Title: Landscape modeling and metrics for improved integration of urban land change processes and biodiversity indica- tors in urban management in Mediterranean coastal zones
Abstract:This paper pursues three objectives: (1) derivation of spatially explicit information on past and present biodiversity measures and land change processes; (2) modeling vulnerability to land change, an...This paper pursues three objectives: (1) derivation of spatially explicit information on past and present biodiversity measures and land change processes; (2) modeling vulnerability to land change, and (3) presentation of results in a suitable format to inform decision-making in urban conservation and planning. Data and maps on species range, land cover and biotopes over a range of temporal and spatial scales are analyzed. The GIS software extension Land Change Modeler for Ecological Sustainability is employed for land change analysis, prediction, and the examination of impacts on habitat and biodiversity. Results may be used for ecological sustainability studies and land planning scenarios. Illustrated for a case study in Mallorca, the workflow could serve as an analysis framework in similar contexts. 1. Background and Motivation The characteristic process of spatial transformation in an increasing number of Mediterranean coastal municipalities is the expansion of urban and tourist areas. Land cover change detected from comparison of CORINE Land Cover data for 1990 and 2000 showed that already highly populated coastal strips were hot spots of urban sprawl and fragmentation (EEA 2006). Often linked to the development of second homes and an increasing preference for suburban environments, more disperse land use and land cover patterns evolve that can have significant impacts on land resources and ecosystem services. Urbanization typically results in a reduction in biodiversity of native species and landscape diversity, and these effects may be manifest for several decades following urban development and sprawl (HANSEN et al. 2005). In the framework of ecosystem services, biodiversity is one of the most abstract concepts. BiodiRead More
Publication Year: 2012
Publication Date: 2012-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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