Indicators of geomorphological connectivity facing management fragmentation in coastal protected areas: the case of Guguy (Canary Islands)

Abstract

The coastal strip is the area where the marine and terrestrial environments meet, and there is a continuous exchange of matter and energy between them. From a natural perspective, coasts are functional units, although they may be subject to administrative divisions. This paper presents an example of the conflict between ecological processes and administrative boundaries in the coastal environment. The proposal for the declaration of the Guguy Maritime-Terrestrial National Park, located on the island of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain), illustrates this conflict. In contrast to the jurisdictional boundary established by law along the coastline between the regional administration (land area) and the state administration (marine area), this work presents theoretical and experimental indicators that demonstrate the existence of land-sea ecological connectivity in the beach-dune system. The sedimentary analyses and wind and marine dynamics indicate the presence of a single geodynamic functional unit on the Guguy coast, where marine, wind, fluvial and slope processes are interconnected. Based on this evidence, it is recommended to avoid administrative fragmentation of this area to promote an integrated, holistic and sustainable coastal management.