The Challenge of Managing Marine Biodiversity: A Practical Toolkit for a Cartographic, Territorial Approach

Abstract

An approach to the management of marine biodiversity was developed based on two levels of environmental diagnostics: (1) the characterization (to identify types), and (2) the evaluation (to define status and values). Both levels involve the production of maps, namely: (i) morphobathymetry and sedimentology; (ii) habitats; (iii) natural emergencies; (iv) degradation and risk; (v) weighted vulnerability; (vi) environmental quality; and, (vii) susceptibility to use. A general methodological aspect that must be stated first is the need of dividing the mapped area in territorial units corresponding to submultiples of the UTM grid and having different sizes according to the scale adopted. Territorial units (grid cells) are assigned to one of five classes of evaluation, ranging from high necessity of conservation or protection to non-problematic, unimportant or already compromised (according to the specific map) situations. Depending on the scale, these maps are suited OPEN ACCESSDiversity 2012, 4 420 for territorial planning (small scales, allowing for a synoptic view) or for administration and decision making (large scales, providing detail on local situations and problems). Mapping should be periodically repeated (diachronic cartography) to assure an efficient tool for integrated coastal zone management.

Characterization and evaluation of a marine protected area: ‘Tavolara – Punta Coda Cavallo’ (Sardinia, NW Mediterranean)

“…The procedure reported in Bianchi et al (2012) is composed of two steps (1) characterization (to identify types), and (2) evaluation (to define status and values) of the marine territory. Bianchi et al (2012) suggest three thematic maps for characterization: (i) morphobathymetry and sedimentology, (ii) habitats; and, (iii) natural emergencies.…”

“…Bianchi et al (2012) suggest three thematic maps for characterization: (i) morphobathymetry and sedimentology, (ii) habitats; and, (iii) natural emergencies. The maps for environmental evaluation are: (i) environmental degradation and risk; (ii) vulnerability; (iii) potential environmental quality; and, (iv) susceptibility to human use.…”

“…For a detailed description on the methods used to calculate the indices as the basis for each map, and for the choice of elements and cartographic symbols, we refer the reader to Bianchi et al (2012).…”

“…In conservation biology, the term 'emergencies' usually refers to species or habitats that, because of their natural value, have to be considered as part of the biological and ecological heritage of a site (Bianchi et al, 2012). In this map (Main Map), species and habitats protected by international conventions and EU directives concur with the definition of areas where protected species/habitats occur, and the level of protection they require (e.g.…”

“…Modern cartographic tools are used inside MPAs to map the distribution of natural features and to link them with other environmental landmarks (Salm, Clark, & Siirila, 2000), to identify zones with different protection regimes (Villa, Tunesi, & Agardy, 2002), to analyze spatial relationships between habitats and zones (Bianchi, 2007;Fraschetti et al, 2005;Friedlander, Brown, & Monaco, 2007;Montefalcone et al, 2011;Rovere et al, 2010aRovere et al, , 2010bRovere, Parravicini, Firpo, Morri, & Bianchi, 2011) and to identify networks of marine reserves (Leslie, Ruckelshaus, Ball, Andelman, & Possingham, 2003). Bianchi, Parravicini, Montefalcone, Rovere, and Morri (2012) proposed a methodology to produce a series of maps for the management of MPAs starting from field data on habitats and species. In this paper, we apply that methodology to the MPA 'Tavolara Punta Coda Cavallo', NW Mediterranean.…”