Publications

Peer-reviewed publications

• Costadone, L., & Balzan, M.V. (2023). Characterizing nature-based recreation preferences in a Mediterranean small island environment using crowdsourced data. Ecosystems and People, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/26395916.2023.2274594 

• Chan, F. K. S., Lu, L., Zhu, Y., Balzan, M.V., Pezzoli, A., Johnson, M., Zhu, F., Ruan, T., Luo, G., Li, G., & Xu, Y. (2023). Exploring community perceptions and engagement of nature-based solutions: The case of Ningbo, a Chinese coastal sponge city. Nature-Based Solutions, 4, 100093. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbsj.2023.100093 

• Reverté, S., Miličić, M., Ačanski, J., Andrić, A., Aracil, A., Aubert, M., Balzan, M.V., Bartomeus, I., Bogusch, P., Bosch, J., Budrys, E., Cantú-Salazar, L., Castro, S., Cornalba, M., Demeter, I., Devalez, J., Dorchin, A., Dufrêne, E., Đorđević, A., … Vujić, A. (2023). National records of 3000 European bee and hoverfly species: A contribution to pollinator conservation. Insect Conservation and Diversity. https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12680 

• Reckien, D., Buzasi, A., Olazabal, M., Spyridaki, N.-A., Eckersley, P., Simoes, S. G., Salvia, M., Pietrapertosa, F., Fokaides, P., Goonesekera, S. M., Tardieu, L., Balzan, M.V., de Boer, C. L., de Gregorio Hurtado, S., Feliu, E., Flamos, A., Foley, A., Geneletti, D., Grafakos, S., … Wejs, A. (2023). Quality of urban climate adaptation plans over time. Nature Urban Sustainability, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-023-00085-1 

• Pietrapertosa, F., Olazabal, M., Simoes, S. G., Salvia, M., Fokaides, P. A., Ioannou, B. I., Viguié, V., Spyridaki, N. A., de Gregorio Hurtado, S., Geneletti, D., Heidrich, O., Tardieu, L., Feliu, E., Rižnar, K., Matosović, M., Balzan, M.V., Flamos, A., Šel, N. B., & Reckien, D. (2023). Adaptation to climate change in cities of Mediterranean Europe. Cities, 140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2023.104452 

• Balzan, M.V., De Santis, L. (2023) Impacts of local and landscape habitat variables and honeybee visitation on wild bee diversity in the Maltese Islands. Xjenza.

• Balzan, M.V., De Santis, L., Kratschmer, S., & Michez, D. (2023). New records and updated checklist of bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) from the Maltese Islands. MCAST Journal of Applied Research & Practice, 7(2), 182–189. https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0053.7300 

• Longato, D., Cortinovis, C., Balzan, M.V. and Geneletti, D., 2023. A method to prioritize and allocate nature-based solutions in urban areas based on ecosystem service demand. Landscape and Urban Planning, 235, p.104743.

• Alejandre, E.M., Scherer, L., Guinée, J.B., Aizen, M.A., Albrecht, M., Balzan, M.V., Bartomeus, I., Bevk, D., Burkle, L.A., Clough, Y. and Cole, L.J.,…, van Bodegom,P.M. 2023. Characterization factors to assess land use impacts on pollinator abundance in life cycle assessment. Environmental Science & Technology, 57(8), pp.3445-3454.

• Balzan, M.V., Geneletti, D., Grace, M., De Santis, L., Tomaskinova, J., Reddington, H., Sapundzhieva, A., Dicks, L.V., Collier, M. 2022. Assessing nature-based solutions uptake in a Mediterranean climate: insights from the case-study of Malta. Nature-Based Solut. 2, 100029. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbsj.2022.100029  

• Balzan, M.V., Zulian, G., Maes, J., Borg, M., 2021. Nature-Based Solutions Assessing urban ecosystem services to prioritise nature-based solutions in a high- density urban area. Nature-Based Solut. 100007. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbsj.2021.100007 

