Sustainability of Territorial Transformations evaluation against SDG 11. Comparison between Abruzzo and Sardinia (Italy)

This research compares and contrasts the spatial transformations of the inner areas of Abruzzo and Sardinia, two structurally distinct Italian regions. Two territories that are different in terms of their geographical and territorial position, but comparable in terms of their extensive inner areas and resulting pressing problems with land management and planning policies. The application of an Index of Sustainability of Territorial Transformations (ISTT) aims to highlight the structural problems of inner areas (insular and non-insular) through the assessment of the sustainability (environmental, social and economic) of the new territorial transformations that continue to progress in contexts frequently characterised by a high degree of naturalness and by significant de-population phenomena. Utilising all three dimensions of sustainability with three key indicators, ISA, ISS and ISE respectively, the ISTT will make it possible to design common policies on the inner areas of the Italian regions. Therefore, an analytical and original approach is proposed to emphasise the importance of actions planned according to the geographical entity in which the inland areas are located and to strengthen their cohesion with more developed territories.