Indicators-based spatial SWOT analysis: Supporting the strategic planning and management of complex territorial systems

Optimizing the multiple uses of land represents a challenge for today’s governments and land managers.In particular, protected area planning should satisfy the demand for multiple land uses, while offeringoptimal protection of our natural resources. The present research aims at providing park’s managers, aswell as other stakeholders and decision makers, with a scientifically sound and practical approach to zon-ing protection levels and supporting the strategic planning phase in nature conservation. This paper thusproposes and tests the development of an indicators-based spatial Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunitiesand Threats (SWOT) analysis for a complex territorial system with exceptional multiple values. As a result,key conservation priorities and warning spots are identified to support the subsequent decision-makingphase. The innovative value of the research stems not only from the integrated methodological approachbased on the combination between spatial analysis, indicators systems and the traditional SWOT analy-sis, but also from the contextual characteristics and physical extension of the area under investigation.Moreover, the integrated and innovative framework proposed in the paper has also international signifi-cance, thanks to the possibility of replicating the research strategy and methodological approach in other contexts.