@article{MACKELWORTH2024106231,

title = {Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) as an enabling mechanism for transboundary marine spatial planning},

author = {P. Mackelworth and C. M. Fortuna and M. Antoninić and D. Holcer and D. Abdul-Malak and K. Attia and M. Bricelj and F. Guerquin and M. Marković and E. Nunes and C. Perez-Valverde and E. Ramieri and I. Stojanović and L. Tunesi and J. McGowan},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X2400229X},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106231},

issn = {0308-597X},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-01-01},

urldate = {2024-01-01},

journal = {Marine Policy},

volume = {166},

pages = {106231},

abstract = {As the new global biodiversity targets kick in, the signatories to the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) are searching for means to fulfil their obligations. Fortunately, more than a decade ago a long-neglected solution was created for the marine environment. The ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs) provide a means for opening discussions around the management of large marine areas, ideally with conservation as a core priority. While the biological and ecological criteria for the selection of the EBSAs is clearly outlined, there is little clarity on the means to manage or govern these areas. The conservation and management measures are left as a matter to be resolved by those states which maintain some form of jurisdiction over regions within an EBSA. Of course, these measures must be in accordance with international law. Within the Mediterranean there are 15 EBSAs which have been identified and recognised by the parties of the UNEP regional seas programme. For the past four years, technical and scientific discussions have looked to move the EBSA recognition of the Southern Adriatic Ionian Straight (SAIS) forward and identify potential governance frameworks. This work has included a biodiversity threat analysis, a legal and governance review, and a preliminary spatial prioritization. We report on the processes undertaken, the policy implications for the SAIS-EBSA and the way forward. This work has implications not only for this region but for other regions within the Mediterranean and beyond.},

keywords = {Biodiversity, Conservation and management, Environmental conservation, Mediterranean sea, Protected areas, Transboundary management},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{RODRIGUEZRODRIGUEZ2024100965,

title = {Socioeconomic impacts of small conserved sites on rural communities in Madagascar},

author = {D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and N. Knecht and J. C. Llopis and R. A. Heriarivo and H. Rakotoarison and V. Andriamampionomanjaka and E. Navarro-Jurado and V. Randriamamonjy},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211464524000034},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2024.100965},

issn = {2211-4645},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-01-01},

urldate = {2024-01-01},

journal = {Environmental Development},

pages = {100965},

abstract = {Madagascar is considered one of the top global biodiversity hotspots while at the same time is among the world's least developed countries. Pressing socioeconomic needs such as food provision often lead to unsustainable land use and widespread loss, fragmentation and degradation of natural habitats. Thus, ascertaining the socioeconomic effects of small conserved sites is urgent in order to show their benefits and identify their costs to attain sustainable rural development on the island. Here, we used structured questionnaires in two surveys to key local stakeholders, including 1) managers of three conserved sites smaller than 100 ha, and 2) local communities living around such sites (cases) and similar neighbouring communities unaffected by those conserved sites (controls), following a Before-After-Control-Impact design. Median income did not differ between case and control communities, although case communities reported better self-perception of their economic situation and wider availability of basic services. Substantial revenues from tourism accrued only to one local community from a conveniently located, community-managed site: Anja Community Reserve. No differences in the economic effects from the establishment of the conserved sites were found between sex, age or education levels of community members. Exploitation of natural resources from conserved sites was either prohibited (two sites) or severely restricted (one site). As a result, case communities tended to collect fewer natural resources from nearby areas than control communities. Contrary to expectations, case communities reported less economic impact than control communities during the COVID-19 pandemic even though visitors were reduced to zero, which likely indicate greater socioeconomic resilience due to previous community investments and greater availability of ecosystem services. Successful, bottom-up and replicable approaches to locally manage natural resources sustainably are urgently needed in a country with rich and vanishing biodiversity, weak institutions, high poverty rates and strong dependence on natural resources for subsistence.},

keywords = {Biodiversity, Conservation and management, Ecosystem services, Environmental conservation},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Siegel2023,

title = {Distribution, threats and protection of selected karst groundwater-dependent ecosystems in the Mediterranean region},

author = {L. Siegel and N. Goldscheider and M. Petitta and J. Xanke and B. Andreo and M. Bakalowicz and J. A. Barberá and R. Bouhlila and A. Burg and J. Doummar and I. Ezzine and J. Fernández-Ortega and M. Ghanmi and H. Jourde and A. I. Marín and A. Mhimdi and T. Pipan and N. Ravbar and A. M. Stevanović and Z. Stevanović},

url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10040-023-02711-9},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-023-02711-9},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-09-22},

urldate = {2023-09-22},

journal = { Hydrogeology Journal },

abstract = {Karst groundwater-dependent ecosystems (KGDEs) in the Mediterranean region are important in terms of ecosystem services and biodiversity but are increasingly under anthropogenic pressures and climate-change constraints. For this study, the ecohydrological characteristics, threats, and protection status of 112 selected KGDEs around the Mediterranean Sea, including caves, springs, rivers and wetlands, were evaluated, based on local expert knowledge and scientific literature. Results demonstrate that KGDEs contribute considerably to regional biodiversity. The diversity of karst landscapes, combined with the groundwater emergence at springs, leads to exceptional habitat diversity, particularly in arid climates, where KGDEs serve as a refuge for species that could not thrive in the surrounding environment. The most common threats identified among the selected sites are direct human disturbances, such as mass tourism or overfishing, water-quality deterioration and water shortage from aquifer overdraft and/or climate change. Although most of the selected sites are under protection, conservation measures are frequently insufficient. Such shortcomings are often caused by poor data availability, little knowledge on conservation needs of invertebrate species, and conflicts of interest with the local population. For this purpose, it is necessary to raise environmental awareness and promote interdisciplinary research, in order to monitor water quality and quantity in addition to the status of the biocenoses.},

keywords = {Groundwater, Pressures},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Burgueño2023,

title = {Scalable approach for high-resolution land cover: a case study in the Mediterranean Basin},

author = {A. M. Burgueño and J. F. Aldana-Martín and M. Vázquez-Pendón and C. Barba-González and Y. J. Gómez and V. E. García-Millán and I. Navas-Delgado},

url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s40537-023-00770-z},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s40537-023-00770-z},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-06-02},

journal = {Journal of Big Data},

volume = {10},

number = {91},

abstract = {The production of land cover maps is an everyday use of image classification applications on remote sensing. However, managing Earth observation satellite data for a large region of interest is challenging in the task of creating land cover maps. Since satellite imagery is getting more precise and extensive, Big Data techniques are becoming essential to handle the rising quantity of data. Furthermore, given the complexity of managing and analysing the data, defining a methodology that reduces the complexity of the process into different smaller steps is vital to data processing. This paper presents a Big Data methodology for creating land cover maps employing artificial intelligence algorithms. Machine Learning algorithms are contemplated for remote sensing and geodata classification, supported by explainable artificial intelligence. Furthermore, the process considers aspects related to downloading data from different satellites, Copernicus and ASTER, executing the pre-processing and processing of the data in a distributed environment, and depicting the visualisation of the result. The methodology is validated in a test case for er map of the Mediterranean Basin.},

keywords = {Geotechnology, Land and soil},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{nokey,

title = {Long-term assessment of the effectiveness of coastal protection regulations in conserving natural habitats in Spain},

author = {G. Martorell-Guerrero and D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and V. E. García-Millán},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0964569123001266},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106601},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-05-15},

journal = {Ocean & Coastal Management},

volume = {239},

abstract = {Spain has undergone rapid socioeconomic development in the past three decades. This has been linked to massive residential and infrastructural development based on a short-term, profitable and resource-intensive consuming model. As a result, large amounts of agricultural, natural and semi-natural soils have been lost to artificial areas, especially around main cities and on the coast. In this study, we assessed the effectiveness of the Spanish Shores Act at preventing land development in two biogeographical regions and three administrative scales between 1988 and 2020 using a BACI design and remote sensing data. We also analysed the combined effect of other regulations to prevent land development on the coast. The Shores Act was effective in reducing land development although moderate to substantial land development occurred in the zones affected by the Law, especially in the Mediterranean region. Adding other sectoral regulations to the Shores Act notably and consistently reduced land development across regions. Among them, cumulative protected area (PA) regulations were most effective in reducing coastal land development. The use of satellite images, especially Sentinel 2A MSI data within a BACI design, proved a useful method for assessing the effectiveness of fine-scale objectives of environmental policies such as the Shores Act.},

keywords = {Conservation and management, Environmental conservation, Geotechnology, Land and soil, Pressures, Tourism},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{doi:10.1146/annurev-environ-112321-081348,

title = {Governance and Conservation Effectiveness in Protected Areas and Indigenous and Locally Managed Areas},

author = {Yin Zhang and Paige West and Lerato Thakholi and Kulbhushansingh Suryawanshi and Miriam Supuma and Dakota Straub and Samantha S. Sithole and Roshan Sharma and Judith Schleicher and Ben Ruli and D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and Mattias Borg Rasmussen and Victoria C. Ramenzoni and Siyu Qin and Deborah Delgado Pugley and Rachel Palfrey and Johan Oldekop and Emmanuel O. Nuesiri and Van Hai Thi Nguyen and Nouhou Ndam and Catherine Mungai and Sarah Milne and Mathew Bukhi Mabele and Sadie Lucitante and Hugo Lucitante and Jonathan Liljeblad and Wilhelm Andrew Kiwango and Alfred Kik and Nikoleta Jones and Melissa Johnson and Christopher Jarrett and Rachel Sapery James and George Holmes and Lydia N. Gibson and Arash Ghoddousi and Jonas Geldmann and Maria Fernanda Gebara and Thera Edwards and Wolfram H. Dressler and Leo R. Douglas and Panayiotis G. Dimitrakopoulos and Veronica Davidov and Eveline M. F. W. Compaoré-Sawadogo and Yolanda Ariadne Collins and Michael Cepek and Paul Berne Burow and Dan Brockington and Michael Philippe Bessike Balinga and Beau J. Austin and Rini Astuti and Christine Ampumuza and Frank Kwaku Agyei},

url = {https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-112321-081348},

doi = {10.1146/annurev-environ-112321-081348},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-01-01},

urldate = {2023-01-01},

journal = {Annual Review of Environment and Resources},

volume = {48},

number = {1},

pages = {559-588},

abstract = {Increased conservation action to protect more habitat and species is fueling a vigorous debate about the relative effectiveness of different sorts of protected areas. Here we review the literature that compares the effectiveness of protected areas managed by states and areas managed by Indigenous peoples and/or local communities. We argue that these can be hard comparisons to make. Robust comparative case studies are rare, and the epistemic communities producing them are fractured by language, discipline, and geography. Furthermore the distinction between these different forms of protection on the ground can be blurred. We also have to be careful about the value of this sort of comparison as the consequences of different forms of conservation for people and nonhuman nature are messy and diverse. Measures of effectiveness, moreover, focus on specific dimensions of conservation performance, which can omit other important dimensions. With these caveats, we report on findings observed by multiple study groups focusing on different regions and issues whose reports have been compiled into this article. There is a tendency in the data for community-based or co-managed governance arrangements to produce beneficial outcomes for people and nature. These arrangements are often accompanied by struggles between rural groups and powerful states. Findings are highly context specific and global generalizations have limited value.},

