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Context: Tongguling National Nature Reserve in Hainan highlights the ecological significance of marine and coastal ecosystems. However, their sensitivities are often overlooked, emphasising the need for improved evaluation methods to ensure sustainable management. Aims: This study aims to develop an advanced evaluation framework that accurately assesses landscape sensitivity in marine and coastal regions, thereby supporting targeted conservation and management strategies in fragile ecosystems. Methods: The study employed fuzzy mathematics and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to introduce a fuzzy co-ordination evaluation method tailored for marine and coastal environments, utilising fuzzy comprehensive evaluation values and co-ordination degrees as key indicators. Key results: When applied to the Tongguling National Nature Reserve in Hainan, the method effectively identified critical areas with heightened ecological sensitivity, including zones vital for maintaining water quality and protecting habitats. The fuzzy co-ordination evaluation indicated moderate to high sensitivity levels, highlighting areas where conservation efforts should be prioritised to mitigate negative effects. Conclusions: The marine and coastal landscape evaluation model proposed in this study is robust, providing critical insights for immediate conservation and long-term ecosystem management. Implications: The findings establish a basis for future conservation strategies and decision-making within marine reserves, potentially guiding similar evaluations in other coastal regions. This study presents a new method for assessing the ecological health of Tongguling National Nature Reserve on Hainan Island. By evaluating the interaction of ecological and structural elements, the research showed areas sensitive to environmental change, highlighting the link between water quality and coastal ecosystem health. These insights support better conservation strategies to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem services. This article belongs to the collection: Ecological monitoring and assessment of freshwater ecosystems: new trends and future challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Underwater cultural heritage (UCH) is a diverse and valuable resource that includes shipwrecks, sunken cities, and other submerged archaeological sites. It is an important part of human history and culture and can significantly benefit society. However, various factors often neglect and threaten UCH, including climate change, pollution, and human activities. Several factors, including technological advances, the development of international law, and the growing awareness of the importance of cultural heritage, have influenced the evolution of the concept of UCH. In the early days of underwater archaeology, the focus was on recovering artifacts and treasures from shipwrecks. However, over time, there has been a shift towards a more holistic approach to the management of UCH, which emphasizes the importance of in situ preservation and the involvement of local communities. This review provides a chronological analysis of the evolution of the concept of UCH over the past 70 years and examines the main international conventions and charters developed to protect UCH. The review also discusses the relationship between UCH and marine protected areas (MPAs), the marine environment, and the coastal landscape.

This article thoroughly analyzes the Girne Ancient Harbor and its coastal landscape, employing urban waterfront development principles. The study aims to provide valuable insights for enhancing the urban landscape and ensuring resilience. The research approach incorporates field surveys, archival data analysis, and urban design principles to assess the current state of Girne Ancient Harbor and identify development opportunities. The study explores public access, connectivity, green spaces, urban furniture, and water and land connections by emphasizing environmental and social considerations. The findings highlight the harbor's potential for improvement by capitalizing on its historical and cultural significance. Urban waterfront development principles can create a vibrant, inclusive, and resilient urban environment for residents and visitors. Balancing historical context with contemporary design elements is crucial for successful development. The implications extend beyond Girne Ancient Harbor, benefiting coastal areas facing similar challenges. This research provides a valuable resource for urban planners, architects, policymakers, and heritage conservationists involved in comprehensive development. Ultimately, this article emphasizes the importance of Girne Ancient Harbor as a cultural asset and presents a framework for analyzing the coastal landscape through urban waterfront development principles. By embracing comprehensive strategies and preserving heritage value, the harbor can transform into a thriving urban space while maintaining its unique character. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of CAP - Public Art Journal is the property of AP2 - Associacao para a Participacao Publica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

