Natural and anthropic coasts: challenges for coastal management in Spain

Abstract

The coastline of Spain exhibits a range of large-scale natural geomorphic features that vary according to natural dynamics, sediment supply and antecedent topography. Measurable human influence on coastal sedimentary systems of Spain has existed for several thousand years in the form of sediment supply and river regulation but the nature and scale of tourism-related development on the coast over the past fifty years has led to a situation where humans are the dominant geomorphic agent in many sedimentary coastlines. The very existence of these 'anthropic' coastal systems is dependent on continued human intervention and their near-future coastal evolution is more dependent on management decisions than natural processes. They arc used as an extension of the urban space and are regarded in a similar way to urban parks (nourishment, for example, is justified on the basis of creating recreational space). The transformation of large stretches of the coast into anthropic coastal systems implies a reliance on continuing favourable economic conditions for sustainability during normal energy conditions. Existing and ongoing urban development adjacent to such coasts, however, has increased the risk associated with future major storm or tsunami events.