Environmental Engineering and Management Journal July 2016, Vol.15, No. 7, 1593-1602 http://omicron.ch.tuiasi.ro/EEMJ/ “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Romania MAPPING THE ECOLOGICAL STRUCTURE IN OCEANIC ISLANDS - THE CASE-STUDY OF S. MIGUEL ISLAND (PORTUGAL) Artur Gil1, Catarina Pacheco-Vieira2, Qian Yu3, Agustín Lobo4, Helena Calado5 1University of the Azores, Ce3C , Azorean Biodiversity Group, 9500 Ponta Delgada, Portugal 2City Council of Ribeira Grande, Department of Urbanism, 9600 Ribeira Grande, Portugal 3University of Massachusetts, Department of Geosciences, 01003-9297 Amherst, MA, USA 4ICTJA - Institut de Ciències de la Terra Jaume Almera (CSIC), E-08028 Barcelona, Spain 5University of the Azores, CIBIO (Azores Unit), 9500 Ponta Delgada, Portugal Abstract Oceanic islands face very serious environmental issues such as climate change, environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity and proliferation of invasive alien species. The delimitation of the IES shall consider the many inter-relationships between all biophysical and cultural variables, contributing therefore to a better understanding of the socio-ecological system. The Island Ecological Structure (IES) includes the key natural resources, biophysical functions and ecological processes within this territorial unit, in order to ensure the existence of a continuum naturale across the island. This paper presents a methodological proposal of mapping IES. A case-study based on consistent biophysical and land policy criteria was conducted for S. Miguel Island (Archipelago of the Azores, Portugal). The results have showed that the Island Ecological Structure covers about 75% of its total area. The land use conflictive areas within the Island Ecological Structure (21%) have also been identified and should be addressed by Land Management Plans in order to minimize the conflict effects. Key words: Azores, ecological structure, environmental planning, island, land management Received: January, 2012; Revised final: April, 2013; Accepted: April, 2013 1. Introduction Gil et al., 2012). Moreover, the biodiversity within island ecosystems is fundamental to ecosystem The importance of island ecosystems has been functioning that underpins services on which human formally recognized by many pieces of legislation well-being largely depends (Borges et al., 2010). and European Policy by both the European Union Climate variability and changes, the proliferation of (EU) and the Council of Europe. Oceanic islands host invasive exotic species, the increasing growth of a high proportion of endemic species, many of which tourist activity, natural catastrophes, the are in danger as a consequence of recent human overexploitation of natural resources, as well as the habitation (Whittaker and Fernández-Palacios, 2007). pollution and residue management are the main There are very few places where the “biodiversity threats to sustainable development, nature crisis” is as apparent and in need of urgent action conservation and small island biodiversity (Triantis et al., 2010). These characteristics maintainability (CBD, 2006). Anthropogenic associated with remoteness, isolation, smallness, and pressures, such as land use changes, are one of the particularly closed systems, make planning and main threats to biodiversity conservation especially management on small islands more challenging in for island ecosystems, inherently vulnerable systems scientific and technical terms (Calado et al., 2007; (Lagabrielle et al., 2009). Therefore, the planning and Author to whom all correspondence should be addressed: e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; Phone: +351296650479; Fax: +351296650100 Gil et al./Environmental Engineering and Management Journal 15 (2016), 7, 1593-1602 management systems of protected areas need to be Because of their geographical (archipelago of adjusted to the specific context of small islands, so 9 small islands) and political (autonomous region) that they can ensure maximum effectiveness in space framing, as well as their singular morphological and organization, and fulfillment of inherent conservation ecological characteristics, both REN and RAN and sustainable development objectives (Fonseca et national diplomas never were fully transposed and al., 2011). applied in Azores islands. Instead, both diplomas The Island Ecological Structure (IES) includes applications were interpreted and adapted to local the key natural resources, biophysical functions and biophysical and socio-economic reality because of ecological processes that have to be preserved in the huge existing differences between these territories order to maintain their integrity and to ensure the and those in mainland Portugal for which they were existence of a continuum naturale across