Geoenvironmental analysis in coastal zone management: A case study in Southwest-Sardinia (Italy)

The coastline between Portixeddu and Buggerru (SW-Sardinia) is characterised by a succession of beaches, dunes, rocky coasts and cliffs, generally in a natural state with few human settlements. The main economic activities in this area were related to metal deposits, hosted in Cambrian carbonate rocks and exploited for more than a century until the early 1970's. Since the closure of the mines future economical development has been focussed on beach resorts and cultural tourism. This coastal area has been chosen as a test site for the geoenvironmental analysis aiming to outline the naturalistic and cultural potential and the carrying capacity for a sustainable tourist development, obtainable through a careful and respectful planning in such sensible and delicate environments. Geological and geomorphological mapping, beach evolution monitoring, sedimentological analysis of beach and dune sands and a systematic campaign of vegetation and land-use mapping have been set out. The carrying capacity of the slowly eroding beach has been calculated taking in consideration its geoenvironmental characteristics (sensibility, vulnerability etc.) and is proportional to its surface. Thanks to the elaboration of all this information it has been possible to plan the tourist development of this area, respecting both the natural equilibrium of the beach, the coastline and the entire area, and the local needs of social and economical development.