keywords = {Biodiversity, Conservation and management, Environmental conservation, Marine protected areas, Protected areas},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{García-Millán2022,

title = {Identification of Priority Forest Conservation Areas for Critically Endangered Lemur Species of Madagascar},

author = {V. E. García-Millán and D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and A. Martín Oncina and A. Andrianarimisa and L. O. Randriamiharisoa and G. Martorell-Guerrero and A. Bóveda and D. Abdul-Malak},

url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/land11091455},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/land11091455},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-09-01},

urldate = {2022-09-01},

journal = {Land},

volume = {11},

number = {1455},

issue = {9},

abstract = {Forests have extraordinary importance for the conservation of endemic species in Madagascar. However, they are disappearing fast due to a number of pressures, notably unsustainable agricultural practices leading to aggravated status of biodiversity. Here, we used a number of ecological and spatial criteria to identify and prioritise unprotected forest areas for the conservation of the eight critically endangered species of lemur belonging to the Lemuridae family in Madagascar. By combining spatial information layers on the distribution areas of the studied lemurs, forest extension and conservation status, and potential human impacts (such as roads, human settlements and agriculture lands), it was possible to identify the most appropriate sites for the expansion of the conservation areas of critically endangered lemur species. Seven new sites, totalling over 33,000 ha, were identified as priority sites for the protection of those species. All of them were adjacent to or inside (just one site) existing protected areas (PAs), which likely makes their protection both feasible and socioeconomically efficient by enlarging those PAs. Legally protecting these sites would not only take Madagascar one little step ahead for meeting oncoming global biodiversity targets for 2030 but could also make a substantial contribution to the mid-term survival of the studied lemur species.},

keywords = {Biodiversity, Conservation and management, Environmental conservation, Forest, Geotechnology, Protected areas},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Petersen2022,

title = {Ecosystem extent accounts for Europe},

author = {J.E. Petersen and E. Mancosu and S. King},

url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2022.101457},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2022.101457},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-07-31},

journal = {Ecosystem Services},

volume = {57},

number = {101457},

issue = {October 2022},

abstract = {This paper describes the set-up and results for ecosystem extent accounts at European level, developed in the context of the United Nations System of Environmental-Economic Accounting - Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA). These accounts inform on the opening and closing ‘stocks’ of ecosystems and provide essential geo-spatial data to support the calculation of ecosystem condition and services accounts. The paper presents the first set of ecosystem extent accounts for Europe, covering the period 2000–2018. These show that ecosystems are relatively stable at the European scale, with significant increases in Urban ecosystems and some decrease in Heathland and shrub and Grassland ecosystems. The paper demonstrates the use of a flexible geo-spatial database to gain analytical insights for different ecosystem accounting areas, using European biogeographical regions and Natura 2000 areas as examples. More detailed ecosystem extent accounts (tier II and tier III) show trends inter alia for Agro-forestry, Peat Bog, Beaches, dunes and sands as well as Salt marsh ecosystems, important for biodiversity and ecosystem services. The accounting approach presented delivers a geo-spatial data foundation that can support further ecosystem analysis and accounts. This enables the targeting of ecosystem analysis on specific geographic areas and policy instruments.},

keywords = {Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Ecosystem services, Environmental conservation, Land and soil},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Kerzabi2021,

title = {Contribution of remote sensing and GIS to mapping groundwater vulnerability in arid zone: Case from Amour Mountains- Algerian Saharan Atlas},

author = {R. Kerzabi and H. Mansour and S. Yousfi and A. I. Marín and B. Andreo and K. E. Bensefia},

url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2021.104277},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2021.104277},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-10-01},

journal = {Journal of African Earth Sciences},

volume = {182},

number = {104277},

issue = {October 2021},

abstract = {Protecting groundwater resource from pollution in arid zone is coming an important act for sensing development in this region calling for geomatics tools to characterize the geological and hydrogeological environment. The present work gives a new way to combine remote sensing and geographic information systems to elaborate vulnerability map of Deffa watershed (in Amour Mountains). This region is a good example of arid zones how know an important growth of agriculture, but there is under gap of geological, hydrogeological and soil knowledge. In the first time, we analyzed the Landsat 8-OLI image data with bands combination, ratios composition in RGB and filters to cartography the lithology's contours and lineament map. The false color composition of bands (765, 753, and 543) in RGB given the primary lithological delimitation. Supported by band rationing technique, we produced of 1/50000 geological map. The filter treatments given the lineament map superposed to the first one to realize geo-structural map. In addition, these images served to elaborate pedology map, using Decision Tree (Slope, Redness Index and Lithology parameters). Secondly, we established a GIS including the result map of RS treatment (lithology, lineament and soil maps) and additional spatial information (aquifer type and deep of groundwater surface and precipitations …). In GIS, the vulnerability index are calculated using GOD and PI methods. Both of maps displayed four classes of vulnerability: between Low and Extreme in the first map, and Very low to High vulnerability in the second one. In the some areas, we have controversial values of vulnerability; this leads us to validate these maps using pollution indicators (NO3−, NH4+ and SO42−). The validation displayed that the PI coincides better with special concentrations of pollutants.},

keywords = {Climate Change, Conservation and management, Geotechnology, Groundwater, Pressures},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Marín2021b,

title = {Mapping forest condition in Europe: Methodological developments in support to forest biodiversity assessments},

author = {A. I. Marín and D. Abdul-Malak and A. Bastrup-Birk and G. Chirici and A. Barbati and S. Kleeschulte},

url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107839},

doi = {10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107839},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-05-29},

journal = {Ecological Indicators},

volume = {128},

abstract = {Forest condition, biodiversity, and ecosystem services are strongly interlinked. The biodiversity levels depend to a large extent on the integrity, health, and vitality of forests at the same time as losses of forest biodiversity lead to decreased forest productivity and sustainability. Under this conceptual framework, this study presents a methodology for mapping forest condition at European scale supporting the attainment of the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Target 5 “the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including forests, is at least halved and where feasible brought close to zero, and degradation and fragmentation is significantly reduced” and the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), as well as the EU forest strategy since the sustainable forest management is oriented to support the provision of forest services and to enhance the condition of biodiversity forests’ host.



The work presents the developments of an operational indicator at European scale. This spatially explicit information on forest condition can be the baseline map with a 1 km resolution to monitor the state and changes of condition by exposition to pressures and threats. This condition indicator considers structural, functional, and compositional aspects of forest with relevance for health and vitality of species and habitats hosted by forest ecosystems.



The methodology implemented used harmonized, published and open datasets. It provided confident results for the assessment of the condition within hemiboreal, temperate and alpine forests, showing the Carpathian, Dinaric Alps and Alps, among others, as hotspots with pre-dominantly good condition. The results were validated with data derived from the reporting for the EU Habitat Directive and explicit dataset on known primary forests in Europe. However, this method underestimated the forest condition in the Mediterranean and Boreal forest types due to data gaps, regional specific characteristics, and design limitations.



This study illustrates an operational and transferable approach for addressing the assessment of ecosystem forest condition at European scale being considered as a support tool for European countries when mapping and assessing their national territory, as potential common approach to map forest ecosystems that allows for consistent aggregation and comparisons across scales.},

keywords = {Biodiversity, Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Environmental conservation, Forest},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rodríguez-Rodríguez2021b,

title = {Potential contribution of OECMs to international area-based conservation targets in a biodiversity rich country, Spain},

author = {D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and A. Sánchez-Espinosa and D. Abdul-Malak},

url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2021.126019},

doi = {10.1016/j.jnc.2021.126019},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-05-15},

journal = {Journal for Nature Conservation},

volume = {62},

abstract = {Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) are new conservation tools intended to complement protected areas (PAs) at achieving effective biodiversity conservation and meeting international area-based targets. However, OECMs have been rarely considered in practical terms until recently. Here, we performed a rapid evaluation on the degree of fulfilment of current area-based international biodiversity targets, post-2020 foreseeable oncoming targets, and ecological targets by considering: 1) Protection coverage; 2) Inclusiveness of important areas for biodiversity; 3) Protection management; 4) Connectivity; and 5) Habitat representation, on land and at sea in Spain, a Euro-Mediterranean, biodiversity rich country. We conducted the evaluation under two scenarios: 1) Scenario 1 considers designated PAs; and 2) Scenario 2, that also includes potential OECMs. In order to generate Scenario 2, thirteen legal categories were assessed against international guidance on OECMs as a first step to screen their likelihood of providing OECMs in Spain. Our findings show that some potentially satisfactory OECM categories such as Public Utility Forests, River Reserves or Geoparks meet the OECM criteria to a large degree and deserve further study. Our results also highlight that Spain is currently well above most foreseeable post-2020 biodiversity targets and even close to some ecological targets using just PAs, except for marine protected area (MPA) management and MPA offshore coverage. Adding OECMs would noticeably improve the country’s figures yet without reaching many exigent ecological targets. OECMs can become a useful, cost-effective biodiversity conservation tool that contributes to international targets under new, more ambitious area-based conservation requirements in Spain and elsewhere. Nevertheless, for this to happen, suitable biodiversity management and monitoring schemes must be ensured.},

keywords = {Biodiversity, Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Environmental conservation, Marine protected areas, Protected areas},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rodríguez-Rodríguez2021,

title = {Are protected areas good for the human species? Effects of protected areas on rural depopulation in Spain},

author = {D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and R. Larrubia and J.D. Sinoga},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969720379304#!},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144399},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-04-21},

journal = {Science of The Total Environment},

volume = {763},

abstract = {Protected areas (PAs) seek to conserve valuable genes, species and ecosystems by applying a legal regime that restricts some socioeconomic activities and also offers opportunities for new ones. As a result, PAs have been claimed by some authors to boost socioeconomic conditions in rural areas mainly through tourism activities. However, others have claimed that PAs contribute to rural depopulation through the worsening of living conditions of local residents because of restrictions resulting from protection regulations. Here, we applied a multiple-paired Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) research design on a census on protected rural municipalities (cases; N = 52) versus unprotected rural municipalities (controls; N = 55) in Spain to ascertain whether PAs had positive or negative effects on rural populations using three indicators on depopulation with official municipal data from 1996 until 2019: Compound annual growth rate (CAGR); Proportion of reproductive individuals (REP); and Proportion of reproductive females (WREP). We controlled for some confounders such as biophysical characteristics and regional regulations by carefully selecting our sample of municipalities spatially. Our results show that depopulation figures were worse in cases than in controls, with some exceptions whose characteristics should be further explored. Municipalities in Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) performed best against rural depopulation and generally better than their controls, whereas municipalities in Biosphere Reserves and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) showed mostly worse figures. Our findings suggest that, while necessary and important for biodiversity, multiple-use PAs generally entailed negative consequences for Spanish rural populations that need to be offset by State's intervention.},

keywords = {Conservation and management, Ecosystem services, Environmental conservation, Marine protected areas, Protected areas},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Marín2021,

