Mauro Viccaro

Ordered weight averaging multicriteria procedure and cost-effectiveness analysis for short rotation forestry in the Basilicata region, Italy

Optimisation of bio-energy chains and the establishment of a bioenergy district can make a positive contribution to territorial development, while reducing environmental pollution. The Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA) multi-criteria analysis was applied to Basilicata Region in southern Italy to identify suitable areas for Short Rotation Forestry: 4659 ha, 8847 ha and 4742 ha could be planted with eucalyptus, poplar and black locust, respectively. Based on the results, financial analysis compared different management and production scenarios and explored the possibility of accessing national incentives. Economic results are positive above certain yield thresholds (> 15 t.d.m/ha) that can be ensured only with irrigation in summer: the NPV/ha ranged from €111 for black locust to €1360 for poplar. Further economic benefits could be generated by the access to the white certificate market and to the voluntary carbon credit market. Lastly, the results obtained have been confirmed by a sensitivity analysis.

Wildlife Agriculture Interactions, Spatial Analysis and Trade-Off Between Environmental Sustainability and Risk of Economic Damage

Over the last few years, wildlife damages to the agricultural sector have shown an increasing trend at the global scale. Fragile rural areas are more likely to suffer because marginal lands, which have little potential for profit, are being increasingly abandoned. Moreover, public administrations have difficulties to meet the growing requests for crop damage compensations. There is therefore a need to identify appropriate measures to control this growing trend. The specific aim of this research is to understand this phenomenon and define specific and effective action tools. In particular, the proposed research involves different steps that start from the historic analysis of damages and result in the mapping of risk levels using different tests (ANOVA, PCA and spatial correlation) and spatial models (MCE-OWA). The subsequent possibility to cluster risk results ensures greater effectiveness of public actions. The results obtained and the statistical consistency of applied parameters ensure the strength of the analysis and of cost-effectiveness parameters.

The Sustainability of Non-renewable Resources Use at Regional Level: A Case Study on Allocation of Oil Royalties

The aim of this work was to assess the socioeconomic impact derived from the oil royalty allocation on regional development, using a multi-sector model based on a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM), appropriately implemented for Basilicata region (Italy), the typical case of a region lagging behind in a developed economy. Our focus was on how political decisions have influenced the economic development of the region and how a different set of choices can be more effective in transforming public receipts into long-term benefits. Results show clearly that in the past the allocation of oil royalties to the regional Government (as a whole 990 million euros) generated a much lower impact than expected, in terms of economic growth and employment. Given the structure of the regional economy, much of the impact of investments and running expenses financed by royalties has maybe been lost outside the regional boundaries. A greater effect on income and employment will not be possible unless resources are redirected towards greater competitiveness of the regional economic system. Better balancing the use of royalties between social expenditure and production investments would probably be the first step towards a strategy of sustainable development of the regional economy.

The Effects of Climate Change on the Multifunctional Role of Basilicata’s Forests: The Effects Induced on Yield and CO2 Absorption

The first studies on the possible impact of climate change on European forests and the development of adaptation and mitigation strategies began in the 1990s and resulted in the identification of risk assessment models and forest management tools. The prediction of climate change impacts on forests has been based using the evidence theory or Dempster-Shafer (DS)’s theory, appropriately spatialised. The implemented evidence lines refer to the concepts of vulnerability and resilience. The results of the DS model, applied to the Basilicata region, were utilised to assess the loss in biomass production capacity and CO2 absorption ability of different forest-derived biomasses. The loss in stumpage value and in the estimated CO2 absorption shows a reduction over time of forest system’s economic value that is basically higher in 2050 than in 2100. The applied methodological approach has shown that the high degree of spatial and information detail may be helpful to produce good predictions to envisage environmental policy strategies for the monitoring and mitigation of the damages caused by the climate change, with a view to ensuring the ecosystems’ capacity to produce positive externalities, including air carbon sequestration capacity.

