This study delves into the pivotal role that indicators play in designing, assessing, and guiding policies for sustainable urban development. Indicators, encompassing both quantitative and qualitative measures, serve as essential tools in evaluating efforts toward sustainable development, providing a practical and objective means of understanding the complex urban environment. The lack of a robust database is identified as a hindrance to monitoring sustainable development progress, underscoring the importance of comprehensive indicators. The study employs a bibliometric literature review methodology, focusing on smart city and sustainability indicators (SSCI) from 2015 to 2022. A total of 818 articles were narrowed down to 191 through rigorous criteria. The study showcases a growing interest in this field, with the number of articles published experiencing a remarkable 288% increase from 2015 to 2022. China emerges as a focal point, leading in both article production and citations, emphasizing its commitment to sustainable development and smart city initiatives. The keywords "sustainable development", "sustainability" and “urban development” had the most occurrences in text analysis. We found three different clusters with k-means analysis, and the circular economy indicators were the most representative category. In conclusion, the study underscores the holistic vision of SSCI in the current scenario, balancing technology and sustainability to improve urban quality of life while safeguarding the planet. Encouraging further research into integrating resilience-focused indicators and innovative solutions is crucial for enhancing sustainable urban development and informing policy decisions.

Human activities threaten the integrity of watersheds. We aimed to investigate the impact of land use on water quality, adopting a multiscale approach. We collected water samples from twelve streams in Southern Brazil and conducted limnological analyses (physical, chemical, and biological) during the dry season. We used the water quality index based on the quality standards of Canada and Brazil. Land use percentage was measured in two groups (local scale and network scale). Environmental variables were summarized through Principal Component Analysis, and we organized them into Linear Models, integrating the percentage of land use classes and terrain slope in the Multifit formula. Statistical analyses were performed using the R software. Results indicated contamination by lead, chromium, copper, nitrogen, andEscherichia coliin water samples. The Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life resulted in an index ranging from 23.3 to 47.3, compared to the Brazilian Resolution No. 357/2005 for Class 2, which had an index ranging from 47.5 to 100. This disparity is attributed to the more rigorous and sensitive monitoring approach adopted by the Canadian guidelines. Riparian forests which are up to 50 m wide are associated with improved water quality. Agricultural and urban activities were the main contributors to water quality degradation in an area extending up to 1000 m from the watershed. We emphasize the importance of a multiscale approach in watershed management and public policies, considering not only riparian forest preservation, but also human activities throughout the watershed. It is crucial to prioritize science-based environmental public policies and strengthen enforcement to prevent increasingly pronounced environmental collapses. We have identified the urgency to reformulate CONAMA Resolution No. 357/2005 with a more conservationist and ecosystem-oriented approach, as well as to propose modifications to the Brazilian Forest Code, particularly regarding the buffer zones of permanent preservation areas. Thus, this study can provide insights, such as incorporating the “effect scale,” to enhance water resource management in landscapes heavily influenced by human action, contributing to the advancement of future research in freshwater ecosystems.

Although protected areas (PAs) are designed to safeguard natural ecosystems from anthropic modifications, many PAs worldwide are subjected to numerous human-induced impacts. We evaluated whether the establishment of PAs in the Upper Paraná River floodplain region could reduce anthropic landscape changes and whether there is a difference in protection when using different PA restriction categories. We analyzed the overall landscape dynamics using 30 years of land-use time series data and evaluated the change intensity via a partial land-use intensity analysis. Despite the increasing landscape anthropization, the PAs seemed to relieve the general change process, protecting natural areas mainly from agricultural expansion. Concerning the degree of use restriction, more restricted protection led to less human-induced changes. Finally, accessing PA effectiveness is a multidisciplinary challenge for researchers; however, this knowledge is crucial to avoid misunderstandings or poorly crafted public policies or decisions that may harm the environment.