Surface water bodies (SWBs) play a crucial role in preserving biodiversity and supporting global environmental health. However, they are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pressures such as water withdrawals, pollutant discharges, and land-use changes. Currently, there is no globally standardized, integrated approach for continuous environmental monitoring of SWBs in protected areas. Existing methods are typically fragmented, focusing on isolated environmental parameters or assessing the impacts rather than the causes.
The research presents an innovative, multiparametric, and proactive monitoring framework specifically designed for SWBs in sensitive and protected areas. The proposed methodology aims to enable continuous assessment and control of environmental pressures, thereby supporting both ecosystem protection and informed decision-making. The framework is structured into five phases, combining the DPSIR (Driving forces–Pressures–State–Impacts–Responses) conceptual model with the Deming Cycle (PDCA – Plan, Do, Check, Act), ensuring an adaptive and systematic approach.
Experimental analyses were conducted on a real case study of a representative stretch of the Calore river, located in the Cilento Park (province of Salerno, Campania Region, Italy), in order to validate the proposed method. Preliminary findings from the contextual analysis highlight a strong ecological and touristic value of the area. The application of the proposed methodology demonstrated its effectiveness as a proactive management tool, facilitating sustainable development and improving ecosystem resilience. The approach represents a significant step toward integrated, proactive, data-driven water resource governance in protected environments.