During the Late Pleistocene, the Palaeo-Ems system (PES) was one of the major tributary channels feeding the Elbe Palaeovalley (EPV) and formed an important part of the drainage system of the continental northwestern Europe unglaciated hinterland. In this study, a detailed interpretation of high-resolution 2D sub-bottom profiler and Boomer grids were used to map the overall course of the submerged PES channel, as well as its spatial and stratigraphic relationships with other Quaternary geological units in the German North Sea. Mapping of buried tunnel valleys, a lacustrine-fill unit, straight channel structures was also carried out. The sedimentary record of the PES is represented by a low gradient and meandering channel which branched into two major pathways as it approached the EPV western flank. Its upstream to downstream trends, coupled with seaward decreasing gradient and sinuosity, are similar to those visible in present-day river deltas. Both the PES and EPV subsequently formed a combined depositional system, which was successively drowned due to the fast-rising relative sea level that overwhelmed the adaptation capabilities of the joint drainage system. For the first time, this study sheds light onto the PES/EPV morpho-stratigraphic relationships which played a key role in the coastal landscape architecture of the German North Sea since the Late Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underwater cultural heritage (UCH) is a diverse and valuable resource that includes shipwrecks, sunken cities, and other submerged archaeological sites. It is an important part of human history and culture and can significantly benefit society. However, various factors often neglect and threaten UCH, including climate change, pollution, and human activities. Several factors, including technological advances, the development of international law, and the growing awareness of the importance of cultural heritage, have influenced the evolution of the concept of UCH. In the early days of underwater archaeology, the focus was on recovering artifacts and treasures from shipwrecks. However, over time, there has been a shift towards a more holistic approach to the management of UCH, which emphasizes the importance of in situ preservation and the involvement of local communities. This review provides a chronological analysis of the evolution of the concept of UCH over the past 70 years and examines the main international conventions and charters developed to protect UCH. The review also discusses the relationship between UCH and marine protected areas (MPAs), the marine environment, and the coastal landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Social Anthropology / Anthropologie Sociale is the property of Berghahn Books and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Understanding of shoreline dynamics is essential to coastal management and the development of tropical archipelagic countries. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the factors affecting shoreline changes and their future predictions in Bengkayang Regency, West Kalimantan. Research data used includes historical maps, remote sensing imagery, total suspended solids, underwater slope and depth, distance from the estuaries, wind speed, and distance from the coastal constructions. The multiple linear regression models and digital shoreline analysis system were applied. Findings showed accretion occurred in 1981, 1991, and 2021 while abrasion was detected in 2001 and 2011. The shorelines gained 37.05 meters between 1945 and 2021 under intensive accretion in segments 2–4 while abrasion recorded in segments 6–8. Furthermore, the shorelines are projected to be abraded between 2021 and 2041. These findings are recommended to be considered in the development of coastal areas that are adaptive to climate change, sea-level rise, and land subsidence.