title = {Groundwater vulnerability to pollution in karst aquifers, considering key challenges and considerations: application to the Ubrique springs in southern Spain},

author = {A. I. Marín and J. F. Martín Rodríguez and J. A. Barberá and J. Fernández-Ortega and M. Mudarra and D. Sánchez and B. Andreo},

url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10040-020-02279-8},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-020-02279-8},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-01-21},

journal = {Hydrogeology Journal},

abstract = {Groundwater vulnerability mapping is one of the tools most often applied to analyse the sensitivity of karst aquifers to pollution. These maps aim to support stakeholders in decision-making and to promote land-use management compatible with water protection; however, the validation of these maps is still a challenge in many cases, triggering high uncertainty. For karst media, due to the strong heterogeneity in recharge mechanisms and hydraulic characteristics, validation is a significant stage and it must be inherent within the groundwater vulnerability assessment process. This work aims to assess the implementation of tools used for protecting the quality of water discharging or extracted from the Ubrique karst system in southern Spain, which supplies drinking water that is threatened by periodical pollution/turbidity episodes. A groundwater vulnerability map, attained by application of the COP method and validated by multiple in-situ observations, shows an extremely vulnerable system due to the absence of protective overlayers and the significant development of exokarst landforms, including shallow holes. This map could constitute the basis for defining protection zones for the Ubrique springs; however, their comprehensive protection requires the implementation of monitoring tools and an effective management strategy, through an early warning system that assures stable environmental and hydrogeological conditions and improves operational procedures associated with the drinking water service. This research establishes the strong relationship of the different methods applied to protect the source from contamination events, ranging from classical hydrodynamic and hydrochemical approaches to the implementation of protection zones and early warning groundwater quality monitoring networks.},

keywords = {Groundwater},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Riedler2020,

title = {Copernicus Knowledge and innovation hubs},

author = {B. Riedler and S. Lang and P. Zeil and M. Miguel-Lago and C. Schröder and N. Politi-Stergiou and M. Kerschbaumer and V. Tramutoli and M. Tzouvaras},

url = {https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLIII-B5-2020-35-2020},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-08-24},

journal = {The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences},

volume = {XLIII-B5-2020},

pages = {35-42},

abstract = {Copernicus, the European Space program ensures free data availability and the organisational and financial framework to provide standardized information products in its service domains atmosphere, marine, land monitoring, climate change, emergency management and human security. A key to success to the market uptake process is knowledge exchange among all actors from the various sectors involved, notably research and educational institutions, industry, and the public sector. As a successful instrument to foster and stimulate this exchange, maximize the impact and additionally boost related capacity building and training activities, the Copernicus Academy has been anchored in the European Space Strategy. The present paper highlights some key activities to leverage the potential of this dynamically growing network of experts from universities and research institutions, public and private organizations, companies, stakeholders, and increase the benefit to its members. The vision of establishing both physical implementations of regional Copernicus hubs and virtual Copernicus hubs, built on key elements of the European Innovation strategy, is discussed. Regional hubs, attached e.g. to centres of excellence, are essential to meet local needs for exchange and training to boost the user uptake. The increasing importance of virtual hubs is becoming evident as a critical means to maximise synergies among actors in the rapidly advancing technological areas. Proposed technical elements demonstrate innovative solutions to visualize and facilitate easy harvesting of the Copernicus Academy member´s expertise for different stakeholder and the public, and show cast possibilities of active involvement and exchange within the network.},

keywords = {Geotechnology},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Bevilacqua2020,

title = {The Status of Coastal Benthic Ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea: Evidence From Ecological Indicators},

author = {S. Bevilacqua and S. Katsanevakis and F. Micheli and E. Sala and G. Rilov and G. Sarà and D. Abdul-Malak and A. Abdulla and V. Gerovasileiou and E. Gissi and A. D. Mazaris and C. Pipitone and M. Sini and V. Stelzenmüller and A. Terlizzi and V. Todorova and S. Fraschetti},

url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00475},

doi = {10.3389/fmars.2020.00475},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-06-19},

journal = {Frontiers in Marine Science},

abstract = {The Mediterranean Sea is subject to multiple human pressures increasingly threatening its unique biodiversity. Spatially explicit information on the ecological status of marine ecosystems is therefore key to an effective maritime spatial planning and management, and to help the achievement of environmental targets. Here, we summarized scientific data on the ecological status of a selection of marine ecosystems based on a set of ecological indicators in more than 700 sites of the Mediterranean Sea. For Posidonia oceanica seagrass beds, rocky intertidal fringe, and coastal soft bottoms, more than 70% of investigated sites exhibited good to high ecological conditions. In contrast, about two-thirds of sites for subtidal rocky reefs were classified to be in moderate to bad conditions, stressing the need for prioritizing conservation initiatives on these productive and diverse environments. Very little quantitative information was available for the southern Mediterranean Sea, thus monitoring programs and assessments in this area are essential for a representative assessment of the health of marine coastal ecosystems in the whole basin. This overview represents a first step to implement a baseline that, through georeferenced data on ecological status, could help identifying information gaps, directing future research priorities, and supporting improvements to spatial models of expected cumulative impacts on marine ecosystems.},

keywords = {Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Environmental conservation, Mediterranean sea},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Merkohasanaj2019,

title = {Assessing the environmental effectiveness of the Spanish Marine Reserve Network using remote sensing},

author = {M. Merkohasanaj and D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and M.C. García-Martínez and M. Vargas-Yáñez and D. Abdul-Malak},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X19305758},

doi = {10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105583},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-12-01},

journal = {Ecological Indicators},

volume = {107},

abstract = {Healthy marine ecosystems provide a variety of ecosystem services crucial for human wellbeing. Effectively managed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are increasingly recognized to be an effective measure to protect endangered species and ensuring healthier ecosystems. This study assesses the environmental effectiveness of the Spanish Marine Reserve Network (MRN) with regard to: 1) water quality: chlorophyll-a concentrations (Chl-a), sea surface temperature (SST), and Salinity; and 2) protected species conservation: coverage and density of Posidonia oceanica (P. oceanica), using a Multiple-Paired-Before-After-Control-Impact (MPBACI) research design. Water quality and protected species indicators were compared before and after Marine Reserve (MR) designation, inside MRs and in different outer control areas of 1 km, 5 km, 10 km and equal-area buffers, for the whole MRN (Marine Reserve Network), by marine ecoregions and for some specific MRs. We used Copernicus Marine Monitoring Remote Sensing data to ascertain water quality values and validated their accuracy compared to in-situ data as well as the reliability of Chl-a concentration derived from Sentinel 2 (S2) images. Water quality results reveal significant differences in mean Chl-a and Chl-a range, mean Salinity and SST range between cases (inside MRs) and 5 km-buffer control areas for the entire MRN. Analyses by ecoregion showed no significant differences in water quality between cases and controls in the Western Mediterranean ecoregion or in the Azores, Canaries and Madeira ecoregion, whereas the Alboran Sea ecoregion MRs had higher mean Chl-a concentration and lower mean Salinity, mean SST and SST range than all controls. Results on P. oceanica beds showed a significant increase in P. oceanica density (almost twice) inside Tabarca MR (TBA) compared to outer control cases, but no significant changes in P. oceanica coverage. Validation of Remote Sensing (RS) data using in-situ measurements demonstrated significant differences for Chl-a concentration and no significant differences for SST and Salinity between both techniques. Chl-a concentration by S2 reveals statistically significant differences with in-situ data. Our findings suggest environmental effectiveness of the Spanish MRs and still limited sensitivity of open source medium resolution RS tools to assess MPA effectiveness.},

keywords = {Conservation and management, Marine protected areas, Protected areas, SOSTPARK},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Sánchez-Espinosa2019b,

title = {Land use and land cover mapping in wetlands one step closer to the ground: Sentinel-2 versus Landsat 8},

author = {A. Sánchez-Espinosa and C. Schröder},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479719308850},

doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.06.084},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-10-01},

journal = {Journal of Environmental Management},

volume = {247},

pages = {484-498},

abstract = {Environmental studies with Landsat images have revealed many of the problems faced by wetland ecosystem, which are crucial for the conservation of biodiversity and the natural values of our planet. The study of LULC changes in wetlands through remote sensing constantly helps to identify and combat their main environmental threats improving the conservation of these natural habitats. Starting in mid-2015, the Sentinel-2 satellite opens new possibilities in the field of earth observation thanks to its higher spatial, spectral and temporal resolution becoming a powerful source of information for LULC monitoring in wetland areas. However, researchers may ask them selves to what extent Sentinel-2 is an improvement over Landsat 8 for general purposes. This research test if there is a real difference in the quality of the results delivered by both Sentinel-2 and Landsat 8 imagery when basic classification methods are applied.



The study uses Sentinel-2 and Landsat 8 imagery to produce LULC maps in a Mediterranean wetland area applying an object based classification method in order to compare the accuracy and reliability in the surface detected by both satellites. The results show that an object based classification using only the Sentinel-2 and Landsat 8 image information, without band indexes or ancillary data, offers very similar results for most LULC classes, being the overall accuracy around 87–88% with slightly better results when using Sentinel-2. Although using Sentinel-2 leads to an increase in file size and processing times, the analysis of certain LULC classes presents an improvement compared to Landsat 8, detecting more linear and small size elements with a better delineation of image features in the classified map. However, these improvements should not underestimate the value of Landsat imagery in the future since both satellites provide high precision information, so they can and should coexist and be used together to increase data availability in order to have the best possible results in remote sensing research.},

keywords = {Geotechnology, Land and soil, SWOS, Wetlands},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Weise2019,

title = {Wetland extent tools for SDG 6.6.1 reporting from the Satellite-based Wetland Observation Service (SWOS)},

author = {K. Weise and R. Höfer and J. Franke and A. Guelmami and W. Simonson and J. Muro and B. O'Connor and A. Strauch and S. Flink and J. Eberle and E. Mino and S. Thulin and P. Philipson and E. van Valkengoed and J. Truckenbrodt and F. Zander and A. Sánchez-Espinosa and C. Schröder and F. Thinfeld and E. Fitoka and E. Scott and M. Ling and M. Schwarz and I. Kunz and G. Thürmer and A. Plasmeijer and L. Hilarides},

url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2020.111892},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2020.111892},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-09-15},

journal = {Remote Sensing of Environment},

volume = {247},

abstract = {Wetlands are the most fragile and threatened ecosystems worldwide, and also one of the most rapidly declining. At the same time wetlands are typically biodiversity hotspots and provide a range of valuable ecosystem services, such as water supply and purification, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and carbon sequestration.



Pressures on wetlands are likely to further intensify in the coming decades due to increased global demand for land and water, and due to climate change. Stakeholders at all levels of governance have to be involved to slow, stop and reverse these processes. However, the information they need on wetland extent, their ecological character, and their ecosystem services is often scattered, sparse and difficult to find and access.