• Salvia, M., Olazabal, M., Fokaides, P.A., Simoes, S.G., Geneletti, D., Hurtado, S.D.G., Vigui, V., Pietrapertosa, F., Ioannou, B.I., Matosovi, M., Flamos, A., Heidrich, O., Balzan, M.V., Feliu, E., Ri, K., Reckien, D., 2021. Climate mitigation in the Mediterranean Europe: An assessment of regional and city-level plans. J. Environ. Manage. 295, 113146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113146 

• Lardon, S., Debolini, M., Esgalhado, C., Helena, M., Balzan, M.V., Gennai-schott, S.C., Sim, M., 2021. Planning Mediterranean land system dynamics and their underlying drivers : Stakeholder perception from multiple case studies. Landsc. Urban Plan. 213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2021.104134 

• Boriani, E., Aragrande, M., Canali, M., Balzan, M.V., Asaduzzaman, M., 2021. Pragmatic use of planetary health and nature-based solutions for future pandemics using COVID19 case scenarios. Front. Public Heal.

• Grace M, Balzan M.V., Collier M, Geneletti D, Tomaskinova J et al. 2021 Priority knowledge needs for implementing nature-based solutions in the Mediterranean islands. Environ. Sci. Policy 116, 56–68. doi: 10.1016/j.envsci.2020.10.003

• Salvia, M., Reckien, D., Pietrapertosa, F., Eckersley, P., Spyridaki, A., Krook-riekkola, A., Olazabal, M., Gregorio, S. De, Simoes, G., Geneletti, D., Vigui, V., Fokaides, P.A., Ioannou, B.I., Flamos, A., Csete, M.S., Buzasi, A., Orru, H., Boer, C. De, Foley, A., Ri, K., Matosovi, M., Balzan, M.V., Smigaj, M., Streberova, E., Orru, K., Wejs, A., Feliu, E., Church, J.M., Grafakos, S., Vasilie, S., Paspaldzhiev, I., Heidrich, O., 2021. Will climate mitigation ambitions lead to carbon neutrality? An analysis of the local-level plans of 327 cities in the EU. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2020.110253

• Tomaskinova J, Dicks L, Collier M, Geneletti D, Grace M, Longato D, Sadula R, Stoev P, Sapundzhieva A, Balzan M.V., 2020 Capacity-building and networking events for nature-based solutions and re-naturing in Malta. Res. Ideas Outcomes 6, e60893. doi: 10.3897/rio.6.e60893

• Sapundzhieva A, Balzan M.V., Tomaskinova J, De Santis L, Collier M et al. 2020 ReNature: creating the first nature-based solutions compendium in the Mediterranean. Res. Ideas Outcomes 6. doi: 10.3897/rio.6.e59646

• Balzan M.V., Tomaskinova J, Collier MJ, Dicks L, Geneletti D et al. 2020 Building capacity for mainstreaming nature-based solutions into environmental policy and landscape planning. Res. Ideas Outcomes 6, e58970. doi: 10.3897/rio.6.e58970

• Balzan, M.V., Sadula, R., Scalvenzi, L., 2020. Assessing Ecosystem Services Supplied by Agroecosystems in Mediterranean Europe : a Literature Review. Land. 9(8), 245.

• Geneletti, D.; Esmail, B.A.; Cortinovis, C.; Arany, I.; Balzan, M.V..; Van, P.; Bicking, S.; Borges, P.A. V; Borisova, B.; Broekx, S.; et al. Ecosystem services mapping and assessment for policy- and decision-making: Lessons learned from a comparative analysis of European case studies. One Ecosyst. 2020, 5, e53111, doi:10.3897/oneeco.5.e53111.

