The project RUEESnexus will generate new, relevant knowledge to support sustainable development in rural and urban areas by advancing our understanding of the Ecosystems-Economy-Society (EES) nexus. The project will help design coherent policies for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and implementing the European Green Deal at regional and sub-regional levels.

Rural ecosystem services, such as water provisioning, carbon storage, and biodiversity support, are essential for both rural and urban well-being. RUEESnexus will focus on creating environmentally extended rural-urban input-output matrices (EE-RUIO) to analyze the flows of ecosystem services and their economic and social impacts across regions.

RUEESnexus will develop innovative data integration methods, modelling frameworks, and assessment tools to understand better the trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem service management, economic activities, and social objectives in Italian regions. Using case studies in Liguria, Toscana, and Basilicata, the project will create a consolidated framework adaptable to other regions.