The freely available Sentinel satellite data of the Copernicus Programme, as well as the Landsat archive, provide a comprehensive basis to map and inventory wetland areas (extent), to derive information on the ecological status, as well as long- and short-term trends in wetland characteristics. However, making use of these Earth Observation (EO) resources for robust and standardized wetland monitoring requires expert knowledge on often complex data processing techniques, which impedes practical implementation. In this respect, the Satellite-based Wetland Observation Service (SWOS), a Horizon 2020 funded project (www.swos-service.eu) has developed and made disseminated monitoring approaches based on EO data, specifically designed for less experienced satellite data users.



The SWOS monitoring tools aim at assisting countries in conducting national wetland inventories for their Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) reporting and monitoring obligations, and additionally facilitates other monitoring obligations such as those required by the Ramsar Convention and supports decision-making in local conservation activities. The four main components of the SWOS approach are: map and indicator production; software development; capacity building; and initializing the GEO Wetlands Community Portal. Wetland managers and data analysists from more than fifty wetland sites and river basins across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa investigated the benefits and limitations of this EO-based wetland mapping and monitoring approach.



We describe research that applies the SWOS tools to test their potential for the mapping of wetlands in a case study based in Albania, and show its effectiveness to derive metrics relevant to the monitoring of SDG indicator 6.6.1.},

keywords = {Climate Change, Conservation and management, Environmental conservation, SWOS, Wetlands},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Hatziiordanou2019,

title = {Indicators for mapping and assessment of ecosystem condition and of the ecosystem service habitat maintenance in support of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020},

author = {L. Hatziiordanou and E. Fitoka and E. Hadjicharalampous and N.E. Votsi and D. Palaskas and D. Abdul-Malak},

url = {https://oneecosystem.pensoft.net/article/32704/},

doi = {10.3897/oneeco.4.e32704},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-06-13},

journal = {One Ecosystem},

volume = {4},

number = {e32704},

abstract = {A systematic approach to map and assess the “maintenance of nursery populations and habitats” ecosystem service (ES) (hereinafter called “habitat maintenance”) has not yet emerged. In this article, we present an ecosystem service framework implementation at landscape level, by proposing an approach for calculating and combining a series of indicators with spatial modelling techniques. Necessary conceptual elements for this approach are: a) ecosystem condition, b) supply and demand of the targeted ecosystem service and c) spatial relationships between the Service Providing Units (SPU) and the Service Connecting Units (SCU). Ecosystem condition is quantified and mapped based on two indicators, the Biodiversity State and the Anthropogenic Impact. Quantification and mapping of supply and demand are based on the hypothesis that high supply can be activated in strictly protected areas and that a demand is localised in the Natura 2000 sites (N2K), considering them as the Service Benefit Areas (SBA). Wetlands are assessed as SCU between the SBA and the landscape areas where the habitat maintenance ES is supplied. By assessing wetlands as SCU, we intent to highlight their role as biodiversity stepping stones and as green infrastructures. Overall, we conclude that the EU biodiversity policy demand for no net loss and for a coherent N2K network can be met by enhancing the delivery of the habitat maintenance ES. This approach can assist policy-makers in prioritisation of conservation and restoration targets, in line with the EU biodiversity strategy to 2020 and the preparation of the post-2020 Strategy.},

keywords = {Biodiversity, Climate Change, Conservation and management, Ecosystem services, Forest, Land and soil, Pressures, Wetlands},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rodríguez-Rodríguez2019,

title = {Social and economic sustainability of multiple-use marine protected areas in Spain: A mixed methods, multi-scale study},

author = {D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and M. Merkohasanaj and I. López},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0964569118307397},

doi = {10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2019.01.013},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-04-01},

journal = {Ocean & Coastal Management},

volume = {171},

pages = {47-55},

abstract = {Social perception is key to the success of biodiversity conservation policies. A range of socioeconomic guilds can be affected by marine conservation. Among them, fishers are the ones most likely affected and affecting marine protected areas (MPAs). Here, we assessed the perceptions on the sustainability of a type of multiple-use MPA, Fishing Reserves (FRs), by a broad spectrum of national (n = 16) and local (n = 14) stakeholder organisations pertaining to six socioeconomic sectors via two online surveys in Spain. We compared organisational perception by stakeholder organisations, and specifically by the fishing guild, with official fishing statistics for six FRs between 1998 and 2016 using a Before-After-Impact (BAI) research design. Spanish FRs were regarded as sustainable marine management tools by most marine and coastal stakeholders, with environmental effects perceived to be more positive than social and economic ones, respectively. However, primary sector organisations stated null or negative effect of FR designation on their activities, although official statistics showed a moderate to large increase in a number of professional fishing-related variables, including number of boats and crews, after designation of most FRs. Spatial scale did not affect stakeholder perception of local socioeconomic effects of FRs, although some relevant local socioeconomic variables that were thought to vary most after FR designation differed across scales. Some suggested managerial improvements for increased socioeconomic sustainability of Spanish FRs by the professional fishing guild included: greater stakeholder engagement in FR designation and operation, more flexible fishing regulations and stricter control of recreational fishing.},

keywords = {Conservation and management, Marine protected areas, Protected areas, SOSTPARK},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rodríguez-Rodríguez2019b,

title = {Bridging the research-management gap in environmental conservation: A case study from Andalusia, southern Spain},

author = {D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and D. Abdul-Malak and C. Schröder and K. McGlade and D. Pascual},

url = {https://www.siftdesk.org/article-details/Bridging-the-research-management-gap-in-environmental-conservation-A-case-study-from-Andalusia-southern-Spain/489},

doi = {10.25177/JESES.4.2.RA.489},

isbn = {2472-6397 },

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-04-01},

journal = {SDRP Journal of Earth Sciences & Environmental Studies},

volume = {4},

number = {2},

pages = {579-588},

abstract = {Science is believed to provide the most objective basis for effective decision-making, though it is rarely implemented in environmental management. Here we reflect on the results of a regional workshop aimed at exploring the knowledge and use of scientific evidence by environmental managers in an ecologically diverse region in southern Spain: Andalusia. Scientists were moderately aware of regional managerial needs. They stated that regional managers’ needs could be mostly addressed by their research centers, and that they often considered managerial needs when conducting research. In turn, environmental managers had limited knowledge of, and interest in, the environmental research carried out in the region. However, managers stated they frequently use scientific outputs in their jobs. The main perceived barriers to effective use of science in regional environmental management by both groups were: different priorities by each group, and limited time of managers to check scientific information. Scientists also perceived that managers were not sufficiently engaged in research and that they were often reluctant to change their usual managerial practices. Managers mentioned inadequate scientific dissemination formats. The perceived solutions to those issues were: reinforcing collaboration mechanisms between both groups; aligning research to managerial needs more closely; greater managers’ awareness of adaptive management; and developing user friendly, synthetic communication tools for managers. The insights from the workshop are intended to help scientists and managers to enhance effective use of environmental science in Spain and elsewhere.},

keywords = {Conservation and management, Environmental conservation, Protected areas, SOSTPARK},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rodríguez-Rodríguez2019c,

title = {Socioeconomic effects of protected areas in Spain across spatial scales and protection levels},

author = {D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and I. López},

url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-019-01160-7},

doi = {10.1007/s13280-019-01160-7},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-03-11},

journal = {Ambio},

volume = {49},

pages = {258–270},

abstract = {Impacts of the legal designation of protected areas (PAs) may have contrasting implications for different stakeholders, and at different spatial scales. In this study, we analysed the organisational perception on the socioeconomic effects of PA designation from all sectors of activity in Spain, accounting for PAs’ legal stringency. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 68 organisations at national, regional (Andalusia) and local scales (two municipalities in the Almeria province, Andalusia) through an online survey. Local stakeholders and the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors were most concerned about the social and economic impacts of PAs designation on their organisations. By contrast, organisations at the national or regional scales together with public institutions, the quaternary sector and other miscellaneous stakeholders perceived predominantly positive effects. Only national organisations perceived an increase in local social and economic effects from the designation of legally stringent PAs with regard to multiple-use PAs.},

keywords = {Conservation and management, Environmental conservation, Protected areas, SOSTPARK},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rodríguez-Rodríguez2019e,

title = {Effect of protected area networks at reducing land development across inland and coastal areas and climatic condictions of a rapidly developing country, Spain},

author = {D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and J. Sebastiao and A.R. Salvo Tierra},

url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ldr.3286},

doi = {10.1002/ldr.328},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-02-13},

journal = {Land Degradation & Development },

volume = {30},

number = {8},

pages = {991-1005},

abstract = {Protected areas (PAs) aim at safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystem services in the long term. Despite the remarkable growth in area covered by PAs in recent years, biodiversity trends continue to worsen as a result of serious global pressures such as habitat destruction and degradation. One main cause of habitat destruction and degradation is land development that implies the replacement of natural land uses–land covers (LULCs) with artificial ones. Here, we assessed the effectiveness of four PA networks at preventing land development in Spain, a biodiversity‐rich country that has experienced recent rapid environmental transformations, using two models of increased validity: an original model and a biophysically enhanced model. We applied a before–after control–impact (BACI) design whereby absolute artificial area increase (AAI) and relative artificial area increase (RAI) were compared across PA categories (nature reserves [NRs], nature parks [NPs], Sites of Community Importance [SCIs], and Special Protection Areas [SPAs]), study zones (coastal and inland), and climates (Atlantic and Mediterranean) using CORINE Land Cover (CLC) data and two control zones: 1‐ and 5‐km buffers around protected polygons. NRs prevented land development, whereas other categories reduced it moderately to very substantially in the assessed period. AAI was especially intense in inland SPAs and NPs. NRs and NPs were the most effective PA categories inland, whereas NRs and SPAs were the most effective ones on the coast. Land development was greater on the Spanish coast than inland inside and outside PAs, especially around Macaronesian and Mediterranean PAs. Atlantic PAs experienced similar or greater land development values than surrounding areas. Our results are intended to guide future conservation efforts in Spain, chiefly on its heavily pressured coastal environment.},

keywords = {Conservation and management, Environmental conservation, Protected areas, SOSTPARK},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rodríguez-Rodríguez2019f,

title = {Analysing subtle threats to conservation: a nineteen year assessment of fragmentation and isolation of Spanish protected areas},

author = {D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and J. Martínez-Vega},

url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2019.01.012},

doi = {10.1016/j.landurbplan.2019.01.012},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-02-06},

journal = {Landscape and Urban Planning},

volume = {185},

pages = {107-116},

abstract = {Natural habitat fragmentation in and isolation of protected areas (PAs) are two ancillary but common threats that may have serious consequences to biodiversity conservation in the long term. They were assessed in four PA networks of diverse legal and managerial regimes across a highly biodiverse country, Spain, between 1987 and 2006, a period of intense development in the country: Nature Reserves (NRs), Nature Parks (NPs), Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs). ‘Contagion edge proportion’ was used to assess inner PA fragmentation by artificial land uses-land covers (LULCs), whereas two PA isolation indicators were compared: (a) increased proportion of artificial LULCs in the 500 m-buffers surrounding each protected polygon (PP); and (b) shortest distance to the nearest PA in 2006. In those 19 years, fragmentation increased in all PA networks except in Nature Reserves (NRs), which likely reflects high conservation effectiveness of stringent legislation. Isolation by artificial LULCs also increased in that period for all PA categories. NPs were the PA category with the highest values of fragmentation and isolation by 2006. Nevertheless, fragmentation and isolation values were still low on average by 2006 for all PA categories, although fine-scale fragmentation and isolation could not be assessed. Both PA isolation indicators yielded different results and were thus complementary. ‘Distance to major cities’ was the most strongly correlated variable with both pressures, which suggests that greater attention should be paid to such pressures to peri-urban PAs by territorial planners.},

