Deforestation by historical lime industry in an arid aeolian sedimentary system: An applied and methodological research.

Traditional land uses have been altering aeolian sedimentary systems for centuries through the removal of plant material for grazing, fuel or farming purposes. However, few studies have been able to quantify the deforestation process associated with these land uses due to the complexity that this entails and the limitations of the historical sources. In this context, the aim of this work is to develop a methodology that allows to reconstruct, evaluate, measure and locate the effects of deforestation processes. The methodology, based on the interpretation of historical documents, oral interviews and publications in the literature; was applied to a case study in Jandía (Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain). On the basis of morphological measurements of the types of plant used to fire lime kilns, the current available biovolume was determined and an estimation made of the surface area affected by plant removal. The data obtained were integrated and analysed through a geographic information system (GIS) in order to quantify the impact of the lime kiln industry on the vegetation in the study area. The main results show that to fire a large-sized lime kiln oven it would be necessary to clear a low-density vegetation area of 21,826.08 m2 (or a a high-density vegetation area of 3075.72 m2) using three main species (Launaea arborescens, Lycium intricatum and Convolvulus caput-madusae). It was also found that distances of up to 38 km had to be travelled to obtain the vegetation required to fire the kilns. It is concluded that a number of impacts resulted from the demands of the limestone industry, particularly on plant communities, the abundance of certain species and flora richness, as well as modifications to geomorphological processes and the eventual collapse of the activity in the 1960s through overexploitation of the plant material. The present research allows us to learn from past experiences in which industries lacked proper planning and thus their activity led to their own collapse and rapid environmental degradation.

TEMPORARY REMOVAL: Sand, Sun, Sea and Sex with Strangers, the "five S's". Characterizing "cruising" activity and its environmental impacts on a protected coastal dunefield.

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Assessing the scenic quality of transgressive dune systems on volcanic islands. The case of Corralejo (Fuerteventura island, Spain).

The formation of transgressive aeolian sedimentary systems on hot-spot volcanic islands results in globally singular conditions. The natural attractions and landscape features of these spaces can result in the concentration of urban-tourist developments in their surroundings, altering their physical integrity and their ecological and scenic functionality. This has been the case of the Corralejo dunefield in Fuerteventura (Canary Islands, Spain), where the strong pressure exerted by tourism is endangering the area's natural and landscape resources. This study aims to qualitatively assess the landscape heritage through a number of indicators, some of which are developed on the basis of user perception. Four landscape dimensions (substratum, sea, vegetation, and scenic background) were used to analyse the 24 landscape units into which the Corralejo beach-dune system was divided. The results show that this system presents a high landscape value, as do its four different dimensions. This value was found to decrease in areas bordering the urban area or where tourists were commonly present. Recommendations are proposed to improve the area based on user perceptions. This type of research is of interest for future planning, ordinance preparation and management with a view to establishing a balance between the physical medium and anthropic pressure.

Spatiotemporal analysis of the impact of artificial beach structures on biogeomorphological processes in an arid beach-dune system.

The research hypothesis considered in this study is that decisions adopted on beach use and management in arid environments can result in significant changes in the biogeomorphological processes of the beach-dune system of which it forms part. Different information sources and geographical information systems were used to make a spatiotemporal analysis of possible correlations between the presence of beach equipment, services and uses in the backshore area of an arid beach-dune system, such as the beach named Playa del Inglés (Gran Canaria island, Spain) and environmental changes detected in the same area. The period considered in the study covers from 1961 (before the development of the mass tourism on the island) to 2018. Significant variations in vegetation cover over the course of the study period were detected, as well as an overall increase in erosion (topographic and erosive aeolian landforms) and foredune fragmentation and a decrease in geomorphological resilience. The study found not only relationships between management decisions and environmental impacts, but also that environmental impacts of management decisions on beach use made in the 1970s and 1980s continue to be felt today. Moreover, the results also reinforce the idea that management decisions made based on the results of scientific research studies (management-research binomial) can lead to more environmentally sustainable actions.

Climate as a control on foredune mode in Southern Australia.

