Dr. Carlo Rega has a M.Sc. in environmental engineering and a PhD in spatial planning. His research interests include spatial and land-use planning, sustainable agriculture and rural development, mapping and assessment of ecosystem services; strategic environmental assessment; spatial analysis and ecological/environmental modelling. He has been involved in different international research projects on these topics and has published several papers in peer-reviewed journals. He has also advised public and private bodies in this field. Dr. Rega is currently a researcher at the European Commission Joint Research Centre in Ispra, Italy.

• Chapter 1. Standing on the shoulders of giants – reviving ecological approaches in planning traditions.- Chapter 2. The concept of Ecological Rationality and its application to spatial planning.- Chapter 3. Bridging the gaps: connecting Spatial Planning with Land Use Science and Political Ecology.- Chapter 4. Towards a conceptual framework for ecological rationality in spatial planning.- Chapter 5. A closer look to processes of territorial transformations in Europe: urbanisation, agricultural intensification and land abandonment.- Chapter 6. Policies and regulatory frames in the EU and the needed link with spatial planning.- Chapter 7. Conclusions and ways forward: five propositions for bringing back ecological rationality in spatial planning.

Dr. Carlo Rega has a M.Sc. in environmental engineering and a PhD in spatial planning. His research interests include spatial and land-use planning, sustainable agriculture and rural development, mapping and assessment of ecosystem services; strategic environmental assessment; spatial analysis and ecological/environmental modelling. He has been involved in different international research projects on these topics and has published several papers in peer-reviewed journals. He has also advised public and private bodies in this field. Dr. Rega is currently a researcher at the European Commission Joint Research Centre in Ispra, Italy.

• Chapter 1. Standing on the shoulders of giants – reviving ecological approaches in planning traditions.- Chapter 2. The concept of Ecological Rationality and its application to spatial planning.- Chapter 3. Bridging the gaps: connecting Spatial Planning with Land Use Science and Political Ecology.- Chapter 4. Towards a conceptual framework for ecological rationality in spatial planning.- Chapter 5. A closer look to processes of territorial transformations in Europe: urbanisation, agricultural intensification and land abandonment.- Chapter 6. Policies and regulatory frames in the EU and the needed link with spatial planning.- Chapter 7. Conclusions and ways forward: five propositions for bringing back ecological rationality in spatial planning.

Dr. Carlo Rega has a M.Sc. in environmental engineering and a PhD in spatial planning. His research interests include spatial and land-use planning, sustainable agriculture and rural development, mapping and assessment of ecosystem services; strategic environmental assessment; spatial analysis and ecological/environmental modelling. He has been involved in different international research projects on these topics and has published several papers in peer-reviewed journals. He has also advised public and private bodies in this field. Dr. Rega is currently a researcher at the European Commission Joint Research Centre in Ispra, Italy.

• Chapter 1. Standing on the shoulders of giants – reviving ecological approaches in planning traditions.- Chapter 2. The concept of Ecological Rationality and its application to spatial planning.- Chapter 3. Bridging the gaps: connecting Spatial Planning with Land Use Science and Political Ecology.- Chapter 4. Towards a conceptual framework for ecological rationality in spatial planning.- Chapter 5. A closer look to processes of territorial transformations in Europe: urbanisation, agricultural intensification and land abandonment.- Chapter 6. Policies and regulatory frames in the EU and the needed link with spatial planning.- Chapter 7. Conclusions and ways forward: five propositions for bringing back ecological rationality in spatial planning.