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A special issue of Environments (ISSN 2076-3298).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2017) | Viewed by 94109

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. David Rodríguez-Rodríguez

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Guest Editor

1. Institute of Economy, Geography and Demography, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Calle de Albasanz, 26-28, 28037 Madrid, Spain
2. European Topic Centre-University of Malaga, Calle Arquitecto Francisco Peñalosa s/n, Ampliación Campus Teatinos, 29010 Malaga, Spain
Interests: sustainability indicators; protected area effectiveness evaluation; territorial planning; socioeconomic effects of public policies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Javier Martínez-Vega

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Guest Editor

Institute of Economics, Geography and Demography, Spanish National Research Council (IEGD-CSIC), C/Albasanz, 26–28, 28037 Madrid, Spain
Interests: spatial analysis; environment; climate change; sustainability; biodiversity; sustainable agriculture sustainable development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent human development has made a notable social and economic progress for most of us possible; however, it has also had a range of negative consequences on natural resources, local communities, and the economy at multiple scales. Soil sealing, erosion and loss, land degradation, air and water pollution, biodiversity homogenisation and loss, poverty, human migration, and health issues are among the most common human-made impacts with a clear sustainability and spatial component. They occur in territories, be it terrestrial, aerial, or marine, which are the physical bases for whichever activity is being performed by any living being. Thus, achieving sustainable territorial management, which combines healthy and prosperous societies with the long-term maintenance of a rich biodiversity and productive ecosystem services, remains the biggest challenge to our modern world. This Special Issue seeks to collect a coherent set of studies on techniques and experiences (case studies) aimed at increasing the environmental, social, economic, and/or institutional sustainability of landscapes and seascapes from a range of geographic and socioeconomic contexts.

Dr. David Rodríguez-Rodríguez
Dr. Javier Martínez-Vega

Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Environments is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Sustainable development
Territorial planning
Land use-land cover
Protected area
Biodiversity
Maritime planning
Integrated coastal zone management
Socioeconomy
Governance

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

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5 pages, 684 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Preface: Special Issue on Sustainable Territorial Management

by David Rodríguez-Rodríguez and Javier Martínez-Vega

Environments 2018, 5(8), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments5080090 - 05 Aug 2018

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4041

Abstract

n/a Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Territorial Management)

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Research

Jump to: Editorial

16 pages, 9483 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Approach to Sustainable Land Use Management

by Zita Izakovičová, Jana Špulerová and František Petrovič

Environments 2018, 5(3), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments5030037 - 01 Mar 2018

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 10836

Abstract

This article presents the integrated approach to sustainable land use management based on the assessment of land use and related land cover changes. Land use changes are conditioned by human activities producing changes in landscape cover and initiating processes which cause many environmental problems. It is therefore important to determine the drivers and causality of landscape changes which can then be negated to ensure sustainable land use management. The integrated landscape research approach is based on understanding landscape as a geo-ecosystem with natural, human, cultural, and historical potential. Our aim is to define the aspects of land use management which can regulate social development. The proposal for optimal land use is based on the interaction between natural capital, represented by the supply of natural regional resources and environmental conditions as well as demand represented by community need for development. The conflict between the supply of natural capital and demands lacking respect for landscape resources is an important determining factor in environmental and human problems. The integrated approach is focused on long-term rational utilization of the natural and cultural-historical resources, urban development, and the elimination of current environmental and socioeconomic problems as well as the prevention of new ones. Multi-criteria analysis is required for final environmental decision-making. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Territorial Management)

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16 pages, 1317 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Socioeconomic Indicators for the Evaluation and Monitoring of Climate Change in National Parks: An Analysis of the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park (Spain)

by Iván López and Mercedes Pardo

Environments 2018, 5(2), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments5020025 - 12 Feb 2018

