Territorial Planning for Coastal Zones in Chile: The Need for Geographical-Environmental and Natural Risk Indicators for Spatial Decision Support Systems

Abstract

Coastal zones are very dynamic and fragile environments, constituting a landscape ever more heterogeneous, fragmented and with increasing levels of complexity due to the changing relationship between man and nature. Integrated coastal zone management therefore requires detailed knowledge of the system and its components, based-to a large extent-on technical and scientific information. However, the information generated must be in line with the political requirements necessary for decision-making and planning. Thus the use of indicators to give a simplified view of the many components of the territory, and at the same time to provide important information about patterns or trends, becomes a tool of the utmost importance. These indicators can be understood as measurable characteristics of the environment, which facilitate comprehension of the processes occurring at different scales and serve as a reference to inform the population and support decision-making. The aim of the present note is to demonstrate briefly the need to develop geographical-environmental and natural risk indicators to facilitate comprehension of the dynamic of spatial and temporal landscape patterns, particularly in coastal environments. This approach offers an historical summary of the natural, socio-economic and political processes which currently make up the territory, and which without doubt will continue to influence it in the future. At the same time, it is proposed that information should be integrated on the basis of this framework with a view to generating spatial decision support systems in a context of planning and integrated management of the coastal zones of Chile.

Effects of different management regimes on mangrove ecosystem services in Java, Indonesia

“…The results highlight crucial differences between natural mangroves and mangroves converted for aquaculture and the potential benefits of rehabilitating aquaculture systems. Our results show the consequences of management decisions in terms of ecosystem services, but current management decisions are mostly based on other criteria, such as economic profits, biodiversity protection and employment opportunities (Peña-Cortés et al, 2013). More balanced management decisions could be made if criteria such as ecosystem services, health, safety, employment were considered in addition to economic returns.…”

“…Peña-Cortés et al, 2013;Verburg et al, 2013). This integration is relevant because mangroves are continuously pressured by humans and ecological research has been conducted for decades.…”

“…infrastructure development, building, conversion of land), which could have unforeseen negative consequences (Chan et al 2011). Examples of land management include coastal zone management (Peña-Cortés et al 2013), ecosystem management (Brussard et al 1998), and forest management (FAO 1994). In the context of mangrove ecosystems, land management also includes activities that relate to water management (Lewis III 2005).…”

Site‐specific modulators control how geophysical and socio‐technical drivers shape land use and land cover

“…For example, an overlay of forest and steepness of the terrain reveal a convergence for some areas (Figure 4). Furthermore, high-elevation fields in difficult terrain located far away from roads have been abandoned more frequently, reflecting the importance of accessibility for profitable cultivation (Flinn et al, 2005;Rojas et al, 2013;Taillefumier & Piégay, 2003;Uematsu et al, 2010). Another study from Canada has shown that ecosystem services cluster together in bundles across the landscape (Raudsepp-Hearne et al, 2010).…”

“…2011 ;Liang & Ding, 2006;Meyfroidt et al, 2013;Pineda Jaimes et al, 2010;Turner et al, 1989;Wu, 2004). Some studies have also considered how these drivers can vary in importance across regions according to geographic differences in climate and topography (de Freitas et al, 2013;Gao & Li, 2011;Kupfer & Farris, 2007;Rojas et al, 2013;Su et al, 2012;Xiao et al, 2013), but only few have analysed this issue (Gao & Li, 2011;Odgaard et al, 2014;Sandel & Svenning, 2013). For instance, steep topography can limit land use and be particularly important in landscapes characterised by relatively strong topographical heterogeneity (Acacio et al, 2010;Odgaard et al, 2014;Rouget et al, 2003;Scott et al, 2001) or in areas of high human population density (Coblentz & Keating, 2008;Sandel & Svenning, 2013).…”