Human pressure along the coastal zones grew worldwide: 1/3 of the Mediterranean population lives in coastal regions and cities, which will be the most affected by climate change and extreme events. Nature-based Solution (NbS) can help addressing such challenges by achieving ecosystem restoration and conservation, ensuring the sustainability of social and economic dimensions. Rely on NbS in cities allow to urban and peri-urban areas to deliver multiple benefits and ecosystem services, reduce biodiversity loss, restore degraded land, increase resilience, mitigate and adapt to climate change. Yet, while NbS potentially assure multiple benefits with the protection of the natural capital, a lack of comprehensive evidence remains on NbS reversibility, flexibility, cost effectiveness and long-term feasibility and sustainability compared to grey approaches. Aim of the research proposal is to generate scientifically robust NbS monitoring methods, to facilitate a full NbS integration into planning and design of urban coastal Mediterranean areas. Data will exemplify the positive effects that NbS integration into decision-making can provide in strategic urban planning processes, to support NbS efficiency and cost- effectiveness vs more traditional approaches. Results will support sustainable management, to minimize the impacts on ecological integrity; also, they will contribute to reduce the lack of coordination in the integration of NbS into decision-making and strategic urban planning.

We are looking for candidates with a good knowledge of ecology and ecological processes, as well as in natural resource planning and human dimension integration. The ideal candidate has a Master's degree related to sustainability science, natural and environmental sciences, ecology, biology or similar. Experience with statistics, spatial planning, environmental impact assessment and ecosystem services evaluation will be welcomed.

The scholarship will work within the framework of the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences – Botany division of University of Cagliari. The researcher will have the possibility to work in a multidisciplinary team, under the responsibility of Prof. Michela Marignani. Main scientific interests focus on landscape ecology, with studies on the effects of habitat fragmentation on multi-taxonomical diversity, the definition of ecological networks at different scales and spatial planning in urban and peri-urban environments. The team performs multidisciplinary research activities, thanks to the collaboration with environmental engineers, urban planners, zoologist, geologist and ecologists.