Carlos Pereira da Silva

Recreational Parameters as an Assessment Tool for Beach Quality

ABSTRACT Botero, C., Pereira, C., Anfuso, A., Cervantes, O., Williams, A.T., Pranzini, E., Silva, C.P. 2014. Recreational parameters as an assessment tool for beach In: Green, A.N. and Cooper, J.A.G. (eds.), Proceedings 13th International Coastal Symposium (Durban, South Africa), Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 70, pp. 556–562 ISSN 0749-0208. Beach quality can be understood according to uses established for this coastal system, the most common being tourism, fishing and conservation. This is especially true with regards to tourism, where quality is frequently measured with respect to two major areas: environmental and recreational. In 2002, an environmental quality index for tourist beaches was developed in Colombia, called ICAPTU (Índice de Calidad Ambiental en Playas Turísticas). ICAPTU had four indicators and eleven parameters, mainly focused in environmental aspects. In 2010, a research project started with the objective of updating ICAPTU with a more comprehensive scope, dividing environmental quality into three indicators: sanitary, eco-systemic and recreational. This research paper presents the progress on the design of five parameters considered in the newer version of ICAPTU, all related to recreational issues: a. Coastal Scenery, focused on an assessment tool tested in Europe, USA and Australia; b. Safety and security, measured from risk perception and real risk; c. Urbanization, related to ecosystem resilience to infrastructure on the shore; d. Zoning, understood as a spatial organization of beach activities; e. Environmental behaviour, assessed from a test focused on common attitudes of tourists when they visit the beach. These five parameters were used on-field techniques as a method for acquiring information. Several instruments were designed based on surveys, checklists and interpretation sheets. Every tool was applied and tested on Colombian beaches located in four Departments: La Guajira, Magdalena, Atlántico and Bolivar. Geospatial technologies are also explored as resources for improving the evaluation of beach environmental quality. Finally, this work concluded that beach quality can be assessed by recreational parameters, scientifically designed, supporting decision making of coastal zone management.

Portuguese Shoreline Spatial Plans: Integrating Lessons from the Past into Second Generation Plans

The first comprehensive attempt to zone mainland Portugals shoreline began in 1993 with legislation which created Shoreline Spatial Plans (POOCs). The shoreline was subdivided into nine segments and between 1998–2005, the corresponding POOCs were developed and approved. POOC implementation was perceived as having contributed to improve the overall quality of the coastal area, but systematic/quantitative attempts to evaluate their implementations success focused solely on rates of financial execution and on governance/procedural aspects. Evaluations did not answer if or how POOC implementation has been successful, i.e., if implemented measures actually contributed to attainment of POOCs objectives. An overview is given of the first generation of POOCs and of the main evaluations performed. The significance of comprehensive evaluations is discussed and reflection presented on the importance of a prospective view in development of second generation plans. A set of recommendations for shoreline spatial planning is proposed based on Portugals POOC experience.

Methodology for the development of 3D GIS models in the Coastal Zone

ABSTRACT Magarotto, M., Costa, C., Tenedório, J.A., Silva, C.P., Pontes, T., 2014. Methodology for the development of 3D GIS models in the Coastal Zone. In: Green, A.N. and Cooper, J.A.G. (eds.), Proceedings 13th International Coastal Symposium (Durban, South Africa), Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 70, pp. 479–484, ISSN 0749-0208. The present work involved a methodology which analyzes land use changes, from 1961 – 2011 using digital image processing and visual analysis of one satellite image and aerial photos. A simplified methodology using GIS 3D generates models of the coastal zone and its index of vertical growth. The GIS method uses SPRING - INPE (freeware) and ArcScence (ESRI). The data was obtained in the field (2011). The base area used was seventeen census sectors of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). To analyze vertical growth, a Volumetric Compactness Index (CVI) was created. It is able to track the tallest buildings over the years studied. The sectors were analyzed for spatial (N-S; E-W) and temporal (50 years) variations, where they were divided into North, Central and South zones of Boa Viagem. At all sectors occupation indexes are presently high, a strong trend of vertical growth exist that results in high volumetric compactness. Occupation and vertical growth are especially accentuated in the 1981–1996, reaching a maximum in 2011. Vertical growth increased from shore- inland being more prevalent towards the Central Zone, followed by the North and South. As a result of these processes, several problems arose with the most relevant including: impermeable coverings; large volumes of urban runoff; increasing temperatures; wind funneling; traffic jams; air pollution and; deficient water supply, wastewater collection and solid wastes collection. The results obtained using this methodology may be useful for the management of coastal areas and the potential for its development in relation to urban planning and development. The models obtained can prioritize mitigation actions in similarly developed neighborhoods.

