A GIS-Based Approach for Use Recommendations and Limitations in Sustainable Coastal Planning in the Southeastern Margin of the Ría de Arosa (Pontevedra, Spain)
2025
Carlos E. Nieto | Antonio Miguel Martínez-Graña | Leticia Merchán | Joaquín Andrés Valencia Ortiz
The southeastern margin of the Ría de Arosa is a region of great ecological and social importance, characterized by increasing urban development, tourism pressures, and vulnerability to natural hazards, soil erosion, coastal flooding, and mass movements, where sustainable territorial planning poses significant challenges. This study combines Geographic Information Systems tools and quantitative and qualitative overlay techniques to integrate conservation quality and comprehensive risk maps. The main challenge addressed in this research is the integration of geospatial data and diverse natural risk factors. The result was a map of land use recommendations and limitations, and another of degree of land use limitation, which identify priority areas for conservation and zones suitable for the controlled development of recreational, agricultural, and industrial activities. The methodology employed allows for detailed modelling that is easily updated and applicable to other environments for territorial planning and natural resource conservation. Areas of special natural importance, such as Arosa Island and the El Grove Peninsula, stand out as optimal locations for sustainable recreational activities, while the northeastern coastal corridor, between Villanueva de Arosa and Cambados, shows suitability for anthropogenic development. This approach contributes to a balance between socioeconomic development and environmental protection, facilitating the implementation of sustainable planning and conservation strategies in highly fragile coastal areas.
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