Two coastal areas located on the North-Western side of Corsica Island have been investigated to reconstruct their Mid- to Late-Holocene landscape evolution together with the history of human occupation. Particular attention has been paid to the study of shoreline migration and vegetation history alongside land-use. Three boreholes were drilled to a maximum depth of 4.20 m and laboratory work comprised the identification of molluscs and pollen/NPPs as well as sedimentological analyses. Chronostratigraphy is based on a series of 18 radiocarbon datings and enabled to reconstruct the environments in the Fangu Estuary to the north of the World Heritage site over the last six millennia, and over the last four millennia on the Girolata coastal plain to the south. Palaeogeographic reconstruction of shoreline mobility is established for each site based on borehole chronostratigraphy analysis. In addition, two original pollen and NPPs diagrams have been established for the Girolata and Fangu sites. These reveal that anthropogenic activities began to significantly impact local vegetation cover ca. 2500 years BP at Girolata, and ca. 2000 years BP at Fangu. Of particular interest, our work records the first complete pollen sequence in Corsica for Roman times at Girolata: first, the exploitation of cereals, grapevines and the development of husbandry is observed during the Roman Republic (500 BCE–0), followed by the almost exclusive cultivation of Olea sp. during the Roman Empire (0–500 CE). Following this, and using other regional pollen studies obtained for NW Corsica, we propose a regional evolution of the complex human-environment interactions for the last six millennia. Our results reveal a peak of regional forest decline (the most intense event recorded for the Late-Holocene) from the 11th to the 16th centuries CE which can be attributed to the exploitation of wood resources during the Pisan and Genoese dominations of the island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue Growth is gaining momentum, opening up new frontiers for economic development, with potentially negative impacts on coastal communities and seascapes. The impact of Blue Growth projects on communities and seascapes is generally understood through narrow technical or economic approaches that focus on the potential loss of coastal views or the depreciating impacts on property values, ignoring the complex relationships communities have with seascapes. These approaches often dislodge non-quantifiable community-seascape relationships from Blue Growth strategies, leading to community frustration and contestation. Understanding community-seascape relationships is key to developing more locally attuned Blue Growth strategies. We conceptualise seascapes as a triadic space incorporating perceived, conceived and lived dimensions. These dimensions have an impact on how communities experience and respond to contestation. We use a participatory photo-elicitation methodology with two community groups on the west coast of Ireland to understand how contestation occurs in places faced with multiple Blue Growth pressures and the mechanisms communities deploy in response. We find that although communities care deeply about changes taking place at the coast and sea and frame their ‘common’ landscapes as cultural assets that are worthy of defence, community practices remain impotently emotional or focused on ephemeral oppositions to specific Blue Growth developments. Such responses, however, are not strong enough for sufficiently mobilising a sustainable solution to dominant growth models. We suggest that if communities are properly supported to invest in knowledge, skills, networks and assets, they can mobilise more sustainable solutions to dominant growth models that threaten their coastal seascapes and cultural heritage. Finally, we highlight the transformative potential of the lived space of communities, not as a descriptor of a different typology of coastal landscape, but rather as a resource to understand how communities affected by multiple pressures can understand their options, capacity to resist and what their goal might be for the future of the coast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering 'infrastructures as landscapes' and 'landscapes as infrastructures', this article uses an open framework to reconsider the distinctive water infrastructure of France's UNESCO-listed heritage Canal du Midi. More specifically, it profiles the Canal's Mediterranean outlet. Viewed through a landscape architectonic lens, we investigate the canal, drawing on the theory of landscape narrative and using the illustrative method. The article identifies three crucial narratives - infrastructural, natural & environmental and social & cultural - that help to examine the spatial values of the Canal and its relationship with its southern coastal landscape. The study shows how the Canal du Midi has been transformed and has influenced its surroundings, becoming an integral part of the coastal landscape. We identify and analyse how the Canal functions as an infrastructure composition and an environmentally and culturally significant feature. The landscape narrative framework offers the possibility of sharpening the interpretation of water infrastructures beyond conventional problem-solving approaches by providing a holistic view of the Canal and its water landscapes. This, in turn, offers inspiration for the region's future development, which presently prioritises the preservation of the Canal du Midi and the regeneration of the surrounding area as distinct projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The short paper introduces the topics addressed during the international seminar dedicated to the proto-history of the North Adriatic regions, with particular reference to the Middle and Late Bronze Age. The publication of the contributions had the chance to broadly develop the reports presented during the Seminar and constitutes a fundamental update of the state of the art about the Bronze Age settlements, landscape and exploitation of resources. Extensive emphasis has been given to some sites investigated in recent years and to the environmental and geographical characteristics of the North Adriatic landscape.