keywords = {Conservation and management, Environmental conservation, Protected areas, SOSTPARK},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rodríguez-Rodríguez2019g,

title = {A twenty year GIS-based assessment of environmental sustainability of land use changes in and around protected areas of a fast developing country: Spain},

author = {D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and J. Martínez-Vega and P. Echavarría},

url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2018.08.006},

doi = {10.1016/j.jag.2018.08.006},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-02-01},

journal = {International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation},

volume = {74},

pages = {169-179},

abstract = {Spain has experienced massive recent socioeconomic changes that have had an influence on biodiversity and landscapes through land use-land cover (LULC) changes. Protected areas (PAs) seek to conserve biodiversity by establishing a legal and, sometimes, managerial regime that forbids or restricts LULC changes that are damaging to biodiversity. Here, we used CORINE Land Cover (CLC) data between 1987 and 2006 to assess differences in LULC changes and processes of change as metrics of effectiveness in four PA networks of clear legal and managerial characteristics in Spain: Nature reserves (NRs), Nature parks (NPs), Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs). We also compared LULC changes and processes of change around each PA network applying a modified Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) research design with two increasingly distant control areas and two models of increased validity. The four PA networks were more environmentally sustainable than their surrounding areas although an effectiveness gradient was shown: NRs > SCIs > SPAs > NPs, suggesting little influence of PA management on LULC changes overall. Another gradient of environmental sustainability of control areas was evident: SCIs > SPAs > NPs > NRs. Proximal controls were more sustainable than distant ones. The main LULC increases inside PAs affected agro-forestry areas and transitional woodland-shrub, whereas artificial surfaces, permanently irrigated lands and burned areas prevailed in the proximal and distant controls. Three main LULC processes of change inside and around Spanish PAs outstood: forest succession, land development, and new irrigated areas, the two former chiefly affecting surrounding areas and posing serious threats to effective biodiversity conservation.



},

keywords = {Conservation and management, Environmental conservation, Protected areas, SOSTPARK},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rodríguez-Rodríguez2018,

title = {	Effects of Legal Designation and Management of a Multiple-Use Protected Area on Local Sustainability},

author = {D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and I. López},

url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/su10093176},

doi = {10.3390/su10093176},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-09-05},

journal = {Sustainability },

volume = {10},

number = {9},

pages = {3176},

abstract = {The designation of protected areas (PAs) entails environmental, social, and economic effects to local stakeholders through access restriction to natural resources. We used a mixed methods research framework that combines time series analysis and stakeholder surveys to elicit objective and subjective effects of legal and managerial designation of Sierra Cabrera-Bedar Natura 2000 site on local sustainability in south-eastern Spain. Firstly, 47 environmental, social, and economic variables for which official time series data were available were assessed using a multiple-paired-Before-After-Control-Impact research design, where “Impacts” were: (1) legal designation of Sierra Cabrera-Bedar as a Site of Community Importance (SCI); and (2) management implementation of the site as an Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The two municipalities having most of their territories in Sierra Cabrera-Bedar SCI/SAC were selected as ‘Cases’, whereas two similar municipalities outside the PA were chosen as ‘Controls’. Additionally, 13 local organisations pertaining to 11 socioeconomic guilds from case municipalities were surveyed on their perceived effects of the designation Sierra Cabrera-Bedar as an SAC on 28 social and economic variables. The effects of legal and managerial protection of the site on local sustainability were unclear although greater SAC sustainability is suggested, even though limited time series availability for the SAC period increases uncertainty. Local organisations perceived mostly limited and negative socioeconomic effects from SAC designation. Disagreement between statistical and perceptual results suggests use of time series analyses for accurate assessment of socioeconomic effects of PAs in Spain.},

keywords = {Conservation and management, Environmental conservation, Protected areas, SOSTPARK},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rodríguez-Rodríguez2018d,

title = {Effect of legal protection and management of protected areas at preventing land development: a Spanish case study},

editor = {D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and J. Martínez-Vega},

url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-018-1369-8},

doi = {10.1007/s10113-018-1369-8},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-06-26},

journal = {Regional Environmental Change},

volume = {18},

pages = {2483-2494},

abstract = {Protected areas are entrusted long-term biodiversity conservation, but measures of their effectiveness are limited, methodologically diverse and, sometimes, of improvable accuracy. Using a semi-experimental BACI research design, this study assesses the environmental effectiveness of two highly related multiple-use protected area (PA) categories of European relevance at preventing land development: Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). The non-overlapping SCI and SAC polygon networks of a northern Spanish region (Navarra) were used as the best possible case studies in the country because their main difference is implementation of active management (in the case of SACs). One kilometre outer buffer areas were created to serve as controls for each of the two PA networks. Three spatial-statistical models that progessively consider exclusion areas according to additional land protection legislation and biophysical covariates were tested to maximise their accurateness. Percentual increases of land development were compared for each of the four groups: SCIs, SCI-Buffers, SACs and SAC-Buffers, using Corine Land Cover (CLC) data from 2006 and 2012. Results show that SACs have been fully effective at preventing land development in the Navarra region whereas some exceptional development occurred in SCIs, even though their biophysical characteristics made them less prone to development than their buffer areas. Additional legislation seems to slightly add to protection inside PAs and provides clear protection to surrounding buffer areas. Residential uses were minor among the new artificial uses around Navarra’s PAs.},

keywords = {Conservation and management, Environmental conservation, Protected areas, SOSTPARK},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rodríguez-Rodríguez2018g,

title = {Protected area effectiveness against land development in Spain},

author = {D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and J. Martínez-Vega },

url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.03.011},

doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.03.011},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-04-02},

journal = {Journal of Environmental Management},

volume = {215},

pages = {345-357},

abstract = {Land use-land cover (LULC) changes towards artificial covers are one of the main global threats to biodiversity conservation. In this comprehensive study, we tested a number of methodological and research hypotheses, and a new covariate control technique in order to address common protected area (PA) assessment issues and accurately assess whether different PA networks have had an effect at preventing development of artificial LULCs in Spain, a highly biodiverse country that has experienced massive socioeconomic transformations in the past two decades. We used digital census data for four PA networks designated between 1990 and 2000: Nature Reserves (NRs), Nature Parks (NPs), Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs). We analysed the effect of explanatory variables on the ecological effectiveness of protected polygons (PPs): Legislation stringency, cummulative legal designations, management, size, age and bio-physical characteristics. A multiple Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) semi-experimental research design was used whereby artificial land cover increase (ALCI) and proportional artificial land cover increase (PALCI) results were compared inside and outside PAs, using 1 km and 5 km buffer areas surrounding PAs as controls. LULC data were retrieved from Corine Land Cover (CLC) 1990 and 2006 data. Results from three spatial-statistical models using progressively restrictive criteria to select control areas increasingly more accurate and similar to the assessed PPs were compared. PAs were a generally effective territorial policy to prevent land development in Spain. NRs were the most effective PA category, with no new artificial land covers in the assessed period, although exact causality could not be attributed due to legal overlaps. SPAs were the least effective category, with worse ALCI data than their control areas. Legal protection was effective against land development, which was influenced by most bio-physical variables. However, cumulative legal designations and PA management did not seem to influence land development. The spatial-statistical technique used to make cases and control environmentally similar did not produce consistent outcomes and should be refined.},

keywords = {Conservation and management, Environmental conservation, Protected areas, SOSTPARK},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rodríguez-Rodríguez2018e,

title = {Representation and protection of the threatened biodiversity by the largest Spanish regional network of protected areas},

author = {D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and J. Martínez-Vega},

url = {https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00878},

doi = {10.3354/esr00878},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-03-15},

journal = {Endangered Species Research},

volume = {35},

pages = {125-139},

abstract = {The main global strategy to stop biodiversity loss is the designation of protected areas (PAs). Spain is a highly biodiverse country. It has one of the world's greatest terrestrial PA coverages. However, the status of its biodiversity is delicate as a result of serious pressures, and some important areas for biodiversity are outside PAs. We used official census data to spatially assess how 71 habitats of community interest (HCIs), 126 regionally threatened flora, fauna and fungi species and subspecies (RTSs), and 33 globally threatened species or subspecies (GTSs) are represented in a network of 404 PAs in Andalusia, a region rich in biodiversity in southern Spain. We also assessed the legal and managerial protection afforded to these threatened habitats and species by those PAs. The Andalusian PA network expands across one-third of the region’s territory and includes the threatened species’ richest areas. However, it only covers 57% of the area of occupancy of RTSs, 81% of the regional area of occupancy of GTSs, and 53% of the extent of HCIs. Over 61% of the regional PA network area is assigned more than 1 PA designation category, although cumulative legal protection is marginally related to RTS richness and unrelated to GTS richness. RTSs and especially GTSs occupy the most relative area in Ramsar sites (i.e. wetlands of international importance), although these are of relatively minor importance for threatened habitats. Wetlands and agricultural areas are the broad ecosystem types showing the greatest numbers of RTSs and GTSs. Seven GTSs were not included in the Andalusian Register of Threatened Species. One hundred and eleven unprotected Areas of High Importance for Threatened Species (AHITSs) and one Area of High Importance for Threatened Biodiversity (AHITB) were identified. Those species and sites are good candidates for a targeted expansion of legal protection of biodiversity in the region.},

keywords = {Biodiversity, Conservation and management, Ecosystem services, Pressures, Protected areas, SOSTPARK},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rodríguez-Rodríguez2018f,

title = {Rapid assessment of protection and ecological effectiveness of the Spanish Fishing Reserve Network},

author = {D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez},

url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2018.01.009},

doi = {10.1016/j.marpol.2018.01.009},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-02-13},

journal = {Marine Policy},

volume = {90},

pages = {29-36},

abstract = {Fishing Reserves (FRs) are primarily designated for the enhancement of local fisheries and, secondarily, for biodiversity conservation. In Spain, FRs are considered marine protected areas (MPAs) and included in the country's MPA network. MPAs’ ecological effectiveness is linked to a number of legal, managerial and bio-physical factors. With the amount of MPA area rapidly rising and conservation funds largely stagnant or decreasing, rapid, cost-effective MPA assessment techniques are becoming increasingly useful to verify fulfillment of global conservation targets and ascertain potential conservation effectiveness. Here, a rapid MPA protection assessment framework and one MPA ecological effectiveness framework were applied to the Spanish Network of 10 FRs (FRN): the MaPAF and NEOLI frameworks. The FRN was moderately legally protected, with over 50.5% of its area having three or more overlapping legal designations, but only 3.8% of the FRN's area being no-take. All FRs had management plans and active surveillance. According to MaPAF, Columbretes FR was the most highly legally protected whereas Cabo de Palos was the FR with the greatest managerial effort. Both rank highest in protection. In contrast, Masía Blanca FR and Alborán FR were the least legally protected whereas Alborán FR and Graciosa FR were the least managerially protected FRs of the FRN and rank the lowest in protection, respectively. According to the NEOLI framework, Columbretes would also be the most effective FR whereas Masía Blanca FR would be the least ecologically effective. These results can help to spur and better allocate conservation efforts across the fastly growing Spanish MPA network.},

