Capítulo 3. Conflictos ambientales derivados de la intensificación de los usos en la cuenca del Mar Menoruna aproximación interdisciplinar
- Miguel Ángel Esteve Selma 1
- Julia Martínez Fernández 1
- H. Carl Fitz 2
- Francisco Robledano Aymerich 1
- José Miguel Martínez Paz 1
- María Francisca Carreño Fructuoso 1
- Noelia Guaita García 3
- Javier Martínez López 1
- Jesús Miñano Martínez 1
- 1 Observatorio de la Sostenibilidad en la Región de Murcia, Universidad de Murcia
- 2 Universidad de Florida
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3
Universidad de Alcalá
info
- León, Víctor M. (dir.)
- Bellido, José María (dir.)
- Gregorio García Fernández
Publisher: Instituto Español de Oceanografía
ISBN: 978-84-95877-55-0
Year of publication: 2016
Pages: 79-110
Type: Book chapter
Abstract
Land use changes in the Mar Menor watershed have modified the water and nutrient flows, which in turn have brought about a series of environmental changes in the lagoon and its associated wetlands. These environmental effects have been analysed by means of an integrated methodology (watershed modelling, monitoring of long-term trends in key biodiversity components and their natural values and cost-effectiveness analysis). Results show the significant economic value of the ecosystem service of nutrients removal from the Mar Menor wetlands; the increase over time of water and nutrient flows as a consequence of the increase in irrigated lands in the watershed; noticeable changes in the wetlands, particularly in their natural habitats, the steppe-bird assemblage and the wandering beetles assemblage; and a loss of natural value of the wetlands according to the EU Habitats and Birds directives. Results point to the insufficient protection of these sites and the need to apply integral sustainability policies at watershed scale. Moreover, a potential trade-off between two important environmental objectives has been identified: on the one hand to enhance the ecosystem service of nutrients removal and on the other to conserve the natural values of the Mar Menor wetlands.