The theme of cultural landscape function becomes very important along with the awareness to create a balance of ecological and social landscape functions in urban areas. Urban settlement strongly influences cultural function, both as a form of landscape and demographic characteristics. This paper aims to examine the existence of several important social values in urban settlement landscapes and the role of landscape features in influencing social values aspects of informal residents such as social cohesion, recreation, sense of place, spiritualism, cultivation, and business activities. The research method used is a mixed quantitative and qualitative method by using observations, questionnaires, and interviews for data collection based on a sociological approach with community members. Questionnaire data were collected for further analysis in which the Spearman coefficient was used to examine the relationship between social values and landscape features. The results revealed that residents in Airmata and Manutapen have different percentages of social values in terms of their landscape features, and it can also be seen that the values of social cohesion, sense of place, and local business present a stronger relationship to landscape functions. These results show the importance of social values in informal societies as a potential approach to achieving sustainable landscape management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, an operative procedure for the evaluation of land use change that occurred in highly reclaimed coastal areas from the middle of the XIX century up to the present day is proposed. The multitemporal analysis envisages the use of historical maps, aerial photographs, and satellite images, whose interpretation is performed in a GIS environment. The proposed methodological approach starts from the interpretation of the symbols used in the legend of the historical maps. Subsequently, in order to compare historical information with the most recent land use classifications (i.e., CORINE land cover), a set of twenty-two macro-categories is proposed to find a compromise between a highly detailed land use classification and its applicability to both historical and present-day data. The study area is located in the coastal sector of the Tavoliere di Puglia (Apulia region, Southern Italy), the second-largest coastal plain in Italy. In this area, environmental changes were mostly driven by extensive reclamation and drainage works, which allowed more than 170 km2 of land to be removed from coastal marshes and wetlands. The results show a strong increase in the surface occupied by arable land, urban areas, and saltwork, which today occupy about 57%, 3%, and 23% of the total investigated area, respectively. In contrast, the total surface occupied by grassland, pasture, meadow, and shrubland decreased from 59.6% in 1869 to 4.6% in the present-day setting. It is worth noting that although fluvial sediments were trapped and used to fill the marshy areas, the coastline prograded up to the first half of the XX century, favouring the formation of wide coastal dune systems. Nevertheless, the natural coastal resilience of the investigated system has been reduced since the second half of the XX century, probably as a consequence of the construction of numerous dams in the Ofanto River catchment, which represents the main river in the investigated area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is based on a reconciliation between the marshlands of southern Europe and nature and man, recovering the energy that made them the engines of local economies and turning them into spaces of opportunity and fertile producers of contemporary ecologies. At a time when society is calling for a new approach to the management of its landscapes, the aim is to contribute by using the layout of a green infrastructure in one of these cultural waterscapes of the Odiel marshes as a guiding thread. To this end, an itinerary is established through territories, scales, essences and materials, culminating in reflections on memory, time, and identity as project materials.

The Late Holocene phases of aeolian processes have been reconstructed on the basis of dune fields construction. The palaeoenvironmental studies were targeted to following problems: 1) to determine the periods of higher and lower activity of aeolian processes; 2) to establish the age of aeolian deposits and buried soils; 3) to retrace the deve­lopment of coastal landscapes. The age was determined by radiocarbon dating of paleosols and tephrostratigraphy. The correlation of tephra was performed using data on the volcanic glass chemical composition. The dunes formed during the cooling accompanied by a minor regression. Six buried soils found in the dunes reflect stabilization and overgrowing of dune fields. The longest period of dune stabilization began after a cold event 2800–2600 cal yr BP and lasted until the Little Ice Age. Paleosols contain the tephra of large volcanic eruptions on Urup (Kolokol volcano), Simushir (Zavaritsky volcano) and Iturup (tephra). Pollen analysis allows us to retrace the development of coastal landscapes. Thickets of dwarf pine developed during cooling, birch forests spread in the Medieval Warm Period, and herb meadows were widely represented on the dunes. Human impact on the coastal palaeovegetation was found. Aeolian sedimentation was high during the Little Ice Age. One of the factors of dune reactivation during the Little Ice Age was increased winter storminess associated with the East Asian winter monsoon. Evidence of active cyclogenesis is the increasing proportion of allochthonous pollen. The modern reactivation of aeolian processes is associated with human activity and storm erosion of dunes.

The annual floods in cities in Sub-Saharan Africa are exacerbated by the impacts of climate change. For coastal cities double flood burden from storms and sea level rise are phenomenal and in response, data is gradually emerging on the exposure of urban areas and households’ adaptation of which population determinants are mostly omitted. This paper uses a household survey of flood experiences, analyzed with the Tobit model to understand the social and demographic factors that drive households' preparedness for floods in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area in Ghana. Findings show that the age and income of the household head and planned adaptation significantly increased the likelihood of households’ preparedness for floods. While community access to financial assistance reduced the likelihood of household preparedness, membership in social support groups and the availability of community-level social amenities and shelters increased the likelihood of household preparedness by 0.81 units (p