keywords = {Conservation and management, Environmental conservation, Marine protected areas, Mediterranean sea, SOSTPARK},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Andreo2018,

title = {A multi-method approach for groundwater resource assessment in coastal carbonate (karst) aquifers: the case study of Sierra Almijara (southern Spain)},

author = {B. Andreo and J. A. Barberá and M. Mudarra and A. I. Marín and J. García-Orellana and V. Rodellas and I. Pérez},

url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10040-017-1652-7},

doi = {10.1007/s10040-017-1652-7},

issn = {1431-2174},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-02-01},

journal = {Hydrogeology Journal},

volume = {26},

number = {1},

pages = {41-56},

abstract = {Understanding the transference of water resources within hydrogeological systems, particularly in coastal aquifers, in which groundwater discharge may occur through multiple pathways (through springs, into rivers and streams, towards the sea, etc.), is crucial for sustainable groundwater use. This research aims to demonstrate the usefulness of the application of conventional recharge assessment methods coupled to isotopic techniques for accurately quantifying the hydrogeological balance and submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) from coastal carbonate aquifers. Sierra Almijara (Southern Spain), a carbonate aquifer formed of Triassic marbles, is considered as representative of Mediterranean coastal karst formations. The use of a multi-method approach has permitted the computation of a wide range of groundwater infiltration rates (17–60%) by means of direct application of hydrometeorological methods (Thornthwaite and Kessler) and spatially distributed information (modified APLIS method). A spatially weighted recharge rate of 42% results from the most coherent information on physiographic and hydrogeological characteristics of the studied system. Natural aquifer discharge and groundwater abstraction have been volumetrically quantified, based on flow and water-level data, while the relevance of SGD was estimated from the spatial analysis of salinity, 222Rn and the short-lived radium isotope 224Ra in coastal seawater. The total mean aquifer discharge (44.9–45.9 hm3 year−1) is in agreement with the average recharged groundwater (44.7 hm3 year−1), given that the system is volumetrically equilibrated during the study period. Besides the groundwater resources assessment, the methodological aspects of this research may be interesting for groundwater management and protection strategies in coastal areas, particularly karst environments.},

keywords = {Conservation and management, Groundwater},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{etal.al.2018,

title = {Practical solutions for bottlenecks in ecosystem services mapping},

author = {I. Palomo et al.},

url = {https://oneecosystem.pensoft.net/article/20713/element/8/46777/},

doi = {10.3897/oneeco.3.e20713},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-01-01},

journal = {One Ecosystem},

volume = {3},

abstract = {Background

Ecosystem services (ES) mapping is becoming mainstream in many sustainability assessments, but its impact on real world decision-making is still limited. Robustness, end-user relevance and transparency have been identified as key attributes needed for effective ES mapping. However, these requirements are not always met due to multiple challenges, referred to here as bottlenecks, that scientists, practitioners, policy makers and users from other public and private sectors encounter along the mapping process.



New information

A selection of commonly encountered ES mapping bottlenecks that relate to seven themes: i) map-maker map-user interaction; ii) nomenclature and ontologies; iii) skills and background; iv) data and maps availability; v) methods-selection; vi) technical difficulties; and vii) over-simplification of mapping process/output. The authors synthesise the variety of solutions already applied by map-makers and map-users to mitigate or cope with these bottlenecks and discuss the emerging trade-offs amongst different solutions. Tackling the bottlenecks described here is a crucial first step towards more effective ES mapping, which can in turn ensure the adequate impact of ES mapping in decision-making.},

keywords = {Ecosystem services, Geotechnology, Land and soil},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rodríguez-Rodríguez2017,

title = {Assessing recent environmental sustainability in the Spanish network of National Parks and their statutory peripheral areas},

author = {D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and J. Martínez-Vega },

url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2017.09.008},

doi = {10.1016/j.apgeog.2017.09.008},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-09-29},

journal = {Applied Geography},

volume = {89},

pages = {22-31},

abstract = {Land use-land cover (LULC) changes and wildfires in the Spanish Network of terrestrial National Parks (NPs) and their legally designated peripheral areas, including Peripheral Protection Zones (PPZs) and Socioeconomic Influence Zones (SIZs), were assessed as indicators of recent territorial environmental sustainability trends. Level three, Corine Land Cover (CLC) data between 2005 and 2011 were compared. Official wildfire digital data were obtained from the European Commission for the 2005–2011 period. Results show increasing numbers of LULC changes along the protection gradient: NPs < PPZs < SIZs. NPs were, in general, highly stable regarding LULC changes and less affected by wildfires, which suggests high environmental effectiveness of legal and managerial protection afforded to the Spanish NP Network. Three study areas (SAs) were very stable in the analysed period in all their zones: Aigüestortes, Ordesa y Monte Perdido and Caldera de Taburiente. In turn, Teide and Doñana were the SAs where LULC changes were more abundant. Unsustainable LULC changes concentrate in NPs' peripheral areas, chiefly in their SIZs, with wildfires being the most widespread pressure in the analysed period. Teide's SA outstands due to its environmentally unsustainable recent LULC changes, with urbanisation and wildfires affecting natural and semi-natural areas. Sustainable territorial planning and management practices should prioritise this SA.},

keywords = {Conservation and management, Environmental conservation, Protected areas, SOSTPARK},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Aksoy2017c,

title = {Assessing soil biodiversity potentials in Europe},

author = {E. Aksoy and G. Louwagie and C. Gardi and M. Gregor and C. Schröder and M. Löhnertz},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969717304229},

doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.02.173},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-07-01},

journal = {Science of The Total Environment},

volume = {589},

pages = {236-249},

abstract = {Soil is important as a critical component for the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. The largest part of the terrestrial biodiversity relies, directly or indirectly, on soil. Furthermore, soil itself is habitat to a great diversity of organisms. The suitability of soil to host such a diversity is strongly related to its physico-chemical features and environmental properties. However, due to the complexity of both soil and biodiversity, it is difficult to identify a clear and unambiguous relationship between environmental parameters and soil biota. Nevertheless, the increasing diffusion of a more integrated view of ecosystems, and in particular the development of the concept of ecosystem services, highlights the need for a better comprehension of the role played by soils in offering these services, including the habitat provision. An assessment of the capability of soils to host biodiversity would contribute to evaluate the quality of soils in order to help policy makers with the development of appropriate and sustainable management actions. However, so far, the heterogeneity of soils has been a barrier to the production of a large-scale framework that directly links soil features to organisms living within it. The current knowledge on the effects of soil physico-chemical properties on biota and the available data at continental scale open the way towards such an evaluation. In this study, the soil habitat potential for biodiversity was assessed and mapped for the first time throughout Europe by combining several soil features (pH, soil texture and soil organic matter) with environmental parameters (potential evapotranspiration, average temperature, soil biomass productivity and land use type). Considering the increasingly recognized importance of soils and their biodiversity in providing ecosystem services, the proposed approach appears to be a promising tool that may contribute to open a forum on the need to include soils in future environmental policy making decisions.},

keywords = {Biodiversity, Conservation and management, Land and soil, Soil functions},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Aksoy2017c,

title = {Assessing and analysing the impact of land take pressures on arable land},

author = {E. Aksoy and M. Gregor and C. Schröder and M. Löhnertz and G. Louwagie},

url = {https://www.solid-earth.net/8/683/2017/},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-06-20},

journal = {Solid Earth},

number = {8},

pages = {683-695},

abstract = {Land, and in particular soil, is a finite and essentially non-renewable resource. Across the European Union, land take, i.e. the increase of settlement area over time, annually consumes more than 1000 km2 of which half is actually sealed and hence lost under impermeable surfaces. Land take, and in particular soil sealing, has already been identified as one of the major soil threats in the 2006 European Commission Communication Towards a Thematic Strategy on Soil Protection and the Soil Thematic Strategy and has been confirmed as such in the report on the implementation of this strategy. The aim of this study is to relate the potential of land for a particular use in a given region with the actual land use. This allows evaluating whether land (especially the soil dimension) is used according to its (theoretical) potential. To this aim, the impact of several land cover flows related to urban development on soils with good, average, and poor production potentials were assessed and mapped. Thus, the amount and quality (potential for agricultural production) of arable land lost between the years 2000 and 2006 was identified. In addition, areas with high productivity potential around urban areas, indicating areas of potential future land use conflicts for Europe, were identified.},

keywords = {Land and soil, Pressures},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rodríguez-Rodríguez2016d,

title = {Achieving Blue Growth through maritime spatial planning: Offshore wind energy optimization and biodiversity conservation in Spain},

author = {D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and D. Abdul-Malak and T. Soukissian and A. Sánchez-Espinosa},

url = {https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305824278_Achieving_Blue_Growth_through_maritime_spatial_planning_Offshore_wind_energy_optimization_and_biodiversity_conservation_in_Spain},

doi = {10.1016/j.marpol.2016.07.022},

year  = {2016},

date = {2016-11-01},

journal = {Marine Policy},

volume = {73},

pages = {8-14},

abstract = {Spain has a high potential for renewable energy production, being the world's third country by installed on-shore wind power. However, it has not yet fully developed its renewable energy production capacity, with no commercial offshore wind production to date, and remains highly dependent on fossil fuel imports. The country is also one of Europe's most biodiverse, on land and at sea. This study spatially assesses the country's offshore wind energy potential by incorporating the newly designated marine protected areas (MPAs) to the official Spanish strategic environmental assessment for the installation of offshore windfarms (SEA). It also identifies optimal areas for offshore windfarm development according to key physical variables such as wind speed, depth and substrate type. It finally assesses real commercial windfarm projects against current environmental constraints. The results show that nearly 50% of the whole area within 24 nm from the Spanish coast could be suitable for offshore windfarm development at the planning phase. However, only 0.7% of that area is optimal for wind energy production with current fixed turbine technology. Nevertheless, either area would allow Spain to meet its national targets of 750 MW of ocean power capacity installed by 2020 under adequate local wind conditions. Over 88% of all commercial windfarm project area is within the SEA's Exclusion zone, thus unfeasible under current circumstances. Technological breakthroughs like floating turbines may soon make the optimal windfarm area (OWA) less restrictive and reduce current environmental impacts of marine windfarms within a truly sustainable Blue Growth.},

keywords = {Biodiversity, Blue Growth, Climate Change, Conservation and management, Pressures},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rodríguez-Rodríguez2016,

title = {Marine protected area design patterns in the Mediterranean Sea: Implications for conservation},

