Education
  • Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands, PhD on Ecological evaluation for environmental impact assessment  (2002)
  • International Institute for Aerospace Survey and Earth Sciences (ITC), The Netherlands, Post-graduate Certificate in Digital Image Processing of Remotely Sensed Data (1999)
  • Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy, Master degree (cum laude) in Environmental Sciences (1997)
Academic career and teaching activities

Academic record

  • January-July 2017: Visiting Scientist, Environmental and Conservation Sciences, Murdoch University, Western Australia
  • Aug 2015: External Researcher, Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) 
  • 2014-present: Associate Professor, University of Trento
  • Jun-Aug 2014: Visiting Scholar, Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University
  • Sept. 2010-July 2011: Mid-career RESEARCH FELLOW in Sustainability Science Program, Harvard University, USA
  • 2006-2014: RESEARCHER in the Faculty of Engineering/Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento
  • Sept. 2004-Feb.2006: ADJUNCT PROFESSOR of ‘Environmental assessment’ in the Faculty of Engineering, University of Trento and FREE LANCE CONSULTANT in environmental planning and assessment, biodiversity management, spatial analysis and decision support systems
  • Sept.2002-Aug. 2004: POST-DOC FELLOW and ADJUNCT PROFESSOR of Environmental impact assessment at the Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Trento
  • March 2002 –Aug. 2002: RESEARCH FELLOW at the Dept. of Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
  • July 1998- Feb.2002: Young researcher in the GETS project, International Institute for Aerospace Survey and Earth Sciences, The Netherlands
  • Nov. 1997-May 1998: RESEARCH ASSISTANT (GIS, remote sensing) at the Dept. of Earth Sciences, University of Modena, Italy
Research interests

Fields of research: Spatial planning; ecosystem services; Environmental Impact Assessment, Strategic Environmental Assessment; multicriteria analysis and environmental decision-making.

Specific recent interests: ecosystem-based climate adaptation strategies; ecosystem services in urban and landscape planning; impact assessment of nature-based solutions; equity in land-use planning.

