism, etc.). In a subsequent stage, it defines a set of objectives, programmes and management structures for its implementation. The same process is followed in relation to Sustainability, where, in addition a monitoring system based on ecological footprints is proposed. This very transversal plan includes the following pilot projects: (1) Identification of strategic economic activities, (2) Professional and business training programme, (3) Sustainable mobility study, (4) Study for the improvement of regional metabolisms.

The Governance and Implementation Plan of the Sierra Calderona Strategic Plan proposes the creation of an inter-municipal office for the Management of the Strategic Plan. This office would be jointly supported by the five municipalities that promoted the Strategic Plan and, in order to avoid extra costs, it would mainly utilize existing human and material resources. In addition, the Plan analyses different options to increase cooperation between the partner municipalities. These options include a commonwealth of municipalities, a consortium, a local action group and the definition of agreements for specific issues. From a broader perspective, the Governance and Implementation Plan reveals the increasing need to define new regional models of administration and governance, in order to deal with possibilities and problems that exceed conventional administrative boundaries. Finally, since the Sierra Calderona Strategic Plan is an informative and non-binding document, the plan explores different ways to link it with statutory Local and Regional Plans (Planes Generales de Ordenacion Urbana and Planes de Accion Territorial) and with the Management Plans of the Sierra Calderona Natural Park.

Following the identification of the adequate areas for extensive grazing and stockbreeding and after establishing in these the types of cattle (sheep or goats) and the maximum number of animals that would be sustainable, the Livestock Farming Plan of the Sierra Calderona Strategic Plan outlines the management systems for this activity. In addition, the plan explores the additional incomes that can be derived from livestock farming and its contribution to fire prevention. The plan includes a pilot project for the establishment of an extensive livestock farm in Olocau that was developed in collaboration with a local entrepreneur.

The metabolic study of the southeastern part of the Calderona Mountain Range (Sierra Calderona) was developed over an area of 200 square kilometers. Due to its location on the outskirt of the Metropolitan Area of Valencia (Spain), the Calderona Mountain Range presents most of the metabolic challenges and potentials that characterize peri-urban areas. The main goal of the study was to increase the sustainability levels of the region by optimizing the flows of materials and energy, as well as flows related to the transport of people within and in/outside the region. The following article includes a methodological introduction to regional and urban metabolic studies. Secondly, it presents the specific application of those principles in the Sierra Calderona case and the qualitative and quantitative results of the assessed regional flows. Moreover, the use of Metabolic Functional Areas (FMAs) is proposed to better integrate metabolic studies with land-use and spatial planning. In its second section, the article also presents the potential for shifting toward an optimized metabolism of the studied area, as well as a set of strategies and actions for their achievement. Finally, in the conclusions, we present a critical reflection on the methods, data, exportability and scalability of the results produced in the Sierra Calderona Case. Due to its regional character, the metabolic performance of the Sierra Calderona is connected to a wide range of land uses, productive functions and stakeholders. That is the reason why the formulated strategies and actions are deeply interlinked with different sectors and why they were supported by the results of an open participatory process. However, and in spite of its regional scope, the urban systems of the Sierra Calderona proved to be an essential lever for improving the regional and local sustainability, due to their varied morphological structures, distinctive ways of functioning, and different types of interaction with the surroundings.

After delimiting a set of Urban Management Units, the Urban and Well-being Plan of the Sierra Calderona Strategic Plan defines guidelines to improve the quality and sustainability of compact traditional villages, dispersed housing states and industrial states. These guidelines are based on the following objectives: promotion of multifunctionality; efficient use of the urban land; increase of densities in selected urban sites, improvement of public transport, soft mobility, public spaces and public services, introduction of sustainable building types and definition of coherent green-blue infrastructures. The overall goal is to improve the levels of environmental, social and economic sustainability, decrease the urban ecological footprints and promote more integrated and lively communities. The Urban Plan includes the following pilot projects: (1) Sustainable improvement of the “Pedralbilla-Torre de Portaceli” housing estates; (2) Bank of Urban Spaces.

Following the methodology proposed by the Landscape Regulations of the Valencian Region (Generalitat Valenciana 2004) and considering some useful references, such as the Strategic Landscape Plan for the Torrevieja and La Mata Lagoons Natural Park (Galan 2009); the Calderona area was divided into a series of landscape units and the main environmental, cultural and visual landscape resources were identified. The resultant information was essential for the definition of a regional Open Space System (or Green Infrastructure), which was developed in more detail in their urban sectors. This Green Infrastructure became a primary element in land-use planning, a regulator of urban growth and established an interconnected network between natural, agricultural and urban areas. In addition, the Landscape and Land-Use Plan of the Sierra Calderona Strategic Plan includes the following pilot projects: (1) Network of routes in the natural environment, (2) Naquera River Park, (3) Olocau River Park and (4) Landscape and Visual improvement of the CV333 road.

This chapter presents the current situation of the south-central area of Sierra Calderona from an environmental, cultural, social, urban and economic perspective. In this context, a number of topics have been defined that, through a systematic, proactive and cross-sectional approach, are intended to establish a solid base from which to propose both objectives and strategies for the sustainable development of the municipalities located in that region. The list of topics include: natural environment, agriculture and livestock farming, urban environment and well-being, infrastructures and mobility, cultural heritage, tourism and public use, landscape and territorial models, regional sustainability, socio-demography and local economy. The whole procedure of analysis and diagnosis was supported by a public consultation process, involving both residents and visitors, in which participants were asked to indicate the major problems and opportunities they perceive in the above-mentioned thematic areas. Within the addressed thematic areas, the Plan focused on the aspects most relevant for the socio-economic and sustainable development of the five municipalities covered by the Sierra Calderona Strategic Plan (Serra, Naquera, Olocau, Marines and Gatova).

Based on the results of the “Analysis and Diagnosis” and the Public Participation Plan, developed during the second stage of the Sierra Calderona Strategic Plan, this chapter proposes a set of fifty-two “Regional Objectives and Strategies” that were informed by a Public Participation Plan and that were organised in the following topics: Natural Environment, Agriculture and Livestock Farming, Urban Environment and Well-being, Infrastructures and Mobility, Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Public Use, Landscape, Sustainability, Socio-Demography, Economic activity and Governance. The strategies for the Sierra Calderona are presented in the form of brief texts and schematic drawings. The information in this chapter guided the drafting of ten Sectoral Plans and eighteen Pilot Projects, which defined the main frameworks and tools for achieving the defined objectives through the proposed strategies.