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 6148

Abstract

This paper analyzes the importance of assessing and controlling the social and economic impact of climate change in national parks. To this end, a system of indicators for evaluation and monitoring is proposed for the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, one of the most important in Spain. Based on the Driving forces-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework, the designed system uses official statistical data in combination with data to be collected through ad hoc qualitative research. The result is a system of indicators that monitors the use of natural resources, the demographic evolution, economic activities, social interactions, and policies. Adapted to different contexts, these indicators could also be used in other national parks and similar natural protected areas throughout the world. This type of indicator system is one of the first to be carried out in Spain’s national parks. The result is a system that can be useful not only in itself, but also one that can catalyze climate change planning and management of national parks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Territorial Management)

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6187 KiB

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Urban Land Allocation Model of Territorial Expansion by Urban Planners and Housing Developers

by Carolina Cantergiani and Montserrat Gómez Delgado

Environments 2018, 5(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments5010005 - 29 Dec 2017

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 7961

Abstract

Agent-based models have recently been proposed as potential tools to support urban planning due to their capacity to simulate complex behaviors. The complexity of the urban development process arises from strong interactions between various components driven by different agents. AMEBA (agent-based model for the evolution of urban areas) is a prototype of an exploratory, spatial, agent-based model that considers the main agents involved in the urban development process (urban planners, developers, and the population). The prototype consists of three submodels (one for each agent) that have been developed independently and present the same structure. However, the first two are based on a land use allocation technique, and the last one, as well as their integration, on an agent-based model approach. This paper describes the conceptualization and performance of the submodels that represent urban planners and developers, who are the agents responsible for officially launching expansion and defining the spatial allocation of urban land. The prototype was tested in the Corredor del Henares (an urban–industrial area in the Region of Madrid, Spain), but is sufficiently flexible to be adapted to other study areas and generate different future urban growth contexts. The results demonstrate that this combination of agents can be used to explore various policy-relevant research questions, including urban system interactions in adverse political and socioeconomic scenarios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Territorial Management)

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8492 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Post-Fire Vegetation Recovery Using Fire Severity and Geographical Data in the Mediterranean Region (Spain)

by Alba Viana-Soto, Inmaculada Aguado and Susana Martínez

Environments 2017, 4(4), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments4040090 - 12 Dec 2017

Cited by 57 | Viewed by 8660

Abstract

Wildfires cause disturbances in ecosystems and generate environmental, economic, and social costs. Studies focused on vegetation regeneration in burned areas acquire interest because of the need to understand the species dynamics and to apply an adequate restoration policy. In this work we intend to study the variables that condition short-term regeneration (5 years) of three species of the genus Pinus in the Mediterranean region of the Iberian Peninsula. Regeneration modelling has been performed through multiple regressions, using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Geographic Weight Regression (GWR). The variables used were fire severity, measured through the Composite Burn Index (CBI), and a set of environmental variables (topography, post-fire climate, vegetation type, and state after fire). The regeneration dynamics were measured through the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) obtained from Landsat images. The relationship between fire severity and regeneration dynamics showed consistent results. Short-term regeneration was slowed down when severity was higher. The models generated by GWR showed better results in comparison with OLS (adjusted R² = 0.77 for Pinus nigra and Pinus pinaster; adjusted R² = 0.80 for Pinus halepensis). Further studies should focus on obtaining more precise variables and considering new factors which help to better explain post-fire vegetation recovery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Territorial Management)

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1613 KiB

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What Do Users Really Need? Participatory Development of Decision Support Tools for Environmental Management Based on Outcomes

by Richard J. Hewitt and Christopher J. A. Macleod

Environments 2017, 4(4), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments4040088 - 06 Dec 2017

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 7154

Abstract

There is increasing demand from stakeholders for tools to support outcomes-based approaches in environmental management. For such tools to be useful, understanding user requirements is key. In Scotland, UK, stakeholders were engaged in the development of an Environmental Decision Support System (EDSS) to support the management of land and freshwater resources for multiple policy outcomes. A structured participatory engagement process was employed to determine stakeholder requirements, establish development principles to fulfil these requirements and road-test prototypes. The specification that emerged from this bottom-up process was for an EDSS to be spatially-explicit, free at the point of use, and mobile device compatible. This application, which is under development, does not closely resemble most existing published EDSS. We suggest that there is a mismatch between the way scientists typically conceptualise EDSS and the kinds of applications that are likely to be useful to decision-makers on the ground. Interactive mobile and web-based geospatial information services have become ubiquitous in our daily lives, but their importance is not reflected in the literature on EDSS. The current focus in environmental management on adaptive, stakeholder-centred strategies based on outcomes offers an opportunity to make better use of these new technologies to aid decision-making processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Territorial Management)