Research work

Externally funded research projects

  • European Commission – Horizon 2020 Coordination and Support Action, RENATURE: promoting Research Excellence in NAture-based soluTions for innovation, sUstainable economic GRowth and human wEll-being in Malta, PI for UNITN, 36 months (2018-2021), € 995,885 
  • European Commission – DG Environment Action, MOVE: Facilitating MAES to support regional policies in overseas Europe: Mobilizing stakeholders and pooling resources, PI for UNITN, 36 months, 2018-2021, € 1 million
  • European Commission - Horizon 2020 Innovation Action, InnoForESt: Smart information, governance and business innovations for sustainable supply and payment mechanisms for forest ecosystem services, Principal Investigator (PI) for UNITN, 36 months (2017-2020), € 4.2 million
  • European Commission - Horizon 2020 Coordination and Support Action, ESMERALDA: Enhancing ecosystem services mapping for policy and decision making, Principal Investigator (PI) for UNITN, 36 months (2015-2018), € 3 million 
  • European Commission – Europe Aid: Cross-cutting development education into technology studies (Number of proposal: DCI-NSAED/2011/63) (24 months, 2013-2015). WP leader 
  • European Commission - FP6 INCO-DEV: Restoration of forest landscapes for biodiversity conservation and rural development in the drylands of Latin America (36 months, 2007- 2009). PI for UNITN 
  • European Commission - Marie Curie Action: EASY-ECO 2008-2010 Evaluation of Sustainability European Conferences and Training Courses, 2008-2010, co-PI for UNTN (42 months)
  • European Commission - ASEAN-EU AUNP Programme: Expanding Expertise Network for generating and sharing knowledge related to Spatial Planning And Decision Support (ENSPADS), 2004-2005; co-PI for UNTN (24 months).
  • University of Trento – Internal Research Grants, CLIMAWARE: CLIMatic change impacts on future Availability of WAter REsources and hydro- geological risks, Task leader, 18 months (2015-2016), overall budget € 200,000
  • Autonomus Province of Trento- Marie Curie – COFUND – Progetto “Trentino” Researcher outgoing: Integrating ecosystem services in strategic environmental assessment of spatial plans (Nota: Primo classificato nella “Call 2009”, (budget € 39,600). Project leader. Nota: Finanziamento non accettato a causa della concomitanza con la Fellowship vinta presso Harvard University.
  • Chilean Economic Development Agency – Innova Programme: Agenda de innovación de destino turistico sostenible con identidad para el territorio andino lacustre Curarrehue, 2008-2009. PI for UNITN
  • Chilean Economic Development Agency – Innova Programme: Diplomado en Diseño y Gestión de Turismo Sustentable para el Desarrollo Local, 2008-2009. PI for UNITN 
  • European Cooperation in Science and Technology: COST Action TU0902 Integrated assessment technologies to support the sustainable development of urban areas, 2010-2014. Management Committee Member
  • National Council on Science and Technology of Mexico - Project no. 179386: Evaluación de la importancia relativa de bosque húmedo de niebla bajo un enfoque de paisaje, 2013-2016. WP leader 
  • National Council on Science and Technology of Mexico – Fondo Mixto Programme: Priorización de subcuencas para la conservación, restauración y el aprovechamiento de los recursos naturales en la Cuenca del Lago de Cuitzeo, 2006-2007. WP leader 
  • National Autonomous University of Mexico - DAGAPA-PAPIIT Programme: Dinámica espacio temporal del bosque mesófilo de montaña del Sistema Volcánico Transversal en el estado de Michoacán bajo un enfoque de paisaje, 2011-2013. Participant
  • European Commission - FP5 RTD Programme: Regionet. Strategies for Regional Sustainable Development – An Integrated Approach beyond Best Practice, 2002-2004. Participant.
  • European Commission - FP5 EESD: Assessment of landslide risk and mitigation in mountain areas (ALARM), 2001-2004. Participant.
  • European Commission - INCO-DC Programme: Environmental indicators and indices to measure sustainable development (ELANEM), 1999-2002. Participant.
  • European Commission - TM&R Programme: A European Research Network on the Application of Geomorphology and Environmental Impact Assessment of Transportation Systems (GETS), 1998-2001. Participant.
Memberships in societies and scientific committees
  1. Member of the Task Force "Nature-based solutions Impact Evaluation Framework", European Commission DG RTD and EASME (2017-)
  2. Member of the Expert Working Group on Nature-based Solutions to Promote Climate Resilience in Urban Areas. EKLIPSE Project (EC, Horizon 2020)
  3. Member of the Scientific Committee of the 2017 Italia Report on Land Take (Centro di Ricerca sui Consumi di Suolo, Rapporto 2017)
  4. Member of the Science-Policy-Business Think tank of AQUACROSS (Ensuring the provision of aquatic ecosystem services), Project funded by the EU Horizon 2020 Programme: (2016-)
  5. Member of the Steering Committee of the Ecosystem Services Partnership: (2014-)
  6. Member of the European Nodal Office of the Global Land Project (http://www.globallandproject.org/): (2013-)
  7. Member of the International Advisory Board of OpenNESS (Operationalisation of Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services), Project funded under the EU 7th Framework Programme (2015-2018)
  8. National Network Leader for Italy of the Ecosystem Services Partnership: (2013-)
  9. Lead Team member of the Thematic Working Group "Applications of ecosystem services in planning and management" of the Ecosystem Services Partnership (2015-)
  10. Lead Editor of the Multicriteria analysis area for the LIAISE- EC FP7 Network of Excellence (Linking Impact Assessment Instruments to Sustainability Expertise) (2012-)
  11. Resource person to advise on ecosystem services and land use planning for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (ProEcoServ project) (2012)
  12. Member of the Scientific Committee of the UNESCO Chair in Engineering for Human and Sustainable Development (University of Trento)
  13. Member of the Scientific Committee of the Italian Chapter of the International Association for Impact Assessment (2011-)
  14. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN):
    1. Member of the Commission on Ecosystem Management (2010-)
    2. Member of the CEM Climate Change Adaptation Thematic Group 2013-2016
    3. Member of the CEM Ecosystem Services Thematic Group 2013-2016
  15. Honorary adviser for the on the integration of health into Strategic Environmental Assessment for the World Health Organization (WHO) (2009)
Awards and honours
  • “Giorgio Ruffolo Mid-Career Fellowship in Sustainability Science”, Harvard University (2010-2011)
  • Visiting research grants at Murdoch University (2017), Finnish Environment Institute (2016), Catholic University of Temuco (2010), Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile (2010), International Islamic University of Malaysia (2006) (see details under point 4a)
  • Appointed Visiting professor at the Interdisciplinary Research Centre for integrated regional development National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico (2009-10) (the appointment did not involve visits, but supervision of research activities)
  • Selected as Seconded National Expert at the Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission (2009) (position not accepted for personal reasons).
  • Grant for 'High-level lectures' - Secretariat of Foreign Affairs of the Mexican Government (2006).
  • Grant for 'High-level lectures' - Secretariat of Foreign Affairs of the Mexican Government (2004).
  • Grant for 'High-level lectures' - Secretariat of Foreign Affairs of the Mexican Government (2003).
  • Young author award (Premio giovani autori), IV Conferenza Nazionale ASITA "Informazione innovazione e formazione", Genova (2000).
Conferences and lectures

