Sustainable use of protected areas : the example of the Albufeira coastal lagoon (Portugal)

Abstract

In the case of flooding occurrence, in order to protect human goods we propose the creation of a buffer zone with non-urban infrastructures and the access to beach must been done in pedestrian walks or cycle roads. With higher levels of salinity in Albufeira lagoon, the risk of wetland species extinction increase, and hence the creation of natural migration corridors is vital. Agricultural areas adjacent to ecological corridors must have a traditional and/or ecological exploration to avoid coercive effects in the environment. The climax vegetation should replace the monoculture of Pinus pinaster. Present forest management with heavy machinery and negative effects in soil properties must been substituted by other sustainable techniques, such as animal grazing, reduction of understory biomass. It must be without heavy machinery or application of prescribed fire in selected areas with higher accumulation of biomass and in urban areas perimeter to avoid the effects of potential effects of wild land fires and return the nutrients to the soil. The execution of the proposed measures only is significant, if all actors understand the advantages of the formulation of a sustainable land use plan and participle actively in their implementation, development and monitoring.