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4431 KiB

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Vulnerability of Coastal Beach Tourism to Flooding: A Case Study of Galicia, Spain

by Diego R. Toubes, Stefan Gössling, C. Michael Hall and Daniel Scott

Environments 2017, 4(4), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments4040083 - 16 Nov 2017

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 10591

Abstract

Flooding, as a result of heavy rains and/or storm surges, is a persistent problem in coastal areas. Under scenarios of climate change, there are expectations that flooding events will become more frequent in some areas and potentially more intense. This poses a potential threat to coastal communities relying heavily on coastal resources, such as beaches for tourism. This paper develops a methodology for the assessment of coastal flooding risks, based on an index that compares 16 hydrogeomorphological, biophysical, human exposure and resilience indicators, with a specific focus on tourism. The paper then uses an existing flood vulnerability assessment of 724 beaches in Galicia (Spain) to test the index for tourism. Results indicate that approximately 10% of tourism beaches are at high risk to flooding, including 10 urban and 36 rural beaches. Implications for adaptation and coastal management are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Territorial Management)

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12722 KiB

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Testing Extended Accounts in Scheduled Conservation of Open Woodlands with Permanent Livestock Grazing: Dehesa de la Luz Estate Case Study, Arroyo de la Luz, Spain

by Pablo Campos, Bruno Mesa, Alejandro Álvarez, Francisco M. Castaño and Fernando Pulido

Environments 2017, 4(4), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments4040082 - 15 Nov 2017

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5871

Abstract

Standard Economic Accounts for Agriculture and Forestry do not measure the ecosystem services and intermediate products embedded in the final products recorded, and omit the private non-commercial intermediate products and self-consumption of private amenities. These limitations of the standard accounts are addressed by the extended Agroforestry Accounting System, which is being tested at the publicly-owned Dehesa de la Luz agroforestry estate. The extended accounts simulate conservation forestry of holm oak and cork oak for the current as well as successive rotation cycles during which scheduled conservation of the cultural woodland landscape of the Dehesa de la Luz is carried out, improving the natural physical growth of the firewood and cork. The estimated results for 2014 reveal that private ecosystem services make up 50% of the firewood and grazing products consumed; the private environmental income accounts for 13% of the total private income; and the private environmental asset represents 53% of the total opening capital. The net value added is more than 2.3 times the amount estimated using the standard accounts. The landowner donates intermediate products of non-commercial services at a value of 85 €/ha, which are used to enhance the supply of public products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Territorial Management)

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14425 KiB

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Assessing Land Use-Cover Changes and Modelling Change Scenarios in Two Mountain Spanish National Parks

by Javier Martínez-Vega, Andrés Díaz, José Miguel Nava, Marta Gallardo and Pilar Echavarría

Environments 2017, 4(4), 79; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments4040079 - 07 Nov 2017

