Environmental diagnosis of the protected coastal areas of the Bahía Blanca Estuary

CARBONE, MARÍA ELIZABETH; ; SPEAKE, MARÍA ANGELES; ; MELO, WALTER DANIEL

Environmental diagnosis of the protected coastal areas of the Bahía Blanca Estuary

Springer

Lugar: Cham; Año: 2021; p. 469 - 492

The interrelation between natural environments and the various human activities in coastal areas generates conflicts between conservation and development. For this reason, the compatibility of both concepts is very important in areas with high territorial occupation pressure and presence of vulnerable natural resources. Recreational and productive activities are currently being developed in coastal areas, which directly or indirectly affect natural resources. Human pressure on natural environments is imposed by space demand for new settlements, installation of infrastructure and equipment, sand extraction, and commercial fishing among others. These human activities are the main stressors on coastal ecosystems (Charlier and Bologa 2003). Sea level variations, erosion, and sedimentation are major natural processes also involved in the present evolution of coastal areas. All these transformations can damage coastal environments when they are not accompanied by an adequate system of orderly and sustainable management guidelines. The formulation and implementation of appropriate coastal planning and management measures arise from a concrete current diagnosis that can project future changes and modifications in this kind of environments (Maelfait et al. 2006). Coastal protected areas contribute to the conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of a region and reduce pressures caused by human activities on these environments.