La gestión integrada de humedales mareales. Un análisis de instrumentos legales y planificación desde una perspectiva geográfica

Abstract

Many researchers have demonstrated that salt marshes are very valious ecosystems. However, they are also extremely unique ecosystems. Located in a border area, they are the result of the interaction between the hydrosphere and the litosphere. In their conformation and in the way they work many factors and processes take place. Most of them are originated outside the wetland and some, from very far away areas. Furthermore, the extraordinary dynamism due to the constant presence of the "water" factor (from both sea and fluvial courses) causes them to be in constant evolution. All this turns them into extraordinarily fragile ecosystems.This doctoral thesis has parted from the hypothesis that it is only possible to guarantee the conservation of these wetlands adopting management measures adapted to their characteristics. The extreme complexity of their functioning and their high capacity of interaction have been considered the most important factors. The first factor would suppose the application of an "integral" management; capable of taking into account all the elements that directly affect the functioning of the wetland (particularly, immediate aquatic and terrestrial spaces...) and to consider all aspects (both environmental and economical). The second factor would suppose the application of an "integrated" management; this is to say, a coordinated and coherent management regarding the territory as a whole and economical sectors involved in the issue.Using both requirements as evaluation criteria, an analysis of the existing intervention instruments has been intended to be analysed. For this reason a progressive approximation has been used, from the broadest level of intervention (international) to the most concrete (local). In this way a practical analysis has been intended, orientated towards concrete cases. The final part of the thesis has been dedicated to the salt marshes of the Bay of Cadiz. This area has been considered representative of the majority of coastal zones of developed countries: environments of elevated economical and social dynamism, with a high concentration of human population and urban areas and, finally, are subject to an extraordinary complex legal situation.