Understanding of shoreline dynamics is essential to coastal management and the development of tropical archipelagic countries. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the factors affecting shoreline changes and their future predictions in Bengkayang Regency, West Kalimantan. Research data used includes historical maps, remote sensing imagery, total suspended solids, underwater slope and depth, distance from the estuaries, wind speed, and distance from the coastal constructions. The multiple linear regression models and digital shoreline analysis system were applied. Findings showed accretion occurred in 1981, 1991, and 2021 while abrasion was detected in 2001 and 2011. The shorelines gained 37.05 meters between 1945 and 2021 under intensive accretion in segments 2–4 while abrasion recorded in segments 6–8. Furthermore, the shorelines are projected to be abraded between 2021 and 2041. These findings are recommended to be considered in the development of coastal areas that are adaptive to climate change, sea-level rise, and land subsidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offshore wind farms are expanding rapidly as a clean energy solution but raise concerns about light-related environmental impacts, such as shadow flicker and light pollution, affecting ecosystems and human communities. This study assesses the light environmental impacts of offshore wind farms in South Korea, specifically evaluating daytime shadow flicker and nighttime light pollution, and proposes mitigation strategies tailored to diverse landscape contexts. Using advanced geospatial tools, including QGIS and WindPRO, light-related disturbances were analyzed across three representative sites: Aphae (rural), Jangbogo (island), and Dadaepo (urban). Shadow flicker exposure was quantified based on turbine specifications, solar dynamics, and observer locations, while light pollution from aviation obstruction lights was assessed through spatial luminance analysis. The Aphae site exhibited the highest shadow flicker exposure, with up to 154 days annually and 79 h per year in some regions, while Dadaepo's urban zone displayed moderate impacts, particularly in tourist areas like Molundae Observatory. Jangbogo experienced negligible effects due to natural buffering and greater separation distances. Light pollution intensity correlated with proximity and turbine visibility, with 8-13 turbines visible in highly impacted zones. Tailored mitigation strategies, such as optimized turbine placement, green buffers, zoning regulations, and habitat preservation, are essential to minimizing adverse impacts. This research underscores the need for location-sensitive planning to achieve sustainable offshore wind energy development while safeguarding ecological and human well-being., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The article is a review of specially designated nature protected areas and Stone Age settlements in north-western Latvia, called North Kurzeme. This area was chosen because it has a special environment. It is a culturally and historically important coastal region with diverse protected natural areas, a unique coastal landscape, and important archaeological sites. The article provides information about Moricsala Nature Reserve and Slītere National Park, their management, and about the Stone Age settlements discovered there.

The world's coastlines are changing, partly the result of population growth and shoreline development (e.g., infrastructure). Coastal landscape changes are reflected and experienced at the local scale, where landscape modifications and their impacts take place. Island County, Washington (U.S.) is experiencing such changes. Island County's 349 kilometres of coastline are being impacted by the growing threat of coastal infrastructure, which hardens the shoreline and negatively impacts natural nearshore processes and habitats. Coastal changes also impact communities and their connections to the landscape. Through a community geography approach, this paper examines Island County residents' coastal sense of place. Respondents overall have a strong coastal sense of place, including shared place meanings. This strong sense of place is associated with shoreline visit frequency and feelings about change. The paper's findings demonstrate how residents feel and connect to the coastline, and why such local insights matter to coastal planning and recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beaches are key territories for tourist development but at risk of impacts of climate change—specifically with the consequent intensification of coastal erosion. This study examines the effects of coastal erosion on the distribution of lodging facilities and the value of daily rates practiced on the beaches of Tabuba and Cumbuco on the northeast coast of Brazil. The methodology comprises collecting information on the means of accommodation (distribution and daily rate), quantifying coastline variation and measuring the field to validate data. A total of 13.9 km of coastline were analyzed; erosion tendency was observed in 26.8% of the coast (9.0% erosion, 14.4% intense erosion, and 3.4% severe erosion). With the highest erosion rates, Tabuba's Beach has a low density in accommodation distribution and daily rates practiced in tourism. Cumbuco's Beach, conversely, has a lower risk of erosion, and the means of accommodation are concentrated. Coastal erosion has affected tourism development in Caucaia, influencing the choice of tourism accommodation entrepreneurs. the results indicate that there is a clear concentration of tourist accommodations in areas without notorious problems with coastal erosion, influencing in the distribution of tourist facilities and their daily rates. So, there is a direct connection does exist between local tourism system income and the beaches with problems with coastal erosion.

