ABSTRACT
All types of environments worldwide are threatened as a consequence of pollution, overexploitation, and the impacts of climate change, which increased awareness of the intense impact of humans on ecosystem functioning. As a consequence, there is a well-identified need for approaches to sustain and, where necessary, restore ecosystems (Hughes et al., 2005). Approximately 25 years ago, the idea of sustainable development emerged (Pulselli et al., 2008), but there is no agreement regarding the precise understanding and definition of the term among researchers from different disciplines. “Development that satisfies present needs without compromising the possibility of future generations satisfying theirs” (Brundtland, 1987) is probably the most commonly adopted definition of sustainable development, but this definition is relatively vague and nonoperational. In fact, to apply the concept, additional quantification from the scientific, cultural, and socioeconomic points of view is required, and it is also necessary to take into account time, relationships, and biophysical limits (Pulselli et al., 2008).
