Chapter 19
Multicriteria Analysis to Implement
Actions Leading to Coastal Dune
Restoration
Debora Lithgow, M. Luisa Martínez and Juan B. Gallego-Fernández
19.1 Introduction
Some 41 % of the human population lives within 100 km of the coast, and
according to Povh (2000), three-quarters of the world’s population will be living
within 60 km of the coastline by 2020. Human overpopulation on the coast leads
to major land use change, overexploitation of resources and the loss and degradation of natural ecosystems. This intensive use of the coast has resulted in coastal
and estuarine ecosystems being the most threatened natural systems worldwide
(Barbier et al. 2011). Among these ecosystems, sandy beaches and dunes
are notable for both their wide distribution and the high degree of threat they face
(Fig. 19.1).
Beaches and coastal dunes are distributed from the tropics to the polar circles
(Martínez et al. 2004) and can range from the immediate coastline to several
kilometers inland. This spatial distribution creates a wide variety of niches and
thus a diverse flora and fauna. Besides featuring high biodiversity, coastal beaches
and dunes are notable for the socioeconomic functions they fulfill (Everard et al.
2010). These functions include recreation, scenic beauty, pollutant capture, ability
to act as reservoirs of water and sand, as well as coastal protection against extreme
D. Lithgow Á M. L. Martínez (&)
Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Red de Ecología Funcional, Carretera Antigua a Coatepec
no. 351, El Haya Ver. 91070 Xalapa, Mexico
e-mail: marisa.martinez@inecol.edu.mx
D. Lithgow
e-mail: debora.lithgow@gmail.com
J. B. Gallego-Fernández
Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Sevilla,
Ap.1095 - 41080, Sevilla, Spain
e-mail: galfer@us.es
M. L. Martínez et al. (eds.), Restoration of Coastal Dunes, Springer Series
on Environmental Management, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-33445-0_19,
Ó Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
307
Multicriteria Analysis to Implement
Actions Leading to Coastal Dune
Restoration
Debora Lithgow, M. Luisa Martínez and Juan B. Gallego-Fernández
19.1 Introduction
Some 41 % of the human population lives within 100 km of the coast, and
according to Povh (2000), three-quarters of the world’s population will be living
within 60 km of the coastline by 2020. Human overpopulation on the coast leads
to major land use change, overexploitation of resources and the loss and degradation of natural ecosystems. This intensive use of the coast has resulted in coastal
and estuarine ecosystems being the most threatened natural systems worldwide
(Barbier et al. 2011). Among these ecosystems, sandy beaches and dunes
are notable for both their wide distribution and the high degree of threat they face
(Fig. 19.1).
Beaches and coastal dunes are distributed from the tropics to the polar circles
(Martínez et al. 2004) and can range from the immediate coastline to several
kilometers inland. This spatial distribution creates a wide variety of niches and
thus a diverse flora and fauna. Besides featuring high biodiversity, coastal beaches
and dunes are notable for the socioeconomic functions they fulfill (Everard et al.
2010). These functions include recreation, scenic beauty, pollutant capture, ability
to act as reservoirs of water and sand, as well as coastal protection against extreme
D. Lithgow Á M. L. Martínez (&)
Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Red de Ecología Funcional, Carretera Antigua a Coatepec
no. 351, El Haya Ver. 91070 Xalapa, Mexico
e-mail: marisa.martinez@inecol.edu.mx
D. Lithgow
e-mail: debora.lithgow@gmail.com
J. B. Gallego-Fernández
Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Sevilla,
Ap.1095 - 41080, Sevilla, Spain
e-mail: galfer@us.es
M. L. Martínez et al. (eds.), Restoration of Coastal Dunes, Springer Series
on Environmental Management, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-33445-0_19,
Ó Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
307