This paper investigates water bodies in the Greek colony of Selinus, Western Sicily-Italy. It focuses especially on one of the two rivers of the city: the Cottone. The investigative strategy adopted in this study consists of an interdisciplinary approach based on the analysis of archaeological evidence, Earth Sciences data, and the study of historical cartography. Results indicate that the Cottone River was not a swampy and unhealthy intermittent stream as it was believed so far; it was instead a fully functional water body featuring an active floodplain. Most importantly, research presented in this article indicates several floods occurred in Selinus from the second or third quarter of the sixth century BC to the end of the fifth century BC. These floods, which occurred at the peak of Selinus’ cultural and economic life, were related to severe major events, rather than seasonal floods, as suggested by other scholars. The management of these floods and the waterscape was crucial to the city’s prosperity. This article also analyzes the relationship between the Cottone River and the fortification walls located at the Cottone River Valley. Results indicate that the fortification walls functioned not only as a defensive infrastructure, but also as a hydraulic engineering solution for flood retention. A better understanding of the environment in which Selinus was settled is now available, and knowledge on the importance of waterscapes and their management has been enhanced.

This paper describes the anthropogenic landforms of the alluvial-coastal plain of Rapallo (Eastern Liguria, NW Italy). Since the second half of the nineteenth-century Rapallo experienced a progressive urban sprawl that became particularly intense after the Second World War and severely modified the former landforms. The identification and mapping of morphological changes was performed through a multi-temporal comparison of historical and recent maps and aerial photographs, an analysis of geo-thematic maps and urban planning documents, an interpretation of stratigraphic data from boreholes, and a field survey activity. The main anthropogenic interventions that shaped the urban landscape of Rapallo were riverbed diversions and channelization, excavations, fillings, and embankments construction along the shoreline. These elements highlight the relevant extent of the human imprint on the pristine environment. Furthermore, the identified anthropogenic geomorphological features, combined with the local physiographic and climatic features, increased flood and sea storm hazards and risks.

This research presents a geomorphological map of the Entella River floodplain (scale 1:10,000), one of the largest and urbanized Ligurian Tyrrhenian flat area. The coastal floodplain suffered substantial modifications due to human activities since the latter half of the nineteenth century, which transformed the natural landscape into an anthropogenic environment. Fluvial, marine and anthropogenic geomorphological features have been investigated through a multi-temporal analysis and the reviewing, re-elaboration and summarization of previous geographical and geomorphological materials. An historical analysis has been performed to reconstruct morphological modifications and their correlation with anthropogenic interventions. The main geomorphological map includes a multi-temporal analysis of shoreline and major anthropogenic landforms. Small sketch maps on the geographical, geological and land use settings are also provided. The detailed geomorphological map can be used for urban and land planning, including the mitigation of the meteo- and geo-hydrological risk, which historically has dramatically influenced the Entella coastal floodplain.

Copyright of Dearq is the property of Universidad de los Andes and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista CienciaUAT is the property of Universidad Autonoma de Tamaulipas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this research, an operative procedure for the evaluation of land use change that occurred in highly reclaimed coastal areas from the middle of the XIX century up to the present day is proposed. The multitemporal analysis envisages the use of historical maps, aerial photographs, and satellite images, whose interpretation is performed in a GIS environment. The proposed methodological approach starts from the interpretation of the symbols used in the legend of the historical maps. Subsequently, in order to compare historical information with the most recent land use classifications (i.e., CORINE land cover), a set of twenty-two macro-categories is proposed to find a compromise between a highly detailed land use classification and its applicability to both historical and present-day data. The study area is located in the coastal sector of the Tavoliere di Puglia (Apulia region, Southern Italy), the second-largest coastal plain in Italy. In this area, environmental changes were mostly driven by extensive reclamation and drainage works, which allowed more than 170 km2 of land to be removed from coastal marshes and wetlands. The results show a strong increase in the surface occupied by arable land, urban areas, and saltwork, which today occupy about 57%, 3%, and 23% of the total investigated area, respectively. In contrast, the total surface occupied by grassland, pasture, meadow, and shrubland decreased from 59.6% in 1869 to 4.6% in the present-day setting. It is worth noting that although fluvial sediments were trapped and used to fill the marshy areas, the coastline prograded up to the first half of the XX century, favouring the formation of wide coastal dune systems. Nevertheless, the natural coastal resilience of the investigated system has been reduced since the second half of the XX century, probably as a consequence of the construction of numerous dams in the Ofanto River catchment, which represents the main river in the investigated area.