• Cole, L.J., Kleijn, D., Dicks, L.V., Stout, J.C., Potts, S.G., Albrecht, M., Balzan, M.V., Bartomeous, I., Bebeli, P.J., Bevk, D., Biesmeijer, J.C., Chlebo, R., Dàutartë, A., Emmanouil, N., Hartfield, C., Holland, J.M., Holzdchuh, A., Knober, N.T.J., Kovács-Hostyânszki, A., Mandelik, Y., Panou, H., Paxton, R.J., Petanidou, T., Pinheriro de Varvalho, M.A.A., Rundlöf, M., Sarthou, J-P., Stavrinides, M.C., Suso, M.J., Szentgyörgyi, H., Vaissière, B.E., Varanva, A., Vilá, M., Zemeckis, R., Scheper, J. (2020) A critical analysis of the potential for EU Common Agricultural Policy measures to support wild pollinators on farmland. Journal of Applied Ecology. 1–14. 10.1111/1365-2664.13572. 

• Breeze T.D., Boreux V., Cole L., Dicks L., Klein A-M., Pufal G., Balzan M.V., Bevk D., Bortolotti, L., Petanidou, T., Mand M., Pinto A.M., Scheper J., Stanisavljević L., Stavrinides M.C., Tscheulin T., Varnava A., Kleijn D. (2019) Linking farmer and beekeeper preferences with ecological knowledge to improve crop pollination. People and Nature. 10.1002/pan3.10055 

• Balzan M.V., Martins Pinheiro A., Mascarenhas A., Morán-Ordóñez A., Ruiz-Frau A., Carvalho-Santos C., Vogiatzakis I.N., Arends J., Santana-Garcon J., Roces-Díaz J.V., Brotons L., Campagne C.S., Roche P, de Miguel S, Targetti S, Drakou E.G., Vlami V, Baró F, Geijzendorffer I.R. (2019) Improving ecosystem assessments in Mediterranean social-ecological systems: a DPSIR analysis, Ecosystems and People, 15:1, 136-155, 10.1080/26395916.2019.1598499

• Reckien D., Salvia M., Pietrapertosa F., Simoes S.G., Olazabal M., De Gregorio Hurtado S., Geneletti D., Krkoška Lorencová E., D’Alonzo V., Krook-Riekkola A., Fokaides P.A., Ioannou B.I., Foley A., Orru H., Orru K., Wejs A., Flacke J., Church J.M., Feliu E., Vasilie S. Nador C., Matosovic M., Flamos A., Spyridaki N-A., Balzan M.V., Fülöp O., Grafakos S., Paspaldzhiev I., Heidrich O. (2019) Little evidence of mainstreaming climate change in local plans and policy - Evidence from 885 European cities. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews. 10.1016/j.rser.2019.05.014 

• Martin E.A., Dainese M., Clough Y., Báldi A., Bommarco R., Gagic V., Garratt M.P.D., Holzschuh A., Kleijn D., Kovács‐Hostyánszki A., Marini L., Potts S.G., Smith H.G., Al Hassan D., Albrecht M., Andersson G.K.S,  Asís J.D, Aviron S., Balzan M.V., …, Steffan-Dewenter I. (2019) The interplay of landscape composition and configuration: new pathways to manage functional biodiversity and agro-ecosystem services across Europe. Ecology Letters. 10.1111/ele.13265 

• Burkhard B, Maes J, Potschin-Young MB, Santos-Martín F, Geneletti D, Stoev P, Kopperoinen L, Adamescu CM, Adem Esmail B, Arany I, Arnell A, Balzan M, Barton DN, van Beukering P, … (2018) Mapping and assessing ecosystem services in the EU - Lessons learned from the ESMERALDA approach of integration. One Ecosystem 3: e29153. 10.3897/oneeco.3.e29153 

• Balzan M.V. & Debono I (2018) Assessing urban recreation ecosystem services through the use of geocache visitation and preference data:  a case-study from an urbanised island environment. One Ecosystem. 3: e24490. 10.3897/oneeco.3.e24490 