author = {D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and J. Rodríguez and J María Blanco and D. Abdul-Malak},

url = {https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304896823_Marine_protected_area_design_patterns_in_the_Mediterranean_Sea_Implications_for_conservation},

doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.06.044},

year  = {2016},

date = {2016-10-01},

journal = {Marine Pollution Bulletin },

volume = {110},

number = {1},

abstract = {Mediterranean marine protected area (MPA) design patterns regarding geographic distribution, size, spacing and shape were analysed as a proxy of the region's MPA's ecological effectiveness and a first step towards an ecologically coherent MPA network. Results for legally designated MPAs and ecologically functional MPAs accounting for overlaps are presented. Geographically, Mediterranean MPA area is very unevenly distributed, with four-fifths concentrated in just three countries of the north-western part of the basin. Average distance between functional MPAs lies within recommended ecological thresholds, which suggests adequate potential connectivity of the Mediterranean MPA system. Mediterranean designated MPAs are larger than MPAs worldwide on average, although they are generally smaller than international guidance suggests at different levels: ecoregion, country and designation category. On average, Mediterranean designated and functional MPAs have relatively high compactness, which makes them prone to spillover and adequate viability, and less vulnerable to edge effects.},

keywords = {Conservation and management, Marine protected areas, Mediterranean sea, Protected areas},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rodríguez-Rodríguez2016c,

title = {Marine protected areas and fisheries restricted areas in the Mediterranean: Assessing "actual" marine biodiversity protection coverage at multiple scales},

author = {D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and J. Rodríguez and D. Abdul-Malak and P. Hernandez},

url = {https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304896848_Marine_protected_areas_and_fisheries_restricted_areas_in_the_Mediterranean_Assessing_actual_marine_biodiversity_protection_coverage_at_multiple_scales},

doi = {10.1016/j.marpol.2015.11.006},

year  = {2016},

date = {2016-02-01},

journal = {Marine Policy},

volume = {64},

pages = {24-30},

abstract = {This study uses a tiered approach to assessing progress towards achieving the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) target to increase marine protected area (MPA) coverage to 10% at different scales: the whole Mediterranean Sea, by ecoregions and by countries. It additively considers marine protection coverage by conventional MPAs (cMPAs; tier 1); unconventional MPAs (uMPAs, including international Fisheries Restricted Areas –iFRAs-; tier 2); and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OEABCMs, including national FRAs -nFRAs; tier 3). It also discusses the appropriateness of considering tiers 2 & 3 as legal and managerial tools for sustainable marine development in national reporting against international protection coverage targets. At the Mediterranean Sea scale, by mid-2015 there were 1,077 cMPAs which covered 6.45% of its area. At the ecoregional scale, only the Western Mediterranean ecoregion exceeds the 10% coverage target. At national scale, four countries (Monaco, France, Spain and Turkey) currently exceed the 10% target for their entire hypothetical Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). The cMPA designations that contribute most to Mediterranean MPA coverage are Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMIs), the Pelagos Sanctuary, Natura 2000 sites and national designations, respectively. When considering uMPAs, the amount of marine area under protection in the Mediterranean reaches 1,632,507 km2 or roughly 64.48% of the Mediterranean Sea area; all the ecoregions more than double the CBD coverage target; all countries but Malta meet the target in their inshore waters; and all countries meet the target in their whole hypothetical EEZs. Finally, nFRAs contributed 565 km2 of additional protected area and made the percentage of legally protected marine area reach 64.50% of the total Mediterranean Sea area.},

keywords = {Conservation and management, Marine protected areas, Mediterranean sea, Protected areas},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rodriguez-Rodriguez2016b,

title = {Development and testing of a new framework for rapidly assessing legal and managerial protection afforded by marine protected areas: Mediterranean Sea case study},

author = {D. Rodriguez-Rodriguez and J. Rodriguez, and D. Abdul-Malak},

url = {https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284358773_Development_and_testing_of_a_new_framework_for_rapidly_assessing_legal_and_managerial_protection_afforded_by_marine_protected_areas_Mediterranean_Sea_case_study},

doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.11.016},

year  = {2016},

date = {2016-02-01},

journal = {Journal of Environmental Management},

volume = {167},

pages = {29-37},

abstract = {The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) states the need to effectively conserve at least 10% of coastal and marine areas of particular importance for biodiversity by 2020. Here, a new indicator-based methodological framework to assess biodiversity protection afforded by marine protected areas' (MPA) was developed as a quick surrogate for MPAs' potential conservation effectiveness: the Marine Protected Area Protection Assessment Framework (MaPAF). The MaPAF consists of a limited number of headline indicators that are integrated in two indexes: Legal protection and Management effort, which eventually integrate in the overall MPA Protection super-index. The MaPAF was then tested in the Mediterranean MPA network as a case study. Spatial analyses were performed at three meaningful scales: the whole Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean ecoregions and countries. The results of this study suggest that: 1) The MaPAF can serve as a useful tool for consistent, adaptive, quick and cost-effective MPA effectiveness assessments of MPAs and MPA networks in virtually any marine region, as the headline indicators used are commonly compiled and easy to retrieve; 2) The MaPAF proved usable and potentially relevant in the Mediterranean Sea where most indicators in the framework can be publicly accessed through the MAPAMED database and are planned to be regularly updated; 3) Protection afforded by MPAs is low across the whole Mediterranean, with only few MPAs having relatively high legal and managerial protection; and 4) Most Mediterranean countries need to devote substantially more work to improve MPA effectiveness mainly through increased management effort. },

keywords = {Conservation and management, Marine protected areas, Mediterranean sea, Protected areas},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rodríguez-Rodríguez2016e,

title = {Development and testing of a new framework for rapidly assessing legal and managerial protection afforded by marine protected areas: Mediterranean Sea case study},

author = {D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and J. Rodríguez and D. Abdul-Malak},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479715303704},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.11.016},

year  = {2016},

date = {2016-02-01},

journal = {Journal of Environmental Management},

volume = {167},

pages = {29-37},

abstract = {The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) states the need to effectively conserve at least 10% of coastal and marine areas of particular importance for biodiversity by 2020. Here, a new indicator-based methodological framework to assess biodiversity protection afforded by marine protected areas' (MPA) was developed as a quick surrogate for MPAs' potential conservation effectiveness: the Marine Protected Area Protection Assessment Framework (MaPAF). The MaPAF consists of a limited number of headline indicators that are integrated in two indexes: Legal protection and Management effort, which eventually integrate in the overall MPA Protection super-index. The MaPAF was then tested in the Mediterranean MPA network as a case study. Spatial analyses were performed at three meaningful scales: the whole Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean ecoregions and countries. The results of this study suggest that: 1) The MaPAF can serve as a useful tool for consistent, adaptive, quick and cost-effective MPA effectiveness assessments of MPAs and MPA networks in virtually any marine region, as the headline indicators used are commonly compiled and easy to retrieve; 2) The MaPAF proved usable and potentially relevant in the Mediterranean Sea where most indicators in the framework can be publicly accessed through the MAPAMED database and are planned to be regularly updated; 3) Protection afforded by MPAs is low across the whole Mediterranean, with only few MPAs having relatively high legal and managerial protection; and 4) Most Mediterranean countries need to devote substantially more work to improve MPA effectiveness mainly through increased management effort.},

keywords = {Conservation and management, Marine protected areas, Mediterranean sea, Protected areas},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{etal.al.2016,

title = {An indicator framework for assessing ecosystem services in support of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020},

author = {J. Maes et al.},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212041615300504},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2015.10.023},

year  = {2016},

date = {2016-02-01},

journal = {Ecosystem Services},

volume = {17},

pages = {14-23},

abstract = {In the EU, the mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services, abbreviated to MAES, is seen as a key action for the advancement of biodiversity objectives, and also to inform the development and implementation of related policies on water, climate, agriculture, forest, marine and regional planning. In this study, we present the development of an analytical framework which ensures that consistent approaches are used throughout the EU. It is framed by a broad set of key policy questions and structured around a conceptual framework that links human societies and their well-being with the environment. Next, this framework is tested through four thematic pilot studies, including stakeholders and experts working at different scales and governance levels, which contributed indicators to assess the state of ecosystem services. Indicators were scored according to different criteria and assorted per ecosystem type and ecosystem services using the common international classification of ecosystem services (CICES) as typology. We concluded that there is potential to develop a first EU wide ecosystem assessment on the basis of existing data if they are combined in a creative way. However, substantial data gaps remain to be filled before a fully integrated and complete ecosystem assessment can be carried out.},

keywords = {Biodiversity, Conservation and management, Ecosystem services, Forest, Wetlands},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rodríguez-Rodrígueza2016,

title = {Marine protected areas and fisheries restricted areas in the Mediterranean: assessing “actual” marine biodiversity protection coverage at multiple scales},

author = {D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and J. Rodríguez and D. Abdul-Malak and A. Nastasi and P. Hernández},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X15003255},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2015.11.006},

year  = {2016},

date = {2016-02-01},

journal = {Marine Policy},

volume = {64},

pages = {24-30},

abstract = {This study uses a tiered approach to assessing progress towards achieving the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) target to increase marine protected area (MPA) coverage to 10% at different scales: the whole Mediterranean Sea, by ecoregions and by countries. It additively considers marine protection coverage by conventional MPAs (cMPAs; tier 1); unconventional MPAs (uMPAs, including international Fisheries Restricted Areas – iFRAs-; tier 2); and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OEABCMs, including national FRAs–nFRAs; tier 3). It also discusses the appropriateness of considering tiers 2 and 3 as legal and managerial tools for sustainable marine development in national reporting against international protection coverage targets. At the Mediterranean Sea scale, by mid-2015 there were 1077 cMPAs which covered 6.45% of its area. At the ecoregional scale, only the Western Mediterranean ecoregion exceeds the 10% coverage target. At national scale, four countries (Monaco, France, Spain and Turkey) currently exceed the 10% target for their entire hypothetical Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). The cMPA designations that contribute most to Mediterranean MPA coverage are Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMIs), the Pelagos Sanctuary, Natura 2000 sites and national designations, respectively. When considering uMPAs, the amount of marine area under protection in the Mediterranean reaches 1,632,507 km2 or roughly 64.48% of the Mediterranean Sea area; all the ecoregions more than double the CBD coverage target; all countries but Malta meet the target in their inshore waters; and all countries meet the target in their whole hypothetical EEZs. Finally, nFRAs contributed 565 km2 of additional protected area and made the percentage of legally protected marine area reach 64.50% of the total Mediterranean Sea area.},

keywords = {Conservation and management, Marine protected areas, Mediterranean sea, Protected areas},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rodríguez-Rodrígueza2015,

title = {Cumulative pressures and low protection: a concerning blend for Mediterranean MPAs},

author = {D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and A. Sánchez-Espinosa and C. Schröder and D. Abdul-Malak and J. Rodríguez},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X15300540},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.09.039},