This paper describes the anthropogenic landforms of the alluvial-coastal plain of Rapallo (Eastern Liguria, NW Italy). Since the second half of the nineteenth-century Rapallo experienced a progressive urban sprawl that became particularly intense after the Second World War and severely modified the former landforms. The identification and mapping of morphological changes was performed through a multi-temporal comparison of historical and recent maps and aerial photographs, an analysis of geo-thematic maps and urban planning documents, an interpretation of stratigraphic data from boreholes, and a field survey activity. The main anthropogenic interventions that shaped the urban landscape of Rapallo were riverbed diversions and channelization, excavations, fillings, and embankments construction along the shoreline. These elements highlight the relevant extent of the human imprint on the pristine environment. Furthermore, the identified anthropogenic geomorphological features, combined with the local physiographic and climatic features, increased flood and sea storm hazards and risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research presents a geomorphological map of the Entella River floodplain (scale 1:10,000), one of the largest and urbanized Ligurian Tyrrhenian flat area. The coastal floodplain suffered substantial modifications due to human activities since the latter half of the nineteenth century, which transformed the natural landscape into an anthropogenic environment. Fluvial, marine and anthropogenic geomorphological features have been investigated through a multi-temporal analysis and the reviewing, re-elaboration and summarization of previous geographical and geomorphological materials. An historical analysis has been performed to reconstruct morphological modifications and their correlation with anthropogenic interventions. The main geomorphological map includes a multi-temporal analysis of shoreline and major anthropogenic landforms. Small sketch maps on the geographical, geological and land use settings are also provided. The detailed geomorphological map can be used for urban and land planning, including the mitigation of the meteo- and geo-hydrological risk, which historically has dramatically influenced the Entella coastal floodplain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the growing demand for land resources, coastal reclamation has become a global land use practice. Although the reclamation of coastal wetlands brings substantial economic benefits, it can lead to a series of adverse ecological impacts. Considerably, economic and ecological trade-offs of reclamation activities must be analyzed to make targeted land use policy decisions. This study focuses on land reclamation on the east coast of China, taking Hangzhou Bay as a case study. Remote sensing techniques were used to detect the coastline and landscape changes in the reclaimed areas from 1985 to 2015. Subsequently, field surveys and empirical parameters were employed to evaluate the impact on coastal ecosystem services. Finally, the monetary analysis was used to evaluate the trade-offs between ecological loss and economic gain due to land reclamation. The results showed that a total of 75134.3 ha of coastal wetlands (accounting for 8.58% of the total land area) were reclaimed from 1985 to 2015 in the Hangzhou Bay. A substantial decline in ecosystem service value (ESV) was observed with a drop from 866,400 Yuan ha−1 in 1985 to 285,800 Yuan ha−1 in 2015 due to the conversion of natural to artificial landscape. The total ESV loss exceeded the economic benefits throughout the study period, thus the economic benefits failed to compensate for the ESV loss. This trade-off relationship resulted from reclamation expansion on short-term economic benefits at the expense of long-term ecological value. According to these findings, we propose three main ways to achieve a “win–win” situation between gains and loss of reclamation for sustainability.

This research is part of the reflections on the ecological management of the coastal areas of Cap Bon, rich in biodiversity. It tries to present the natural resources characteristic of the region and to reveal the conflicts of use and the stakes of an ecological conception allowing the preservation of this wealth. It proposes a methodology for carrying out this ecological design which will lead to the initiation of innovative eco-landscaping and environmental projects. The landscape diagnosis and surveys are relevant tools that reveal the reality of environmental degradation and the need for imminent decision-making aimed at adopting a sustainable development approach, integrating, on the one hand, environmental education and, on the other hand, social and economic animation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the eve of the Industrial Revolution, the coastal landscapes of Japan had already been highly anthropized. The arrival of Western technologies, including concrete, enabled an acceleration in the transformation of coastal landscapes. From the 1950s onwards, the Sanriku protective coastal works took the form of giant dikes on Japan’s tsunami coast. Disfiguring the inherited landscapes, these dikes also changed the relationship to the sea. During the tsunami of 11 March 2011, none of them resisted. But far from challenging this form of protection, post-tsunami reconstruction with its giant sea walls has increased the separation between the inhabitants and the sea. It has also made them even more dependent on the planners (state and regional authorities as well as construction and public works companies), whereas the potential for the appropriation of these structures remains unclear.

