Omar Cervantes

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.

Microscale Governance and Temporal Regulations in Beach Management

This chapter discusses processes and structures of nearshore (marine) and costal governance by focusing on microscale (beach level) situations, inside the Mexican legal and regulatory context. The document compares the efficiency and effectivity of national initiatives, programs and actions with the local –and sometime temporal- measures emanated at beach, community or county level. The principal focus of this research is the lack of articulation and the existence of temporal gaps between managerial decisions related with governance, among national and local institutions and stakeholders, and its impacts towards beach sustainability. Looking at several study places (most of them urban touristic beaches) in the Pacific, Gulf of California and Gulf of Mexico littoral, the paper identify the best local governance (microscale governance) practices, and stablish routes of action toward their implementation at national level.

State-of-the-Art Beach Governance from the Tree of Science Platform

A State-of-the-Art review of scientific literature related with beach governance is presented by utilizing the Tree of Science® tool – ToS. In a search conducted in November 2016, 47 papers were found in the Web of Science® with the combination of words ‘beach’ and ‘governance’. Papers were classified by ToS in roots (high input degree; n = 8), trunks (high intermediation degree; n = 9) and leaves (high output degree; n = 30). The Ocean and Coastal Management Journal was the most relevant journal, with 10 articles published (21,3%), and Elsevier was the most relevant publisher in this topic (n = 25; 53%). About authors, E. Ariza was the most relevant author, with articles in roots, trunks and leaves and participation in four of papers revised. Analysis by country of authors’ affiliation shows a leading by USA (n = 28; 18%), closely followed by the UK (n = 22; 14%) and Spain (n = 17; 11%). A general overview identifies a growing ToS in beach governance, with some strong references in trunks and leaves, and several other references receiving less attention by the scientific community. Finally, a prospective analysis from branches suggest that the scientific community is researching around four subtopics (Policy and legal framework, Participation/co-management, Resources Management, Public/Common Rights), which in the near future could be a new ToS in the forest of beach management theme.

State-of-the-Art Beach Environmental Quality from the Tree of Science Platform

A State-of-the-Art review of scientific literature related with beach environmental quality is presented, by utilizing the Tree of Science® tool - ToS. In a search conducted in November 2016, 36 papers were found in the Web of Science® with the combination of words ‘beach’ and ‘environmental quality’. Papers were classified by ToS in roots (high input degree; n = 10), trunks (high intermediation degree; n = 9) and leaves (high output degree; n = 17). The Ocean and Coastal Management Journal was the most relevant journal, with 13 articles published (36%), which help Elsevier to be the most relevant publisher in this topic (n = 24; 67%). About authors, A.T. Williams was the most relevant author, with articles in roots, trunks and leaves and participation in seven of papers revised. Analysis by country of authors’ affiliation shows a clear leading by Spain (n = 27; 20%), followed by Italy (n = 15; 11%) and Brazil (n = 14; 10%). A general overview identifies a growing ToS in beach environmental quality, with some very strong references in trunks and leaves, and several other references receiving less attention by the scientific community. Finally, a prospective analysis from branches suggest that the scientific community is researching around three subtopics (environmental/ecological status, quality indexes, marine pollution), which could be in the near future a new ToS in the forest of beach management theme.

State-of-the-Art Users’ Perception on Beaches from the Tree of Science Platform

A State-of-the-Art of scientific literature related with user’s perception on beaches is presented, from utilization of Tree of Science® tool (ToS). In a search done in November 2016, 52 papers were found in the Web of Science® with the combination of words ‘beach’, ‘perception’ and users’. Papers were classified by ToS in roots (high input degree; n = 9), trunks (high intermediation degree; n = 10) and leaves (high output degree; n = 33). The Ocean and Coastal Management Journal was the most relevant journal, with 19 articles published (36%), which make Elsevier the most relevant publisher in this topic (n = 23; 34%). A.T. Williams was the most relevant author, with five articles in roots, trunks, leaves and participation in eight of papers revised closely followed by M. Villares.

