Geomorphological regional mapping for environmental planning in developing countries

Developing countries usually lack environmental baseline information for territorial decision-making. Geomorphological maps constitute valuable tools for natural resource management due to the landforms permanence and dynamics creating interactions between biotic, abiotic, and anthropic unique characteristics worldwide. In this paper, we present an updated method to perform geomorphological regional units applied for developing countries. This region is highly populated and face particular and more challenging development issues. We used the Southern Pacific, or the Brunca region of Costa Rica, as a study site to apply the geomorphological regional unit approach. Our results show that this territory presents mountainous, volcanic, fluvial, and coastal landforms with a vast variety of soils, life zones, protected areas, and land uses in a culturally rich region. Moreover, we discuss and make proposals for land use planning implications, disaster risk conditions, and the ecological and tourism prospects of the region. This approach can be widely used in developing countries throughout the world for their territorial environmental assessment.