Invited talks and keynotes at international workshops and conferences

  1. Invited presentation at “EU High-level Conference Green Cities for a Greener future”, European Commission. Title: “Nature in the city”, Brussels, 22-24 May, 2018.
  2. Invited presentation at the workshop “Green Infrastructure and Restoration”, European Commission, DG Environment. Title: “Guidance documents on ecosystem services mapping and assessment for policy and decision-making”, Brussels, 31.01-01.02 2018
  3. Invited presentation at the workshop “Ecosystem services in impact assessment, planning and management – Current trend and future directions”, Murdoch University. Title: Ecosystem  services and impact assessment of urban plans”. Murdoch, Western Australia, 12 May 2017.
  4. Invited presentation at the “EU technical workshop on knowledge base and spatial and technical data for green infrastructures and restoration”, European Commission, DG Environment.  Title: Strategic planning of green infrastructure and restoration in cities. Brussels, 24-15 October 2016.
  5. Invited presentation at the international seminar “Providing Nature-based solutions for sustainable development”, Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology. Title: Nature-based solutions for urban challenges”. Paola, Malta, 16 June 2016.
  6. Invited presentation at the seminar “Geodesign for Planning Support Systems: Ecosystem services assessment and evaluation”, University of Naples Federico. Naples, 26 May 2016.
  7. Invited presentation at the Sustainability Science Symposium, Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University. Title: What are the principal tradeoffs between human well-being and the natural environment, on what temporal and spatial scales do these tradeoffs matter? Cambridge, MA, USA, May 20-21, 2016
  8. Key note speech at the “Annual Meeting of Operationalisation of Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services”. Speech title: Ecosystem services for impact assessment processes. Leipzig, Germany (26-28 April 2016)
  9. Invited presentation at the international workshop “Modelling and mapping of ecosystem services for regional planning”. Title: Ecosystem services in spatial planning and impact assessment. Garmisch, Germany (17-18 March 2016)
  10. Invited presentation at the international workshop “Mapping and Assessment of ecosystem services in enlargement countries”, organized by Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. Ispra, Italy. Title: Mapping and assessing ecosystem services to support urban planning in Trento, Italy (January 2016)
  11. Invited presentation at the international workshop ‘Using ecosystem service assessments to change things in the real world”, organized by Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research and GIZ. Frankfurt, Germany (November 2014)
  12. Key note speech at the ”International conference RegioResources 21‐2014 A cross‐disciplinary dialogue on future perspectives for a sustainable development of regional resources”. Katowice, Poland (September 2014).
  13. Invited presentation at the International workshop “High Level Policy Dialogue on Mainstreaming Natural Capital into Sustainable Development: Moving environment to the center stage”, organized by the United Nations Environment Programme. Hanoi, Vietnam (May 2014).
  14. Key note speech at the “International conference RegioResources 21‐2013 A cross‐disciplinary dialogue on future perspectives for a sustainable development of regional resources”. Catania, Italy (September 2013).
  15. Invited presentation at the Information and Capacity Exchange Workshop organized by the UNEP Project for Ecosystem Services. San Pedro de Atacama, Chile (via skype) (May 2013).
  16. Invited presentation at the International Conference “Biodiversity and ecosystem services in impact assessment”, International Association for Impact Assessment. Washington DC, USA (February 2013). (Nota: questa relazione su invito non ha previsto il rimborso delle spese).
  17. Invited presentation at the workshop “Generazione e valutazione delle alternative nei processi di valutazione ambientale”, organized by the Italian Ministry for the Environment,  Bari, Italy (Ocober, 2012).
  18. Invited presentation at the “International workshop on Linking policy impact assessment and sustainability expertise”, organized by the LIAISE Network of Excellence. Villa Vigoni, Italy (October 2012).
  19. Invited presentation at the “Synthesis workshop on Qualities, Vulnerabilities and Management of Ecosystem Services in Mountain Regions Worldwide”, organized by the University of Bern, Mountain Research Initiative. Grosshöchstetten, Switzerland (September 2012).
  20. Invited presentation at the “International Scientific Workshop Energy Landscapes – integrating multiple criteria for planning and decision making”, organised by KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Stockholm, Sweden (August 2012).
  21. Invited presentation at the “International Workshop on Mainstreaming Ecosystem Services into Development Policy: Approaches and Opportunities”, organised by the United Nations Environmental Programme. Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (May 2012).
  22. Invited presentation at the “European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2012”. Vienna, Austria (April 2012). (Nota: questa relazione su invito non ha previsto il rimborso delle spese).
  23. Invited presentation at the International Seminar “III Seminario Internacional sobre Ordenación del Territorio”, organized by the Catholic University of Temuco. Temuco, Chile (May 2010).
  24. Invited presentation at  the Conference “Indicators of environmental sustainability in transport. Final Conference”, European Cooperation in Science and Technology. Paris, (March 2010).
  25. Invited presentation at the “Consultation meeting on Strategic Environmental Assessment and Health”, organized by the World Health Organization (WHO). Rome (June, 2009).
  26. Invited presentation at the International seminar on “Percepción Remota, el espacio y las oportunidades de desarrollo social”, organized by SERCOTEC, Santiago de Chile (March 2008).
Other work

