Carolina Martí

Proposal for an Integral Quality Index for Urban and Urbanized Beaches

A composite index, based on function analysis and including thirteen sub-indices, was developed to assess the overall quality of urban and urbanized beaches in the Mediterranean area. The aggregation of components and sub-indices was based on two questionnaires completed by beach users and experts. Applying the new Beach Quality Index (BQI) demonstrated that the quality of beaches could be improved. In general, the strongest aspects of the beaches assessed were those related to short-term user demand, and the weakest were those related to the consequences of human pressure on the area, in particular, erosion problems. The composite index is intended to be used together with Environmental Management Beach Systems (EMBs) as a hierarchical management scorecard and in monitoring programs. This new tool could also make planning more proactive by synthesizing the state of the most important beach processes.

Assessing Current Conditions of Coastal Dune Systems of Mediterranean Developed Shores

ABSTRACT Pintó, J.; Martí, C., and Fraguell, R.M., 2014. Assessing current conditions of coastal dune systems of Mediterranean developed shores. A method of assessment was developed to evaluate the current condition and function of dunes in developed coastal tourist areas of the Mediterranean. The aim was to identify a procedure for differentiating between more and less valuable dune systems. The method was tested on the Costa Brava (Catalonia, NE Spain) and may prove useful for designing conservation and management strategies for coastal dunes in developed areas. The evaluation method was based on a set of 12 indicators relating to three aspects that we consider fundamental for the management of dune landscapes: dune morphology (dune landforms) associated with the evolution of the dune system, dune vegetation, and human impacts. The assessment was tested on each of the 34 existing dune systems of the Costa Brava. Cluster analysis provided a classification into five groups differentiated by characteristics of morphological development, total number of dune-restricted plant species, and degree of human impact suffered. The best evaluation was achieved by the indicators of morphological development, with 76% of the dune systems rating above average. On the other hand, only 42% of the systems rated above average in the indicator of dune-restricted plant species. The worst results came from the indicators of human impact, with only three beaches rating above average in this respect. The evaluation has shown the Costa Brava dune systems to be in a precarious state of conservation because most systems are located on urban or suburban beaches. The best-conserved areas were the larger dune systems located on seminatural or semiurban beaches, where human pressure is weaker. The procedure described in this article provides a useful tool for coastal managers to assess changes in the state of their dune systems over time and to focus their management policies on the protection of systems under the greatest threat. RESUMEN En este trabajo se presenta un método de evaluación del estado actual de los sistemas dunares que se localizan en las costas mediterráneas de uso turístico. El método está basado en la utilización de 12 indicadores relacionados con los elementos más significativos del medio ambiente dunar: el desarrollo morfológico de las dunas, la vegetación que albergan y los impactos humanos que afectan al sistema. La bondad del índice ha sido testada en los 34 sistemas dunares identificados en la Costa Brava (NE Spain), una de las principales costas turísticas del Mediterráneo occidental. Un análisis de grupos ha permitido la clasificación de de los sistemas dunares estudiados en cinco grupos, que se diferencian en el desarrollo morfológico, la diversidad de especies y la intensidad del impacto humano. Los mejores resultados fueron obtenidos por los indicadores sobre la morfología de las dunas, con un 76% de los sistemas por encima del valor medio. Por otro lado, solo el 42% de los sistemas dunares superó el valor medio del indicador de diversidad de especies. Los peores resultados fueron para los indicadores relacionados con el impacto humano, con solo tres playas por encima de la media. La evaluación ha mostrado que los sistemas dunares de la Costa Brava se encuentran en un estado precario, ya que la mayoría se localizan en playas urbanas y suburbanas. Los sistemas mejor conservados son los situados en playas naturales y seminaturales donde la presión humana es menor. El procedimiento utilizado proporciona una herramienta útil para los gestores de la costa en la evaluación de los cambios en el estado de los sistemas dunares en el tiempo y en dirigir la gestión en la protección de los sistemas más amenazados.

After over 25 years of accrediting beaches, has Blue Flag contributed to sustainable management?

This paper examines the qualitative, quantitative, and geographical evolution (1987–2012) of the Blue Flag campaign and accreditation process in Spain, a leading coastal tourism destination heading the list of awards. The standard Blue Flag criteria for crowded, developed beaches are now adapting to new demands for natural beaches, but they still fail to capture essential sustainable tourism features, such as limiting user numbers, or preserving and restoring sand ecosystems. Given these shortcomings, some destinations are moving to alternative awards with a higher environmental commitment, such as EMS, ISO14001, and Eco-Management and Audit Schemes (EMAS). A cluster analysis of Blue Flag data for 983 beaches in Spain over 26 years revealed different behaviour patterns: established tourist areas that have always opted for the Blue Flag programme; tourist areas that adopted the Blue Flag early on but replaced it with ISO14001 and EMAS; recently developed destinations applying for the award to boost their tourism promotion; and tourist areas with no well-defined policy that have opted intermittently for Blue Flag. These profiles illustrate the different policies of Spains Autonomous Regions, and they are useful for tourism managers to verify whether their destinations behaviour pattern contributes to sustainable tourism and matches strategic policies they have designed for them.

Geographic Information Technology and Innovative Teaching: Keys to Geography Degree Curriculum Reform

Abstract The adaptation of geography studies to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) framework has led to curriculum-content restructuring and new teaching and learning methods. This transformation was used as an opportunity to adjust the students’ skills more fittingly to their future professional needs. The new degree program in geography, land-use planning, and environmental management at the University of Girona (Catalonia, Spain) offers a sequential learning trajectory based on the treatment of geographic information and progressive levels of experience: GIS technician, GIS analyst, and TIS project manager. Technical innovations have been introduced through free and open-source programs as well as collaborative online resources (wikis) that enable students to acquire full autonomy.

Les unitats de paisatge geogràfic a l'entorn de Figueres i els reptes de la seva gestió al llindar del segle XXI

L’any 2001, la Catedra de Geografia i Pensament Territorial de la Universitat de Girona va rebre l’encarrec de l’Ajuntament de Figueres d’analitzar les caracteristiques de l’espai no urbanitzat del municipi i voltants immediats, sobretot des de la seva perspectiva paisatgistica i del medi natural. Aquest encarrec s’emmarcava dins dels estudis previs a la revisio del Pla general d’ordenacio urbana de Figueres. El resultat fou la confeccio del document que porta per titol: “Estudi del medi natural i del paisatge geografic de Figueres”. Per mitja d’aquesta comunicacio, es volen oferir els resultats mes rellevants als quals s’arriba llavors. Es fara un cop d’ull a les unitats de paisatge geografic del municipi de Figueres identificades en el treball, quines son les seves caracteristiques, els seus potencials pero tambe les seves amenaces. El document havia de ser una eina que ajudes a incorporar, adequadament, els valors que apleguen aquests paisatges i espais a l’ordenacio futura del municipi. D’aqui que, al text, s’acabin proposant algunes linies d’actuacio per a millorar-ne la seva gestio, sobretot des del punt de vista urbanistic