Sustainable Coastal Habitats: GIS Tools for Effective Decision Support
Vicki O'Donnell, Michelle Cronin, Valerie Cummins
Coastal & Marine Resources Centre, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork (IE)
Introduction
The focus of this project is to develop tools to facilitate the management
of environmentally sensitive coastal habitats. Geographical Information Systems
(GIS) is used both as the principal device to house a database and as a developmental
tool in the production of a GIS based Sensitivity Analysis Model. GIS is a
computer based information system used to digitally represent and analyse
the geographic features present on the Earth's surface. The project output
will be a tool that can be used to calculate threats to environmentally sensitive
coastal habitats.
Sustainable Environmental Management and Impacts on Designated
Areas
The emphasis of the project is the application of technology to environmental
protection and conservation, principally, the sustainability of coastal habitats
and resources. The Irish State is required to protect coastal habitats in
adherence with international conventions (Ramsar Convention, Berne Convention,
Convention on Biodiversity,) EU Directives (EC Habitats Directive, EC Birds
Directive) to which Ireland is a signatory, and national designations (Irish
Wildlife [Amendment] Act, 2000).
Impacts vary depending on the reason for original designation of the site.
For instance, if a site is designated because of its importance as a roosting
site then the felling of trees will have a major impact. If a site is designated
for wading birds then the felling of trees may have a minor impact.
| Grazing | Urbanisation | Drainage |
| Leisure | Cultivation | Bait Digging |
| Discharges | Peat Cutting | Hunting |
| Erosion | Burning | Pesticide |
Table 1. Examples of impacts taken from the
NATURA 2000 Standard Data Forms, which are used by environmental managers
throughout Europe
Coastal Classification & Sensitivity Analysis previously
developed
Work to date on coastal classification and the development of sensitivity
indices has focused primarily on the following: oil spill risk/sensitivity,
sea level rise and coastal erosion. Prioritising sensitive areas of the coast
has been an important part of oil spill contingency planning since the 1970s
and a lot of work has been carried out on the ranking of sensitivity. The
Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) is a ranking of the relative sensitivities
of various geomorphic coastal environments in terms of oil-sediment interactions.
Traditional ESI mapping techniques involved the use of already existing planimetric
bases maps and the subsequent identification of shoreline and biological sensitivity
areas, as well as the locations of access-protection facilities (Getter et
al., 1981). More recent work on ESI mapping has involved the use of remote
sensing and GIS technology to make it a more effective and efficient tool
(Jensen et al., 1990; Jensen et al., 1993).
A gap of knowledge was identified in relation to sensitivity analysis and the protection and management of legally designated coastal habitats. Although much work has been carried out in relation to oil spills and coastal erosion, it was found that little work had been carried out in relation to the management of the increasing number of legally protected areas, once the designation process was complete. It was found that once a number of sites had been designated, a transparent means of continued management was not in place to maintain these habitats in order of management necessity. The research is attempting to address this gap by developing GIS tools for decision support.
Methodology
In this project a GIS is used to manage a broad ranging spatial database,
and as a developmental tool in the production of a GIS based Sensitivity Analysis
Model. Within the GIS database, the stand-alone Sensitivity Analysis Model
takes into account the influence of a threat (such as overgrazing, pesticides,
peat cutting) on specific habitats and specific species and calculates this
with the realised threat (and its intensity) at the particular designated
site. The project is using coastal NATURA 2000 sites in Co. Cork, Ireland,
to develop the prototype model. NATURA 2000 is a network of protected areas
in the European Union covering fragile and valuable natural habitats and species
of particular importance for the conservation of biological diversity within
the territory of the EU.
Projected outcome
This project is ongoing. The future output of the GIS model will be a hierarchical
list of designated sites, highlighting those sites that are most at risk from
human & natural impacts. The results will facilitate improved resource
management of designated areas. The methodology used is following a clear
and scientific rationale in the model development and implementation.
References
Getter, C., Thebeau, L., Ballou, T & Maiero, D. Mapping the distribution of protected and valuable, oil-sensitive coastal fish and wildlife. Proceedings of the 1981 Oil Spill Conference, American Petroleum Institute: Washington, D.C., pp. 325 - 332. 1981.