A double-loop process for beach quality index construction: Approaching the complexity of the Catalan coast.

Sets of coastal management indicators have been used to summarize the main social, economic, environmental and political assets/processes of socio-ecological systems (SES). Their development and further assessment have, usually, been ruled by a process of four sequential steps (Selection/definition of indicators, Production, Assessment and Information for policy actions), in which feedback is limited to certain subjects and attributes. Quality checks regarding the information made available are rarely seen, somewhat disregarding the adaptive complex character of SES. In this study, we present the double-loop (DL) process of learning, aiming at improving the epistemological (usefulness) and pragmatic (pertinence) quality of knowledge. In practice, an expanded peer assessment has led to the adjustment of a previous beach management tool: The Beach Quality Index (hereinafter, the single-looped BQI), through the (re)selection, (re)definition and (re)production of indicators. By means of one multi-stakeholder meeting, five focus groups and interviews, four relevant narratives of the Catalan coast were identified. These narratives enabled the shaping of a wider perception of the observed system - the Catalan beaches - which highlighted the lack of integration in beach management processes. In order to respond to the aforesaid lack of integration and other shortcomings, by adding or updating the single-looped BQI indicators, a new formal system and the choices made were formulated and highlighted. This new set of indicators is here called the double-looped BQI, in which, especially, the previous preponderance of recreational activity was counterbalanced. Though further developments would still be necessary and in situ applications would help to check the feasibility of the logic applied, we recommend its inclusion in the beach quality research field to couple better with coastal management recommendations regarding governance and complexity.

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.

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.

Seasonal evolution of beach waste and litter during the bathing season on the Catalan coast.

Beach waste and litter composition and evolution on popular urban (located in the main nucleus of the municipality) and urbanized (located in residential areas outside the main nucleus) beaches of the Costa Brava (Catalan coast) were assessed during the bathing season. Waste and litter production (amount and composition) were affected by urbanization and varied during the summer. Urban beaches had higher densities of waste deposition and lower percentages of organic, domestic and other miscellaneous waste than urbanized beaches. Litter characteristics were also influenced by type of beach, and varied during the season as a consequence of beach use and cleaning practices, but not environmental factors. Urbanized beaches obtained higher scores for aesthetic quality of sand than urban beaches, and small-sized litter tended to accumulate during the season in the beach of Lloret Centre. The most important problems are management of recyclable materials, litter left by users on the sand, and separation of sand from litter. In addition, current efficiency of mechanical cleaning is low, especially in the withdrawal of cigarette butts. These analyses highlight problems that should be addressed in future management of area beaches.

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.