The Philippine teak forest (PTF) is a formation with the Endangered Tectona philippinensis Benth. & Hook. f., Lamiaceae - an endemic tree flora in the Batangas Province along the Verde Island Passage, Luzon Island, Philippines. In this study, we determine the general floristic composition of PTF. Vegetation analysis across coastal to inland continuum generated the data for general floristic richness, growth structure and diversity indices. A total of 128 species under 111 genera in 48 families was recorded with overall plant diversity of very low to moderate (Shannon-Wiener: 0.8675-2.681). Plant life based on morpho-species was composed of dominant trees (68 species), shrubs (5) and subshrubs (9), bush palm (1) and palm-like tree (1), lianas (7), epiphytic tree (1), semi-woody climbers (3), epiphytic and geophytic orchids (4), epiphytic and terrestrial ferns (5), annuals to erect succulent perennial herbs (9), herbaceous climbers and creepers (6), geophytic herbs and climber (1), low and tall grasses, including bamboo (5) and sedges (2). Such structural diversity is comprised of some of the unique botanical ensembles associated with endemic T. philippinensis in the coastal landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Context: Coastal landscapes evolve in response to sea-level rise (SLR) through a variety of geologic processes and ecological feedbacks. When the SLR rate surpasses the rate at which these processes build elevation and drive lateral migration, inundation is likely. Objectives: To examine the role of land cover diversity and composition in landscape response to SLR across the northeastern United States. Methods: Using an existing probabilistic framework, we quantify the probability of inundation, a measure of vulnerability, under different SLR scenarios on the coastal landscape. Resistant areas—wherein a dynamic response is anticipated—are defined as unlikely (p < 0.33) to inundate. Results are assessed regionally for different land cover types and at 26 sites representing varying levels of land cover diversity. Results: Modeling results suggest that by the 2050s, 44% of low-lying, habitable land in the region is unlikely to inundate, further declining to 36% by the 2080s. In addition to a decrease in SLR resistance with time, these results show an increasing uncertainty that the coastal landscape will continue to evolve in response to SLR as it has in the past. We also find that resistance to SLR is correlated with land cover composition, wherein sites containing land cover types adaptable to SLR impacts show greater potential to undergo biogeomorphic state shifts rather than inundating with time. Conclusions: Our findings support other studies that have highlighted the importance of ecological composition and diversity in stabilizing the physical landscape and suggest that flexible planning strategies, such as adaptive management, are particularly well suited for SLR preparation in diverse coastal settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental evolution and morphodynamics reconstruction were conducted by means of a multidisciplinary studies (geomorphological, microfaunistic, geochemical, stratigraphic) on the Special Protection Site of Palude di Torre Flavia (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) to provide a background for future monitoring actions to safeguard and manage of this site and to display a multidisciplinary approach applicable to similar sites in the world. This site has a high naturalistic value, because it includes a wetland area today threatened by coastal erosion due to both anthropogenic impact and climate change. In the past, the wetland should be wider than the current one status and, during the time, it was susceptible to an ongoing reduction due to a prevailing erosive trend. This erosive character resulted in reduced backshore width and the steepening of the shoreface. Two seasonal beach profiles, carried out in March and September of 2017, show reversed profile features, confirmed also by microfaunal and sedimentological data. This anomalous climate regime occurring during 2017 belongs to a series of climate irregularities occurring in the last years along the Italian peninsula that testifies an ongoing climate change at a global scale. On the contrary, the wetland shows minor seasonal changes probably due to the addition of adequate volumes of freshwater for the Palude di Torre Flavia's management. Although the chemical analysis showed no significant anthropogenic pollution the presence of eutrophic foraminiferal assemblages, in the northern sector of the studied area, could be indicative of periodically anthropogenic water eutrophication caused by the summer tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]