Coastal dynamics vs beach users attitudes and perceptions to enhance environmental conservation and management effectiveness. Issue 1 (15th October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aretano, Roberta; Parlagreco, Luca; Semeraro, Teodoro; Zurlini, Giovanni; Petrosillo, Irene
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 123:Issue 1/2(2017)
• Page Start: 142
• Page End: 155
• Publication Date: 2017-10-15
• Subjects: Land-cover change -- Seawater quality -- Natural protected area -- Perception -- Ecosystem services -- Conservation policy; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.09.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: This work carries out a landscape analysis for the last 60 years to compare the degree of preservation of two areas on the same Italian coastline characterized by different environmental protection levels: a National designated protected areas and a highly tourist coastal destination. The conversion of natural land-covers into human land uses were detected for protected and unprotected coastal stretches highlighting that the only establishment of a protected area is not enough to stem undesirable land-use outcomes. A survey analysis was also conducted to assess attitudes of beach users and to evaluate their perception of natural habitats, beach and coastal water quality, and coastal dynamic over time. The results of 2071 questionnaires showed that there is similarity between subjective and objective data. However, several beach users perceived a bad quality of coastal water in the legally unprotected coastal area. The implications from a planning and management perspective are discussed. Highlights: Subjective (beach users' perceptions) and objective (coastal dynamics, monitoring) data were compared. Several negative land-use changes occurred both in protected and in unprotected coastal areas. The only establishment of the natural protected area is not effective to stem undesired land-use changes. Despite the apparent homogeneity, beach users' perceptions are different in the two coastal areas. Possible implications of the results in an environmental planning and management perspective are discussed.