Ecologies of Cohesion in Practice: Le Marche Case Study
摘要
This chapter applies a social-ecological perspective on territorial cohesion through the case study of Le Marche Region in central Italy. The framework of Nature’s Contributions to People (NCP) is operationalized using the analytical tools of Ecosystem Services (ES), enabling a combined spatial and qualitative investigation of how ecological functions are distributed, valued, and co-produced across multiple scales. At the regional level, ES supply–demand mapping and cluster analysis reveal territorial bundles and interdependencies among local systems. At the local scale, participatory research in the Fiastra Valley examines how residents perceive ES, engage with them, and sustain key ecological functions through everyday landscape practices. Findings underscore the importance of local knowledge, cultural values, and collaborative dynamics in shaping multifunctional landscapes. The study shows that inland areas, despite demographic and economic fragilities, play a vital ecological role that represents leverage points for sustainable development. It also reveals how mismatches between the distribution of benefits and access to decision-making among stakeholders can indicate environmental injustices. These findings, though context-specific, can inform planning strategies in other regions marked by polycentric layouts, Mediterranean contexts, and coastal-inland gradients.