• Reckien D, Salvia M, Heidrich O, Church JM, Pietrapertosa F, De Gregorio-Hurtado S, D’Alonzo V, Foley A, Simoes SG, Lorencová EK, Orru H, Orru K, Wejs A, Flacke J, Olazabal M, Geneletti D, Feliu E, Vasilie S, Nador C, Krook-Riekkola A, Matosović M, Fokaides PA, Ioannou BI, Flamos A, Spyridaki N-A, Balzan M.V., Fülöp O, Paspaldzhiev I, Grafakos S, Dawson R. (2018) How are cities planning to respond to climate change? Assessment of local climate plans from 885 cities in the EU-28. Journal of Cleaner Production. 191: 207-219. 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.03.220  

• Balzan M.V., Caruana J. & Zammit A. (2018) Assessing the capacity and flow of ecosystem services in multifunctional landscapes: evidence of a rural-urban gradient in a Mediterranean small island. Land-Use Policy. 10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.08.025 

• Balzan M.V., Potschin M., & Haines-Young, R. (2018) Island ecosystem services: a review of literature and future prospects. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management. 14(1), 71-90. 10.1080/21513732.2018.1439103 

• Balzan M.V (2017) Flowering banker plants for the delivery of multiple agroecosystem services. Arthropod-Plant Interactions. 11(6), 743-754. 10.1007/s11829-017-9544-2 

• Balzan M.V., Genoud  D., Rasmont P., Schwarz M., & Michez D. (2017) New records of bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) from the Maltese Islands. Journal of Melittology 72, 1-9. 10.17161/jom.v0i72.6626  

• Balzan M.V., Rasmont P., Kuhlmann M., Dathe H., Pauly A., Patiny S., Terzo M. & Michez D. (2016) The bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) of the Maltese Islands. Zootaxa. 4162(2):225-244. 10.11646/zootaxa.4162.2.2 

• Balzan M.V., Bocci G., & Moonen, A-C (2016) Landscape complexity and field margin vegetation diversity enhance natural enemies and reduce herbivory by Lepidoptera pests on tomato crop. BioControl. 61(2), 141-154.

• Balzan M.V., Bocci G., & Moonen A-C, (2016) Utilisation of plant functional diversity in wild flower strips for the delivery of multiple agroecosystem services. Entomologia Applicata et Experimentalis 158: 304–319.

• Bull, J.W., Jobstvogt, N., Böhnke-Henrichs, A., Mascarenhas, A., Sitas, N., Baulcomb, C., Lambini, C.K., Rawlins, M., Baral, H., Zähringer, J., Carter-Silk, E., Balzan, M.V., Kenter, J.O., Häyhä, T., Petz, K., Koss, R. (2016) Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats: A SWOT analysis of the ecosystem services framework. Ecosystem Services 17, 99–111.

• Balzan M.V., Bocci G., & Moonen, A-C (2014) Augmenting flower trait diversity in wildflower strips to optimise the conservation of arthropod functional groups for multiple agroecosystem services. Journal of Insect Conservation, 18, 713-728.

• Balzan M.V., & Moonen A-C (2014) Field margin vegetation enhances biological control and crop damage suppression from multiple pests in organic tomato fields. Entomologia Applicata et Experimentalis, 150(1), 45-65.

• Balzan M.V. & Wackers F.L. (2013) Flowers to selectively enhance the fitness of a host-feeding parasitoid: Adult feeding by Tuta absoluta and its parasitoid Necremnus artynes. Biological Control, 67(1), 21-31.

• Balzan M.V. & Moonen A-C (2012) Management strategies for the control of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) damage in open-field cultivations of processing tomato in Tuscany (Italy). EPPO Bulletin, 42(2), 217-225.

• Balzan M.V. (2012) Associations of dragonflies (Odonata) to habitat variables within the Maltese Islands: A spatio-temporal approach. Journal of Insect Science, 12, 87.

• Balzan M.V. (2008) The distribution of two dragonfly species in the Maltese Islands: Orthetrum trinacria Selys and Trithemis annulata Palisot de Beauvois (Odonata: Libellulidae). Bulletin of the Entomological Society of Malta, 1, 91-96.