Scientific Journal editorial responsibilities 

  • Editor-in-chief: Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (June 2016-) (Scopus indexed)
  • Deputy Editor-In-chief (and co-founder): One Ecosystems. Ecology and Sustainability Data Journal (2016-)
  • Associate Editor:
    • Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal (2015-2016) (ISI indexed)
    • Change and Adaptation in Socio-Ecological Systems (2014-16)
  • Co-Editor (2016-2018) and Senior Editor (2018-): Change and Adaptation in Socio-Ecological Systems
  • Book review Editor: Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal (2011-2015) (ISI indexed)
  • Editorial Board Member:
    • Land Use Policy (2016-) (ISI indexed, Classe A settore 08/F1)
    • Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management (2016-) (Scopus indexed)
    • Landscape and Urban Planning (2014-) (ISI indexed, Classe A settore 08/F1)
    • Environmental Impact Assessment Review (2007-) (ISI indexed, Classe A settore 08/F1)
    • Sustainability (Board member for Section 'Sustainable Urban and Rural Development') (2018-) (ISI indexed, Classe A settore 08/F1)
    • Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal (2011-) (ISI indexed)
    • Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (2009-) (ISI indexed)
    • Planning Malaysia Journal (2008-) (Scopus indexed)

Research positions with formal appointment and fully funded by host institutions

  • Murdoch University, Western Australia (6 months, January-July 2016): “Visiting Fellow” at the School of Veterinary and Life Sciences (Environmental Sciences and Conservation)
  • Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) (1 month, August 2015): “External Researcher” at the Environmental Policy Centre
  • Stanford University (2 months, July-August 2014): “Visiting scientist” at the Woods Institute for the Environment (Note: this position was not funded by Stanford University).
  • Harvard University (10 months, Sept. 2010-July 2011): “Research fellow” in the Sustainability Science Program
  • Catholic University of Temuco (2 weeks in May 2010): Appointed as “International scientific advisor” to work on the research project “Efectos antrópicos sobre el paisaje costero de la Araucanía” at the Laboratory of Territorial Planning.
  • Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile (1 month, January-February 2010): Appointed as “Visiting Professor” in the Villarrica Campus.
  • International Islamic University of Malaysia (2 months, July and August 2006): Appointed as “Visiting associate professor” at the Faculty of Architecture and Environmental Design.
Attachments