XLI CICLO | La Monica Laura

Graduated in Foreign Languages and Cultures, my interest in environmental protection originated from the analysis of thehuman–nature relationship in classical Anglo-American and Russian literature of the 19th and 20th centuries. My early research focused on the recovery of Indigenous knowledge systems that place the relationship with the natural environment at the core of worldviews and
socio-economic organization. Subsequently, I obtained a degree in Environmental and Forest Conservation and Restoration, which allowed me to deepen my scientific and interdisciplinary approach to sustainability. My current research interests focus on the development of intersectional environmental protection strategies aimed at fostering transformative change and restoring the ecological balance between humans and nature. I am particularly interested in approaches that integrate ecological, social, and cultural dimensions to support sustainable development and climate change adaptation. Through my work, I seek to contribute to innovative research paths that combine environmental conservation.

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) aim to protect, manage, and restore natural, semi-natural, and human-made ecosystems to ensure sustainable socio-economic development and biodiversity conservation. This approach can be framed within the theoretical concept of Urban Metabolism (UM), defined as the sum of technical and socio-economic processes that result in urban development, energy production, and waste generation and disposal.The project aims to map existing NbS assessment frameworks, develop a standardized framework integrating Urban Metabolism indicators, and test it through pilot case studies in selected cities within the Commit2Green project. From a methodological perspective, the
research is based on a comprehensive analysis of scientific literature on NbS-based approaches in relation to Urban Metabolism. This is complemented by the organization of co-design workshops involving key stakeholders to define relevant Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Quantitative models of metabolic flows before
and after NbS implementation are developed and validated using existing datasets and simulation-based scenarios. Expected results include the development of standardized and adaptable assessment frameworks suitable for different urban contexts, a coherent set of indicators linking NbS to Urban Metabolism-based sustainability targets, and improved comparability of NbS projects from the local  to the global scale.Ultimately, the project seeks to support evidence-based policymaking and investment in NbS, promote circular economy and Cradle to Cradle (C2C) principles in urban development, and contribute to the ecological transition and climate change adaptation strategies.