@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{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{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{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-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{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-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{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{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}

}

@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}

}