Promoting Small-Scale Biofuel Production: A Qualitative GIS-OWA Methodology for Land Suitability Analysis of Winter Rapeseed

Biofuels could be a possible solution to promote agricultural development in rural areas by increasing farm income. Different studies suggest that all problems linked to large-scale biofuel production can be overcome by promoting small-scale production, particularly of rapeseed straight vegetable oil (SVO) used as self-supply agricultural biofuel, specially if the rapeseed is cultivated in crop rotation systems with minimum tillage practices. However, an ex-ante analysis would be very important to explore the feasibility of rapeseed production, via the evaluation of land use suitability.

SAM multipliers and subsystems: structural analysis of the Basilicata’s agri-food sector

Local agri-food products are conceived as a form of cultural capital, representing potentially fruitful resources for rural development. Italy and its regions offer a rich and diverse agricultural and food heritage that has led to the creation of numerous quality agri-food systems. Despite their ability to absorb disturbances and maintain their functions, it is important to develop economic models targeted to analyse the relationships among the components of food systems, in order to identify their strengths and weaknesses and drive the implementation of sectoral policies. In view of the new Rural Development Programme (2014-2020), the aim of this work is to analyse the structure of the Basilicata’s agri-food system using a multi-sector model based on a two-region SAM, specifically developed for Basilicata, an Italian region characterised by a highly specialised agri-food sector. Results show that the availability of a highly disaggregate multi-sector model of the regional economy may be a valuable supporting tool to design regional policies for innovation and for the development of rural areas, laying the foundation for further analysis.

Quality of Life and Social Inclusion of Inland Areas: A Multidimensional Approach to Performance Policies and Planning Assessment

Improving quality of life and social inclusion is one of the priorities of national and community policies. Adopting the approach based on capabilities-functioning, the aim of this paper is to measure a Quality of Life (QoL) index of communities, selecting the specific variables that may influence quality of life of inland areas, such as: economic opportunities, health care, education, cultural and leisure activities, work-life balance, health and environmental protection. A QoL index for three dimensions (economic, social and environmental) and a global QoL were calculated using a non-compensatory method. The values obtained are included in the 70–130 range. The model, applied to the Basilicata region (131 municipalities), takes values in a range between 93 and 105, with 61% of municipalities with a global QoL below the regional average (=100). It tends to assume lower values in inland areas: 62% of inland areas are characterized by a global QoL below the regional average, due in part to fewer economic opportunities and social services, but also to the presence of major landslides and seismicity risks, against a greater health and environmental protection. The opportunity to assess the quality of life through an index, over time, may help policy makers addressing policies and evaluating their effects. Furthermore, an analysis of spatial autocorrelation helps identify different clusters and spatial outliers, useful for the identification of areas requiring priority interventions and future actions, which should take into account a balanced growth of the economic, social and environmental dimensions related to the quality of life.

Well-being and rurality: a spatial tool for rural development programs evaluation

Improving the quality of life of populations is one of the priorities of rural development policies. Based on the capability approach, the aim is to realise a Quality of Life (QoL) index measuring territorial disparities. The QoL index, aggregated by a non-compensatory method, is compared with rural and inland areas of the study area, Basilicata region. The analysis shows a clear relationship between features of QoL and rurality/peripherality degree and a global QoL below the regional average for 61% of municipalities. In these areas, as expected, the high level of environmental protection is offset by lower socio-economic opportunities but, the possibility to evaluate them through an index over time can help policymakers to address rural policies and evaluate their effects.

SWOT-AHP Dynamic Approach to Define Medium Term Strategies to Develop Forest Quality Chain and Forest Energy Chain in Tuscany

The aim of the study is directed to define medium-long term political strategies that focus on the qualitative and quantitative improvement of the Tuscany wood productions, at the same time guaranteeing a profitability to the forest workers , as well as revitalization of the quality woods productions. The proposal approach is based on a dynamic SWOT-AHP analysis: the criteria of the analysis have been examined considering three different situations: the existing one, medium and long term scenarios. This integrated application led to the definition of extremely efficacious strategic analyses. In this case the formalization through a dynamic model, able to quantify the relevance of each component, gives to the final beneficiaries an exhaustive tool for territorial planning.