the island. originally created. It should constitute a strategic and core instrument Therefore, the Regional Agricultural Reserve for land planning and sustainable development (RAR) focuses its soil protection measures on the policies support at island scale (Vieira, 2007). The mitigation of superficial erosion due to the concept of Ecological Structure (ES) as land planning mountainous and steep nature of Azores islands decision support element has been introduced in morphology, by classifying as arable soils those Portugal by the Decree-Law 380/99 of September located in larger flatter areas (Gil, 2007). REN has 22nd 1999, which states that Municipal Master Plans never been formally adapted and legally transposed should map the ecological structure through the into a coherent Regional Ecological Reserve (RER). identification of the key natural, cultural, forest and Azorean local and regional administration agricultural resources as well as the biophysical technicians and policy makers have been mapping functions and ecological processes that are associated this reserve by identifying all the REN features that with them. can be observed in these islands and entitling them as Nevertheless, this legal diploma does not Municipal Ecological Reserve (REM). Nevertheless, define which type of resources should be identified some typical morphological features as “fajãs” and described, and which type of methodological (supratidal talus-platforms with hummocky surfaces approach should be applied during this core mapping resulting from landslides along Azores islands cliffed process. The National Nature Conservation Strategy coasts) are not included for protection in the REN of Portugal published in 2001 through the legal diploma but have been integrated into REM. diploma RCM 152/2001 of October 11th 2001 states The Azorean Regional Network of Protected that the ES identification and mapping procedures Areas (RRAP) is defined by two basic units: the would be mandatory for all land management Islands Natural Parks (PNI for terrestrial and coastal instruments, at every territorial scale (local, areas) and the Azores Marine Park (PMA for marine municipal and regional). Although the mandatory areas). There are nine PNI, as much as islands in the nature of this process, neither ES components neither Azores Archipelago (Calado et al., 2009). All methodological approaches have been legally defined existing classified areas for nature conservation such since then. as Natura 2000 sites (Special Protected Areas and Consequently, many different methodological Special Conservation Zones), Ramsar sites, approaches have been applied to identify and map the UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, Important Bird Areas municipal, inter-municipal and regional ES in (IBA) and Natural Forest Reserves have been mainland Portugal on the behalf of land planning reclassified using IUCN classification system and instruments development processes. The degree of integrated into the RRAP in order to perform a more complexity and factors prioritization strategy applied effective and coherent conservation planning and on this mapping process varies considerably in each management. These areas include most of the Azores master plan (CM Arruda dos Vinhos, 2006; CM Archipelago's terrestrial, coastal and marine Cascais, 2005; CM Coimbra, 2009; Machado et al., ecological value (fauna, flora and habitats). 2005; Magalhães et al., 2002; Neto, 2010; Quental et This paper aims to propose a methodology al., 2004; UTAD, 2001). In general, most approaches and present a case-study application of an Island have defined the territory covered by classified sites Ecological Structure mapping process based on (mostly Protected Areas and Natura 2000), by the consistent island-scaled biophysical and land policy National Ecological Reserve (REN) and by the criteria fully adapted to Azores Islands (Portugal). National Agricultural Reserve (RAN) as core areas of The main goal of this GIS-based approach is to the Ecological Structure. support on a coherent and objective way the The main goal of REN is to regulate land-use elaboration, implementation and monitoring of in both areas with high susceptibility to natural regional and municipal master plans and further land hazards, and areas essential for aquifer recharge, management tools (protected areas, basins and lakes, protecting them also from contamination (Laranjeira coastal areas). This methodology shall be able to be and Teles, 2005). The RAN main purpose was to applied to further small volcanic islands from defend and preserve all the areas with better soils and Macaronesia (Azores, Canary and Madeira higher agricultural aptitude and productivity. archipelagos) and European Outermost Regions. 1594 Mapping the ecological structure