State-of-the-Art Users’ Risk Assessment on Beaches from the Tree of Science Platform

A State-of-the-Art of scientific literature related with risk assessment on beaches is presented, from utilization of the Tree of Science® tool – ToS. In a search done in November 2016, 76 papers were found in the Web of Science® with the combination of words ‘beach’ and ‘risk management’. Papers were classified by ToS in roots (high input degree; n = 9), trunks (high intermediation degree; n = 10) and leaves (high output degree; n = 56). Water research was the most relevant journal, with seven articles published (9.2%), which help to Elsevier to be the most relevant publisher in this topic (n = 28; 36.8%). Timothy J. Wade, Alfred P. Dufour and Helena M. Solo-Gabriele were the most relevant authors, with articles in trunks and leaves and participation in five of papers. Analysis of author affiliations shows the United States (n = 213; 52%) in the lead, followed by United Kingdom (n = 45; 11%) and Greece (n = 26; 6%). A general overview identifies a growing ToS in beach risk assessment, with some very strong references in leaves, and several others of less importance. Finally, analysis from branches suggests research focused around three subtopics (coastal risk assessment, environmental variable associations and Health Risk, Species risk, Water quality and infectious disease), which soon might be a new ToS in the deep forest of the beach management theme.

State-of-the-Art Innovative Beach Management Tools from the Tree of Science Platform

A State-of-the-Art of scientific literature related with innovative beach management tools is presented by utilizing the Tree of Science® tool (TOS) using the following two word combinations: (1) beach and carrying capacity (45 papers); (2) beach and certification, and (3) blue flag (30 papers). Papers were classified by ToS in two Tree of Sciences, one for carrying capacity and the other for beach certifications. After joining references in both trees, 68 papers were classified in roots (high input degree; n = 15), trunks (high intermediation degree; n = 19) and leaves (high output degree; n = 34). The Journal of Coastal Research was the most relevant journal, with 18 articles published (26%), followed by Ocean and Coastal Management (n = 14; 21%) and Tourism Management (n = 9; 13%), which made Elsevier the most relevant publisher in this topic (n = 29; 43%). About authors, A.T. Williams was the most relevant author, with articles in roots, trunks and leaves and participation in seven of papers revised, closely followed by J.A. Jimenez and L. Pereira. Analysis of countries of authors’ affiliation shows a shared leading of Brazil (n = 45; 20%) and Spain (n = 44; 20%), far followed by UK (N = 26; 12%), USA (n = 22; 10%) and Portugal (n = 18; 8%). A general overview identifies two growing ToS linked to innovative beach management tools, with multiple interlaced branches, which have some strong references in trunks and leaves. Finally, a prospective analysis from branches suggest that the scientific community is researching around five beach management tools: Integrated Information Tool, Biological Carrying Capacity, Recreational Carrying Capacity, Certification Schemes, Beach’s Uses. If more attention is putted on these branches, in the near future they will be strong and healthy ToS in the forest of beach management.

State-of-the-Art Beach Ecosystem Management from the Tree of Science Platform

A State-of-the-Art of scientific literature related with beach ecosystem management is presented, from utilization of the Tree of Science® tool (ToS). In a search done in November 2016, 75 papers were found in the Web of Science® with the combination of words ‘beach’ and ‘ecosystem management. Papers were classified by ToS in roots (high input degree; n = 8), trunks (high intermediation degree; n = 10) and leaves (high output degree; n = 57). The Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science Journal was the most relevant journal, with 9 articles published (13.3%), which make Elsevier the most relevant publisher in this topic (n = 34; 50%). T.A. Schlacher was the most relevant author with 9 articles in roots, trunks and leaves and participation in nine of papers revised closely followed by A. McLachlan, J. E. Dugan and O. Defeo.

State-of-the-Art Beach Geomorphology from the Tree of Science Platform

A State-of-the-Art of scientific literature related with Beach geomorphology is presented, from utilization of Tree of Science® tool - ToS. In a search done in November 2016, 73 papers were found in the Web of Science® with the combination of words ‘beach’ and ‘geomorphology. Papers were classified by ToS in roots (high input degree; n=5), trunks (high intermediation degree; n=10) and leaves (high output degree; n=58). Geomorphology was the most relevant journal, with 16 articles published (21.05%), which help to Elsevier to be the most relevant publisher in this topic (n=37; 48.7%). About authors, Helmut Bruckner was the most relevant author, with a high number (3) of papers revised. Analysis of countries of authors’ affiliation shows a clear leading of United States (n = 80; 28%), followed by Germany (n = 31; 11%) and United Kingdom (n = 28; 10%). A general overview allows to identify a growing ToS in Beach geomorphology, with some very strong references in leaves, and several others references without less attention by scientific community belonging to this topic. Finally, a prospective analysis from branches suggest that scientific community is researching around four subtopics (sedimentation processes, coastal dune vegetation, remote sensors and coastline erosion), which could be in the near future a new ToS in the forest of beach geomorphology theme.