Reconstruction of the land uses that led to the termination of an arid coastal dune system: The case of the Guanarteme dune system (Canary Islands, Spain), 1834–2012
Introduction
The coastal areas of the planet, as most natural ecosystems, have been affected from the changes caused by human activity during their history (Nordstrom, 1994). Especially in recent decades, these environments have been particularly affected, enduring much of the urban development and other important land changes (Jackson and Nordstrom, 2011). At global scale, currently almost 30 percent of the coastal areas are altered by development related to human activities, an area where 41% of the world population lives (Martínez et al., 2007). Bajocco et al. (2012) note that in recent decades there has been a significant “littoralization” of societies, which has led to a continuous degradation of the coast. This phenomenon has been observed across the Mediterranean, particularly in Spain, where urban development in the coastal area has intensified and accelerated in recent decades (Ariza, 2011). This has induced a permanent degradation of natural coastal systems, with a constant risk of losing vital ecological processes, as well as for the conservation of biota. In this scenario, many islands are particularly fragile as a result of intense development of urban and tourist infrastructure near their shorelines. Such is the case of the Canary Islands, where this development has exerted significant human pressure on both the ecosystems of high ecological value and some of their characteristic natural processes (Hernández et al., 2007, Hernández-Cordero et al., 2006, Otto et al., 2007).
In this context, coastal dune systems represent environmentally fragile and significantly changed areas, since various human activities that have an impact on their dynamics and natural elements are carried out on or near them. These impacts are particularly significant in Europe and North America where coastal dune systems are a diminishing resource (Jackson and Nordstrom, 2011, Paskoff, 1993, Pye and Tsoar, 1990). The primary cause of these changes is attributed to changes in land uses, both historical (grazing, agriculture, forestry and mining activities) and present uses, amongst which urban-touristic use is highlighted (Cooper and Alonso, 2006, Otto et al., 2007, Santana Cordero et al., 2015).
Most studies of coastal dunes have been conducted in temperate systems, while arid coastal dune systems have received much less attention, especially in terms of the geomorphological consequences resulting from human activities (Cabrera-Vega et al., 2013, Hernández-Calvento et al., 2014). Due to the arid climate that prevails in these environments, the impacts on landforms are evident within short periods of time compared with more humid environments (Cabrera-Vega et al., 2013).
To address the study of changes in an ecosystem, several lines of research focused on the changes experienced in the past are currently being developed in order to understand the present, predict future trends, and apply the results to improve the work of restoration and/or management (Anderson et al., 2006, Gimmi and Bürgi, 2007, Grossinger et al., 2007, McAllister, 2008, Robertson and McGee, 2003, Stein et al., 2010, Swetnam et al., 1999, Villagra et al., 2009). The information derived from these studies is particularly useful in systems that are still recoverable from an environmental perspective (Koster, 2009, Thomas and Wiggs, 2008). In systems which have disappeared or are dying out with no chance of recovery, the ultimate goal of these studies is the reconstruction of its environmental history, in order to better understand their eco-anthropic dynamics, since they can serve as a reference for other similar systems at different stages of development. In this line, studies that address changes in land use or land cover are of great interest, especially if they integrate both aspects. This type of analysis constitutes an effective way to characterize the current environmental situation and the ongoing changes of a natural system (e.g. Raj and Azeez, 2010, Ye and Fang, 2011).
In this point, the study of the causes of land change can shed light over the change process itself, allowing understand it better. So, describe the land-use changes, and analyzing the underlying driving forces—fundamental social processes that underpin proximate causes—and proximate causes—land visible changes—(Geist and Lambin, 2002) seems to be a correct procedure to examine this.
This paper presents an historical reconstruction of land uses in an arid transgressive coastal dune system that has already disappeared, the Guanarteme dune field (Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain). Our general goal is to deepen our knowledge of the causes that led to its demise. To do so, the time period when those processes occurred is addressed. Thus, we begin the study in 1834, when we have a historical map showing that the system was working normally. The study concludes in 2012, when the entire surface of this dune system became urbanized, thereby blocking aeolian sediment transport between the input and output areas of this system.
Specific objectives of this research are the following: (1) to identify and characterize the land uses that occurred in the study period (1834–2012), as this is the period when human activities that led to the demise of this dune system were carried out; (2) to analyze the underlying socioeconomic forces that boosted the changes; and (3) to establish a consistent methodology able to work and integrate multi-source information.
Section snippets
Study area
The Guanarteme arid dune system was located in the northeast of the island of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain), covering the isthmus that connects the island of Gran Canaria with the volcanic complex of La Isleta, located to the NE. It had an area of 243.7 ha (2.44 km2) and the dynamics of the dunes were conditioned by the prevailing winds in a NW-SE direction, resulting from changes in the direction of the trade winds, mainly from the NE, by the interposition of La Isleta (Fig. 1).
The
Sources
In this study the following sources have been used:
Agriculture
This use was located in the SE part of the dune system in the 1853 map. It constituted a quasi-rectangular parcel, or a group of parcels, that evolved through time changing in size and shape. It should be noted that this activity was developed along a sector of the east coast on active zones of the system. The type of crop was vegetables, generally on large plots, as some pictures show.
Urbanization
Settlements and related infrastructure were developed through the XIX century. In the 1834 map, the study area
Discussion
Results obtained in this investigation provide important knowledge to ‘build’ the history of this landscape, since land uses are identified and characterized. However, the land uses identified did not have the same impact on the system. Whereas agriculture, recreation and temporary settlements could simply alter certain aeolian processes (cutting of vegetation, establishment of anthropic obstacles), the aggregate extraction directly removed large amounts of sand, thus destroying the system.
Conclusions
Results indicate that amongst the different land uses that occurred with the progressive occupation of the dune area, aggregate extraction had the most serious consequences for the disappearance of the aeolian sedimentary system, by the surface affected, the intensity it developed and the impact it generated. This use continued an upward trend over the years which resulted in a notable impact.
Furthermore, it observes that an important political decision of the construction of a key
Acknowledgements
This paper is a contribution of CSO2010-18150 and CSO2013-43256-R projects of the Spanish National Plan for R + D + i (innovation), co-financed with ERDF funds. Aarón M. Santana-Cordero develops his research within the ULPGC Funding Programme.
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