Introduction

The sixth International conference on Sustainable Development and Planning builds upon a series that started in 2003 in Skiathos (Greece), and continued with another four meetings in Bologna (2005), the Algarve (2007), Cyprus (2009) and the New Forest, UK (2011).

Sustainable Development and Planning 2013 aims to bring together scientists and other stakeholders from across the globe to discuss the latest scientific advances in the field, as well as to seek and highlight developments in managerial strategies and assessment tools for policy and decision makers.

The conference addresses the subjects of regional development in an integrated way as well as in accordance with the principles of sustainability. It has become apparent that planners, environmentalists, architects, engineers, policy makers and economists have to work together in order to ensure that planning and development can meet our present needs without compromising the ability of future generations.

In many countries there has been an increase in spatial problems that has lead to planning crises. Planning problems are often connected with uneven development, deterioration of the quality of urban life and destruction of the environment. The increasing urbanisation of the world coupled with the global issues of environmental pollution, resources shortage and economic restructuring are leading to major crises.

Problems of environmental management and planning are not restricted to urban areas. Environments such as rural areas, forests, coastal regions and mountains face their own problems that require urgent solutions in order to avoid irreversible damage. The use of modern technologies in planning gives us new potential to monitor and prevent environmental degradation.