The urban transformation of the Spanish coast. Land Cover Change analysis 1990-2012

Abstract

[eng] Historically human activities have unquestionably transformed the earth's surface. The seaside is probably the area that has suffered most from this process, due to the fact that great part of the world civilizations have settled in these regions. During the last decades, in which is also framed the study period of the present document (1900-2012), this alteration process has been intensified to never before seen levels, the produced land cover changes compromise or even destroy ecological values of the affected area. In the case of Spain, one of the main drivers of this process of transformation is the tourist industry with its consequent urban growth; which in many occasions is related to irregularities and corruption. As a response to this destruction, the scientific community reacted by creating the land system science in order to study the evolution and consequences of it; also the political sphere has tried to mitigate or at least limit this process with the creation of regulatory bodies, unfortunately without success.