Measuring Success of Ocean Governance: a Set of Indicators from Portugal

ABSTRACT Ferreira, M.A.; Johnson, D.; and Pereira da Silva, C., 2016. Measuring success of Ocean governance: a set of indicators from Portugal. In: Vila-Concejo, A.; Bruce, E.; Kennedy, D.M., and McCarroll, R.J. (eds.), Proceedings of the 14th International Coastal Symposium (Sydney, Australia). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 75, pp. 982 - 986. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Evaluating the success of marine spatial planning (MSP) remains a challenging task. Portugal, one of the worlds largest maritime nations, with its recent ocean governance framework, is an ideal case study for the development of an evaluation mechanism for MSP. This paper presents a brief characterization of Portugals maritime area and of its legal regime, and a methodology for defining and selecting a set of indicators to evaluate MSP once it has been operational for a number of years. The resulting set of indicators is discussed, as are prospects for their development and generalization.

Gold Rush or Pandora’s Box? Toward a Transparent and Measured Approach to Marine Spatial Planning in Portugal

This article explores the new legal framework for marine spatial planning (msp) in Portugal. The main focus of the analysis is on the drivers of msp processes, the consideration given to existing vs. new uses, and on the evaluation of alternatives, based on the u.s. experience, with a focus on perceptions of u.s. msp practitioners. The Portuguese framework for msp may lead to favoring new uses over existing ones and defines ambiguous criteria for the selection of alternatives that are mostly financial in nature. The article draws attention to the potential environmental, social and economic risks of improperly addressing competing marine uses in the new Portuguese msp framework.

How can Portugal effectively integrate ICM and MSP

ABSTRACT Ferreira, M.A., Johnson, D., Pereira da Silva, C., 2014. How can Portugal effectively integrate ICM and MSP? In: Green, A.N. and Cooper, J.A.G. (eds.), Proceedings 13th International Coastal Symposium (Durban, South Africa), Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 70, pp. 496–501, ISSN 0749-0208. In 2013, the European Commission proposed a Directive to spur the integration of Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) and Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) within and across Member States. To ascertain if key elements for integration exist, fundamental questions should be addressed: Are there (compatible) national policies/plans for the coast and ocean? Are ICM strategies in line with MSP policies? Are the agencies responsible for ICM and MSP coordinated? Are there common goals, indicators and integrated measures between both types of policies/plans? Portugal is one of the worlds largest maritime nations, and is actively engaged in preparing policies and planning/management legislation for the ocean. An analysis of the current Portuguese policy/legislative framework, in terms of the above mentioned questions, suggested that: coordination among coastal and maritime policies and strategies is unclear, as is the articulation between institutions and between spatial plans for coastal and maritime zones; objectives of relevant policies are mismatched; there are yet no indicators to evaluate coastal and ocean policies/plans, and the articulation between measures to integrate ICM and MSP is unclear. Despite language barriers and people/institutional resistance to change, effective integration of MSP/ICM requires: flexibility and novel approaches, public participation and stakeholder involvement, systemic approaches, and finding strategic level indicators to evaluate integrated policies. Portugal can play a lead role in setting an example for other coastal nations worldwide. If appropriately tackled, the mismatches highlighted in this analysis provide pointers that may contribute to a more effective integration of ICM and MSP in Portugal and in other coastal nations.