Analysis of landscape evolution in a vulnerable coastal area under natural and human pressure

AbstractTo preserve integrity and functioning of coastal ecosystems services, monitoring and protection actions have to be realized on an ecosystem perspective and consider an integrated observing approach. We implemented a multidisciplinary study, based on remote sensing and geophysical techniques, landscape ecology tools, and geospatial data analysis for monitoring a coastal area (Basilicata Ionian coast) with a high concentration of forest ecosystems services: five Natura 2000 protected sites, intensive agriculture, and touristic infrastructures. The analysis of landscape evolution performed within five protected sites over about 30 years (1985–2013) shows the presence of different processes acting along the investigated coast. Where coniferous forests were involved in marked fragmentation processes geophysical measurements highlighted saltwater infiltrations in superficial layers. Since severe shoreline changes interested the investigated littoral, erosional processes could have increased the saltwate...