Foredunes are formed by aeolian sand deposition in vegetation on the backshore of beaches. In this paper, the foredune mode (nebkha, discontinuous foredune, and continuous foredune), and transgressive dunefield development is studied along the Great Australian Bight (GAB), 2668 km of coastline. Orthophotos are used to classify the foredune mode, coastal landforms and the vegetation, through geographic information systems (GIS), with fieldwork support. The results show that the foredune mode is strongly controlled by rainfall and temperature with respect to latitude, and to drift potential with respect to longitude across the GAB. Between 200 and 300 mm annual rainfall, nebkha predominate. When the annual rainfall is between 300 and 400, at latitude 32°, a clear pattern is not observed in foredune mode and this is identified as a transition zone. Discontinuous foredunes and continuous foredunes are strongly represented in regions experiencing above 400 mm annual rainfall. The main contribution of this study is the identification of foredune modes which are not only related to a climatic gradient and latitude, but also related to variations in longitude, vegetation cover and diversity, and dune mobility indices. Finally, there are other environmental relationships between the wind and longitude, where the geomorphology of the bay could be playing an important role.

Beach vegetation as an indicator of human impacts in arid environments: Environmental conditions and landscape perception in the Canary Islands.

Human occupancy of beaches is an important cause of environmental and landscape transformations, some of which are identifiable through vegetation analysis. Commonly, arboreal vegetation has been socially perceived in a positive way, as it contributes to the creation of environments appreciated as beautiful and natural. This type of vegetation has been recreated in urban coastal areas worldwide, including those located in arid environments where it is not always common or endemic to these areas. The typology of plant species, human impacts on beach environments, and the social perception of vegetation contrast were analyzed to understand the landscape influence and human impact on beach environments from arid regions. The study was carried out on 12 beaches with different degrees of human occupation (4 urban, 4 semi-urban and 4 natural) in Gran Canaria island (Spain). The results indicate that the number of exotic and ruderal (first to colonize human disturbed environments) species increases with human occupation of the beaches. A greater number of arboreal species were identified on urban beaches, while shrub and herbaceous species were more common on less occupied beaches (semi-urban and natural). However, when surveyed, the users of semi-urban and natural beaches, considered that arboreal vegetation compose a more attractive landscape than other with herbs or shrubs, even though tree species appear occasionally on these types of beaches. This inconsistency identifies a conflict of values between the development and conservation of beaches in arid environments. This study can be used to establish environmental sustainability strategies on beaches. Conservation and environmental information about ecosystem services related with indigenous plant species is and important issue for integrated management on beaches from arid regions, especially those that may be urbanized in the near future.

Assessing the geomorphological vulnerability of arid beach-dune systems.

In this study, an arid dune vulnerability index (ADVI) is developed using a system of indicators to evaluate the geomorphological vulnerability of beach-dune systems of arid regions. The indicators are comprised of three analytical dimensions (susceptibility, exposure and resilience) and their corresponding sub-indices and variables and were assessed for eleven sites located in four aeolian sedimentary systems of the Canary archipelago (Spain). The selected sites have varying geomorphological characteristics, vegetation types, marine and wind conditions and human pressure degrees, and have seen different trends in their geomorphological evolution since 1960. The eleven sites were separated into three groups according to their different conservation status and different management needs, and the results of the ADVI dimensions and variables were compared and analyzed for these three groups. In general, the results obtained in the analyzed sites reveal that susceptibility and exposure dimensions are related to low-moderate values, while resilience was high. Only one site presented a state of critical vulnerability, due to the loss of its capacity to maintain its geomorphological function in recent decades. Given the lack of knowledge about geomorphological vulnerability processes in foredunes of arid regions, ADVI is the first approximation to geomorphological diagnostic in these environments and can be useful for managers.

Measuring geomorphological vulnerability on beaches using a set of indicators (GVI): A tool for management.

A system of indicators has been developed to evaluate beach geomorphological vulnerability (GVI) through: intrinsic susceptibility, the agents that model them, and their ability to remain stable over time. The method is applied to 34 beaches on the island of Gran Canaria (Spain) that experience different levels and conditions of human occupation, marine incidence, landforms and sediments, and spatial evolution that have been recorded since 1960. In contrast with other studies, the analysis of these dimensions (and their relationships) allows a diagnosis of the geomorphology of the beaches with an integrated approach. The results illustrate the numerous causes that generate geomorphological vulnerability, such as wave intensity, the presence of dikes or breakwaters, coastline variations, the absence of foredunes and embryonic dunes, the width of the intertidal zone, or the absence of beachrocks or lavic stones outcropping onto the shore. These variables combine and operate differently in five defined groups of beaches with different management needs. The most vulnerable ones were those with strong marine incidence, which require maintenance of their landforms in order to guarantee their stability. The opposite situation is found in beaches with little impact from anthropic and marine components. These beaches are less vulnerable since they have moderate susceptibility and high resilience. Their management requirements consist of soft measures since they have a strong geomorphological robustness. In this context, the proposed indicator system is a potentially relevant contribution to the management of beaches, especially for those that are under threat.