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 6669

Abstract

Land Use-Cover Changes (LUCCs) are one of the main problems for the preservation of biodiversity. Protected Areas (PAs) do not escape this threat. Some processes, such as intensive recreational use, forest fires or the expansion of artificial areas taking place inside and around them in response to their appeal, question their environmental sustainability and their efficiency. In this paper, we analyze the LUCCs that took place between 1990 and 2006 in two National Parks (NPs) belonging to the Spanish network and in their surroundings: Ordesa and Monte Perdido (Ordesa NP) and Sierra de Guadarrama (Guadarrama NP). We also simulate land use changes between 2006 and 2030 by means of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), taking into account two scenarios: trend and green. Finally, we perform a multi-temporal analysis of natural habitat fragmentation in each NP. The results show that the NPs analyzed are well-preserved and have seen hardly any significant LUCCs inside them. However, Socioeconomic Influence Zones (SIZs) and buffers are subject to different dynamics. In the SIZ and buffer of the Ordesa NP, there has been an expansion of built-up areas (annual rate of change = +1.19) around small urban hubs and ski resorts. There has also been a gradual recovery of natural areas, which had been interrupted by forest fires. The invasion of sub-alpine grasslands by shrubs is clear (+2735 ha). The SIZ and buffer of the Guadarrama NP are subject to urban sprawl in forest areas and to the construction of road infrastructures (+5549 ha and an annual rate of change = +1.20). Industrial area has multiplied by 3.3 in 20 years. The consequences are an increase in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), greater risk of forest fires and greater fragmentation of natural habitats (+0.04 in SIZ). In the change scenarios, if conditions change as expected, the specific threats facing each NP can be expected to increase. There are substantial differences between the scenarios depending on whether or not incentives are accepted and legal restrictions are respected. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Territorial Management)

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9656 KiB

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Rapid Urban Growth in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal: Monitoring Land Use Land Cover Dynamics of a Himalayan City with Landsat Imageries

by Asif Ishtiaque, Milan Shrestha and Netra Chhetri

Environments 2017, 4(4), 72; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments4040072 - 08 Oct 2017

Cited by 88 | Viewed by 19883

Abstract

The Kathmandu Valley of Nepal epitomizes the growing urbanization trend spreading across the Himalayan foothills. This metropolitan valley has experienced a significant transformation of its landscapes in the last four decades resulting in substantial land use and land cover (LULC) change; however, no major systematic analysis of the urbanization trend and LULC has been conducted on this valley since 2000. When considering the importance of using LULC change as a window to study the broader changes in socio-ecological systems of this valley, our study first detected LULC change trajectories of this valley using four Landsat images of the year 1989, 1999, 2009, and 2016, and then analyzed the detected change in the light of a set of proximate causes and factors driving those changes. A pixel-based hybrid classification (unsupervised followed by supervised) approach was employed to classify these images into five LULC categories and analyze the LULC trajectories detected from them. Our results show that urban area expanded up to 412% in last three decades and the most of this expansion occurred with the conversions of 31% agricultural land. The majority of the urban expansion happened during 1989–2009, and it is still growing along the major roads in a concentric pattern, significantly altering the cityscape of the valley. The centrality feature of Kathmandu valley and the massive surge in rural-to-urban migration are identified as the primary proximate causes of the fast expansion of built-up areas and rapid conversions of agricultural areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Territorial Management)

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2030 KiB

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Fine-Tuning of a Protected Area Effectiveness Evaluation Tool: Implementation on Two Emblematic Spanish National Parks

by David Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Paloma Ibarra, Javier Martínez-Vega, Maite Echeverría and Pilar Echavarría

Environments 2017, 4(4), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments4040068 - 26 Sep 2017

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5296

Abstract

As global biodiversity trends worsen, protected area (PA) environmental effectiveness needs to be assessed to identify strengths and areas to improve. Through a participatory process including PA managers and scientists, we refined the System for the Integrated Assessment of Protected Areas (SIAPA), in order to increase its legitimacy, credibility and salience to end users in Spain. Then, we tested the optimised version of the SIAPA on two emblematic Spanish national parks (NPs): Ordesa y Monte Perdido NP (Ordesa NP) and Sierra de Guadarrama NP (Guadarrama NP). PA managers and scientists largely coincided in the ratings of SIAPA’s indicators and indices. Collaboration with Ordesa NP’s managers was regular, allowing a nearly complete evaluation of the NP. However, greater collaboration between PA managers and scientists remains a priority in Guadarrama NP. Results show that potential effectiveness is moderate for Ordesa NP and low for Guadarrama NP, according to the indicators that could be evaluated. For Ordesa NP, lack of data on focal habitats and other focal features determined a deficient valuation of its conservation state, although the remaining indicators in that category showed adequate or moderate values. The compilation of those data should be overriding in the NP. In contrast, only climate change posed a serious threat in that NP. The social perception and valuation of both NPs was good, suggesting broad support from local populations and eased management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Territorial Management)

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