year  = {2015},

date = {2015-12-01},

journal = {Marine Pollution Bulletin},

volume = {101},

pages = {288-295},

abstract = {This study classifies Mediterranean marine protected areas (MPAs) according to the combined result of pressure level and protection. Six major marine environment pressures were considered: pressures from fish farms, fishing, marine litter, pressures from marinas, pollution from maritime transport, and climate change. MPA protection was assessed through legal protection and management effort. Most MPA area in the Mediterranean is under relatively high pressure level and afforded low protection. Inshore areas show higher pressure levels. Five marine ecoregions, nine countries and nineteen MPA designation categories have over 50% of their MPA area under major concern. The mean number of cumulative pressures occurring in priority MPAs ranges between three and four, although the mean combined intensity of those pressures is low. However, these figures are most likely underestimated, especially for the southern Mediterranean. The most concerning pressures to MPAs regarding extent and intensity were: climate change, fishing and pollution from maritime transport.},

keywords = {Climate Change, Marine protected areas, Mediterranean sea, Pressures},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Marín2015b,

title = {Vulnerability mapping and protection zoning of karst springs. Validation by multitracer tests},

author = {A. I. Marín and B. Andreo and M. Mudarra},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969715300875},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.05.029},

year  = {2015},

date = {2015-11-01},

journal = {Science of The Total Environment},

volume = {532},

pages = {435-446},

abstract = {Protection zoning of karst springs and wells used for water supply is a key aspect in many countries, calling for specific methodologies adapted to the particular characteristics of karst media. This work presents a new approach, in view of the present state of the art and based on experiences with contamination vulnerability mapping at the pilot site of the Villanueva del Rosario karst system (southern Spain). Source (intrinsic) vulnerability maps were prepared and compared using three European procedures for karst aquifers. The vulnerability maps were then tested using dye tracers. The COP + K method and Slovene Approach appear to provide reliable results in terms of intrinsic vulnerability mapping. Nevertheless, all the methods have a margin of error. The COP + K map is adopted as the baseline to delineate the protection zones, through the conversion from vulnerability classes to degrees of protection.},

keywords = {Conservation and management, Groundwater, Pressures},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Marín2015c,

title = {Preliminary proposal of a guideline to delineate the protection zones of karts springs In Groundwater vulnerability -from scientific concept to practical application},

author = {A. I. Marín and B. Andreo},

url = {Not available online},

year  = {2015},

date = {2015-05-25},

journal = {Ustron},

pages = {52},

abstract = {Not available online},

note = {Not available online},

keywords = {Conservation and management, Groundwater, Pressures},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Abdul-Malak2015,

title = {Fire Recurrence and the Dynamics},

author = {D. Abdul-Malak and J. G. Pausa and J. E. Pardo-Pascual and L. A. Ruiz},

url = {https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271468045_Fire_Recurrence_and_the_Dynamics_of_the_Enhanced_Vegetation_Index_in_a_Mediterranean_Ecosystem},

doi = {10.4018/ijagr.2015040102},

year  = {2015},

date = {2015-04-01},

journal = {International Journal of Applied Geospatial Research},

volume = {6},

number = {2},

pages = {18-35},

abstract = {This study area is located in the eastern littoral of the Iberian Peninsula; its importance resides in its Mediterranean ecosystem, complex topography, extensive land use changes, and intensive forest fires history. The study is done at the landscape level, covering a wide area for an extended period of time. This work uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Satellite Remote Sensing (SRS) techniques to evaluate the impact of spatio-temporal parameters on shaping Mediterranean landscapes. Interacting ecological parameters are analysed and correlated to post-fire vegetation regeneration in an attempt to understand its dynamics. The results provide evidence that the number of fires separated by short time intervals influence vegetation growth negatively measured as Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI). During this period, micro-climatic effects (soil and environmental humidity) are major factors influencing EVI-measured vegetation regeneration. The conclusions expect shifts in Mediterranean plant communities in heavily burned ecosystems stressing the importance of their correct short and long term post-fire management.},

keywords = {Forest, Forest fire, Mediterranean sea},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Sánchez-Espinosa2015,

title = {Development of an Indicator to Monitor Mediterranean Wetlands},

author = {A. Sánchez-Espinosa and D. Abdul-Malak and A. Guelmami and C. Perennou},

url = {http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0122694},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0122694},

year  = {2015},

date = {2015-03-31},

journal = {Plos One},

volume = {10},

number = {3},

abstract = {Wetlands are sensitive ecosystems that are increasingly subjected to threats from anthropogenic factors. In the last decades, coastal Mediterranean wetlands have been suffering considerable pressures from land use change, intensification of urban growth, increasing tourism infrastructure and intensification of agricultural practices. Remote sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques are efficient tools that can support monitoring Mediterranean coastal wetlands on large scales and over long periods of time. The study aims at developing a wetland indicator to support monitoring Mediterranean coastal wetlands using these techniques. The indicator makes use of multi-temporal Landsat images, land use reference layers, a 50m numerical model of the territory (NMT) and Corine Land Cover (CLC) for the identification and mapping of wetlands. The approach combines supervised image classification techniques making use of vegetation indices and decision tree analysis to identify the surface covered by wetlands at a given date. A validation process is put in place to compare outcomes with existing local wetland inventories to check the results reliability. The indicator´s results demonstrate an improvement in the level of precision of change detection methods achieved by traditional tools providing reliability up to 95% in main wetland areas. The results confirm that the use of RS techniques improves the precision of wetland detection compared to the use of CLC for wetland monitoring and stress the strong relation between the level of wetland detection and the nature of the wetland areas and the monitoring scale considered.},

keywords = {Geotechnology, Wetlands},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Marín2015,

title = {Vulnerability to Contamination of Karst Aquifers},

author = {A. I. Marín and B. Andreo},

url = {https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-319-12850-4_8},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12850-4_8},

isbn = {978-3-319-12850-4},

year  = {2015},

date = {2015-02-26},

journal = {Karst Aquifers—Characterization and Engineering},

pages = {251-266},

abstract = {The karst aquifers are especially vulnerable to pollution due to their hydrological behavior derived from karstification. The vulnerability mapping is one of the most applied tools to protect them. There is a wide range of methodologies for vulnerability mapping that have been developed for karst aquifer, to consider the specific characteristics of karst into the vulnerability assessment, such as EPIK, PI, COP, Slovene Approach and PaPRIKa, among others. The vulnerability map can help the water stakeholder for decision-making and to promote a land-use management compatible with the water protection. So the maps should have reliable accuracy. Many works highlight that the maps of groundwater contamination vulnerability obtained from different methods differ significantly, although they were all obtained by methods developed for karst aquifers or they are obtained from the same source of information and applied by the same person. So, the validation is an essential element of any contamination vulnerability assessment. The current challenge of researchers is to obtain versatile and easy methods to test and validate vulnerability maps.},

keywords = {Groundwater, Pressures},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Lehmann2015,

title = {Filling the gap between Earth observation and policy making in the Black Sea catchment with enviroGRIDS},

author = {A. Lehmann and G. Giuliania and E. Mancosu and K. C. Abbaspour and S. Sözen and D. Gorgan and A. Beel and N. Ray},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901114000525},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2014.02.005},

year  = {2015},

date = {2015-02-01},

journal = {Environmental Science & Policy},

volume = {46},

pages = {1-12},

abstract = {The environmental status of the Black Sea is obviously closely related to its catchment. Being a closed sea, this large water body drains an area of more than 2 million km2, encompassing 23 countries inhabited by more than 180 million people. The main environmental issues faced by the Black Sea catchment are the same as elsewhere in Europe. These problems are exacerbated by global changes with drastic changes predicted in temperature and precipitation by the end of the century, as well as land use and demographic changes. These environmental problems are taking place in a complex geopolitical situation. In this particular context, data sharing is essential to inform managers and policy-makers about the state of the environment, which will ultimately influence the state of the Black Sea itself. The enviroGRIDS project was set up in order to promote international data sharing initiatives such as the Global Earth Observation System of Systems and the European INSPIRE directive. The enviroGRIDS project was successful in reaching the following objectives: (a) performing a gap analysis on existing Earth observations systems in the region; (b) developing regional capacities at institutional, infrastructure and human resource levels; (c) creating regional scenarios to set the scene for plausible climatic, demographic and land use futures; (d) building the first hydrological model for the entire Black Sea catchment; (e) developing the Black Sea Catchment Observation System based on interoperability standards and Grid computing technologies; (f) showcasing data sharing in several case studies, addressing important environmental issues while building a network of people with improved capacity on data sharing principles. These relative successes should not, however, hide the difficulties in making the necessary Earth observation data available to scientists, decision makers and the public, as the mind-sets at all levels are changing slowly. Controlling the access to data is still perceived by many as a necessity to guarantee the power of the state on society and as a way to preserve its security. The need to develop national spatial data infrastructures (SDI) is very important to convince all ministries and data owner that publically funded data should be made publically available. The progress in the implementation of SDI seems more limited by political agendas than by technology. It is clear, however, that implementation of the INSPIRE directive in Europe is a prerequisite for the success of many other environmental policies (e.g. Water Framework Directive; Marine Strategy Framework Directive; Biodiversity strategy 2020).},

keywords = {Climate Change, Geotechnology, Pressures},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Mancosu2015,

title = {Future land-use change scenarios for the Black Sea catchment},

author = {E. Mancosu and A. Gago-Silva and A. Barbosa and A. de Bono and E. Ivanov and A. Lehmann and J. Fons},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901114000550},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2014.02.008},

year  = {2015},

date = {2015-02-01},

journal = {Environmental Science & Policy},

volume = {46},

pages = {26-36},

abstract = {Plausible future scenarios have been created for the Black Sea catchment, focussing on spatially explicit alternatives for land-use changes. Four qualitative storylines (HOT, ALONE, COOP and COOL) were first developed, based on interpretation of the respective global scenarios (A1, A2, B1 and B2) produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Quantitative statistical downscaling techniques were then used to disaggregate the outputs of global scenarios at a regional level. The resulting land-use maps were spatially allocated at 1 km resolution in the Metronamica model, using a set of factors related to the identified drivers of change. The land-use change model was calibrated on historical trends of land-cover change (MODIS 2001 and 2008) translated into spatial allocation rules, and future land-use projections (IMAGE, 2001) were adopted. Suitability and constraint maps and population trends were used to regulate the modelling process. The calibrated model was validated by statistical procedures, visual evaluation and stakeholder involvement in order to ensure its plausibility and accuracy. This methodology bridged the gap between the global and regional scales. Four simulated future states were produced for the main land-use classes–forest, grassland, cropland and built-up areas, as well as scrublands, crops/natural vegetation and barren land–for 2025 and 2050. The results suggest that the features highlighted in these scenarios are guided by global trends, such as population rise and decreasing agriculture, but with different growth rates and a variety of spatial patterns, with regional variations resulting from local backgrounds and policy objectives. This study aims to provide future land-use data as a potential geographical tool to assist policy makers in addressing environmental emergencies such as water stress and pollution. In particular, the exploration of plausible futures can support future assessments to comply with the EU Water Framework Directive and Integrated Coastal Zone Management policies around the Black Sea.},

keywords = {Climate Change, Geotechnology, Land and soil, Pressures},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}