CHAPTER 14 • Tourist Development in the Costa Brava (Girona. Spain)
275
In this context, the development of effective integrated coastal zone management
plans (ICZM) would be essential to achieve the goals for the future. ICZM can serve to
integrate public and private interests together with the functioning of the natural environment, and to manage the plan for development process in the future.
To avoid the degradation of the environment, adversely affecting the delicate and
valuable coastal ecosystems, aquifers, wetlands, and biodiversity, in general, and the
loss of attractiveness for the tourist sector, it would be helpful to design a Coastal
Management Plan for the region based on:
a Integrated management: Fully integrated management with a clear and observed
regulatory framework, coordinating public and private sectors and using serious
environmental indicators. Actually, there is a multitude of different authorities with
juris~ction in the Costa Brava, and each day different social groups exert more pressure on its Natural Assets. It is necessary to create an Advisory council to assist in
accurately describing environment and management infrastructure, to analyze current pressures, and to identify the various actors and the development of scenarios,
by compiling the relevant environmental regulations applicable for tourist activities on the Coast, and the environmental and socio-economical information available from public agencies. The Advisory Council should incorporate all the associated stakeholders: local tourist agencies and managers, representatives of the different administrations, scientists, environmental organizations, and other involved
groups.
b Preserving the natural heritage: Protection of ecologically vital areas, as well as the
cultural Heritage, with mapping and inventories of relevant inshore and offshore
resources and Natural Assets. On the Costa Brava, Natural Systems such as salt
marshes, wetlands, and seagrass meadows, such as Posidonia oceanica, are still suffering severe man-made impacts. These habitats play important ecological roles in
nature by having high primary production, maintaining large associated food web,
influencing the dynamics of littoral sedimentation and runoff, and giving shelter to
a large number of species and recruits. Thus, it is necessary to carry out educational
activities to introduce the concepts of ecological sustainability in our society.
c Mobilization of attitudes: The desire for the mobilization of better attitudes of the
general public based o'n a broader knowledge and the understanding of sustainable
values. There has been a lack of well-founded attitudes in relation to the use and the
preservation of the natural environment. Although attitudes can change if people
receive new information, a better education based on ecological, utilitarian, and ethical arguments should be incorporated in the population (Hagvar 1994). Ominous
behaviour such as the consumption of juvenile fish, or the illegal dumping of personal garbage, amongst others, should be eradicated.
Although the natural environment is the main treasure of the Costa Brava, this coastline has been degraded in the past, and there is still potential danger for more degradation in the future. The Costa Brava is still a beautiful area, moreover it is alreadyattracting visitors, so there is time to preserve its charm and its natural assets. Careful
integrated management is advised. To accomplish this, it would be necessary to develop
this region under the concept of sustain ability, balancing the economic development
against the ecosystems preservation. Plans for tourist development based on sustain-
275
In this context, the development of effective integrated coastal zone management
plans (ICZM) would be essential to achieve the goals for the future. ICZM can serve to
integrate public and private interests together with the functioning of the natural environment, and to manage the plan for development process in the future.
To avoid the degradation of the environment, adversely affecting the delicate and
valuable coastal ecosystems, aquifers, wetlands, and biodiversity, in general, and the
loss of attractiveness for the tourist sector, it would be helpful to design a Coastal
Management Plan for the region based on:
a Integrated management: Fully integrated management with a clear and observed
regulatory framework, coordinating public and private sectors and using serious
environmental indicators. Actually, there is a multitude of different authorities with
juris~ction in the Costa Brava, and each day different social groups exert more pressure on its Natural Assets. It is necessary to create an Advisory council to assist in
accurately describing environment and management infrastructure, to analyze current pressures, and to identify the various actors and the development of scenarios,
by compiling the relevant environmental regulations applicable for tourist activities on the Coast, and the environmental and socio-economical information available from public agencies. The Advisory Council should incorporate all the associated stakeholders: local tourist agencies and managers, representatives of the different administrations, scientists, environmental organizations, and other involved
groups.
b Preserving the natural heritage: Protection of ecologically vital areas, as well as the
cultural Heritage, with mapping and inventories of relevant inshore and offshore
resources and Natural Assets. On the Costa Brava, Natural Systems such as salt
marshes, wetlands, and seagrass meadows, such as Posidonia oceanica, are still suffering severe man-made impacts. These habitats play important ecological roles in
nature by having high primary production, maintaining large associated food web,
influencing the dynamics of littoral sedimentation and runoff, and giving shelter to
a large number of species and recruits. Thus, it is necessary to carry out educational
activities to introduce the concepts of ecological sustainability in our society.
c Mobilization of attitudes: The desire for the mobilization of better attitudes of the
general public based o'n a broader knowledge and the understanding of sustainable
values. There has been a lack of well-founded attitudes in relation to the use and the
preservation of the natural environment. Although attitudes can change if people
receive new information, a better education based on ecological, utilitarian, and ethical arguments should be incorporated in the population (Hagvar 1994). Ominous
behaviour such as the consumption of juvenile fish, or the illegal dumping of personal garbage, amongst others, should be eradicated.
Although the natural environment is the main treasure of the Costa Brava, this coastline has been degraded in the past, and there is still potential danger for more degradation in the future. The Costa Brava is still a beautiful area, moreover it is alreadyattracting visitors, so there is time to preserve its charm and its natural assets. Careful
integrated management is advised. To accomplish this, it would be necessary to develop
this region under the concept of sustain ability, balancing the economic development
against the ecosystems preservation. Plans for tourist development based on sustain-