The Impact of Tourism Activity on Coastal Biodiversity: A Case Study at Praia da Cova Redonda (Algarve—Portugal)

Nunes, Leonel J. R.; Raposo, Mauro A. M.; Gomes, Carlos J. Pinto

doi:10.3390/environments7100088

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The Impact of Tourism Activity on Coastal Biodiversity: A Case Study at Praia da Cova Redonda (Algarve—Portugal)

by

Leonel J. R. Nunes

^1,2,*

,

Mauro A. M. Raposo

²

and

Carlos J. Pinto Gomes

^2,3

¹

proMetheus–Unidade de Investigação em Materiais, Energia e Ambiente para a Sustentabilidade, Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua da Escola Industrial e Comercial de Nun’Alvares, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal

²

MED–Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Pólo da Mitra, Universidade de Évora, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal

³

Departamento da Paisagem, Ambiente e Ordenamento, Universidade de Évora, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Environments 2020, 7(10), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments7100088

Submission received: 3 September 2020 / Revised: 26 September 2020 / Accepted: 9 October 2020 / Published: 12 October 2020

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dynamic of Vegetation and Climate Change)

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Abstract

Tourism activity has a very significant weight in the world economy, even being the main activity responsible for the export of many countries, in the form of providing services to foreign citizens. In mainland Portugal, the main tourist region is the Algarve, where beach tourism, known as sun and sea tourism, plays a decisive role. However, this activity also has its negative impacts. In the present work, a case study was analyzed, at Praia da Cova Redonda, located in the parish of Porches, in the municipality of Lagoa. Negative impacts on land use and occupation were identified, caused by the excessive presence of people, the introduction of invasive species and the artificial filling of beaches. At the end, a set of mitigating measures are presented that aim to ensure that the exploitation of natural resources can be maintained, but in a perspective of preservation and recovery of natural resources and biodiversity.

Keywords: coastal ecosystems; biodiversity; environmental impacts; mitigation measures

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MDPI and ACS Style

Nunes, L.J.R.; Raposo, M.A.M.; Gomes, C.J.P. The Impact of Tourism Activity on Coastal Biodiversity: A Case Study at Praia da Cova Redonda (Algarve—Portugal). Environments 2020, 7, 88. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments7100088

AMA Style

Nunes LJR, Raposo MAM, Gomes CJP. The Impact of Tourism Activity on Coastal Biodiversity: A Case Study at Praia da Cova Redonda (Algarve—Portugal). Environments. 2020; 7(10):88. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments7100088

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nunes, Leonel J. R., Mauro A. M. Raposo, and Carlos J. Pinto Gomes. 2020. "The Impact of Tourism Activity on Coastal Biodiversity: A Case Study at Praia da Cova Redonda (Algarve—Portugal)" Environments 7, no. 10: 88. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments7100088

APA Style

Nunes, L. J. R., Raposo, M. A. M., & Gomes, C. J. P. (2020). The Impact of Tourism Activity on Coastal Biodiversity: A Case Study at Praia da Cova Redonda (Algarve—Portugal). Environments, 7(10), 88. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments7100088

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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The Impact of Tourism Activity on Coastal Biodiversity: A Case Study at Praia da Cova Redonda (Algarve—Portugal)

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