Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Local perceptions regarding a social–ecological system of the mediterranean coast: the Mar Menor (Región de Murcia, Spain)

  • Case study
  • Published:
Environment, Development and Sustainability Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The social–ecological system of the Mar Menor located in southeastern Spain is facing serious environmental degradation which is generating important economic and social impacts. This article analyzes the local community perception in the Mar Menor area about the causes, consequences and possible solutions to current problems, especially the eutrophic crisis in the Mar Menor lagoon. For this research, a survey based on a questionnaire was conducted in 2017 and answered by 498 people. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and principal component analysis. Results showed significant differences among the groups of respondents, according to their profession and main economic activity, but the results also point to an important consensus in the group of respondents. It is worth noting that the broad consensus was that agricultural activities are the main causes of the entry of nutrients into the lagoon, and the respondents indicated that the priority should be given to measures to reduce nutrient inputs. This consensus, which is very different from the results obtained in previous studies, represents a very recent change of perception in relation to the role of agriculture in the Mar Menor. However, the broad consensus in the diagnosis of the current problem is not reflected in the varying opinions regarding the possible solutions or management options. Survey responses regarding solutions varied greatly across groups: There were important differences between (a) the respondents’ perceptions of the best solutions, and (b) the main management practices undertaken by the public administration at this point. This finding highlights a potential conflict that should be considered in any decision-making processes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agresti, A. (1992). A survey of exact inference for contingency tables. Statistical Science, 7(1), 131–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aledo, A., Mazón, T., & Mantecón, A. (2007). La insostenibilidad del turismo residencial. Antropología y turismo: claves culturales y disciplinares, pp. 185–208.

  • Audouin, M., Preiser, R., Nienaber, S., Downsborough, L., Lanz, J., & Mavengahama, S. (2013). Exploring the implications of critical complexity for the study of social–ecological systems. Ecology and Society, 18(3), 12. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-05434-180312.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ban, N. C., & Mills, M. (2013). A social–ecological approach to conservation planning: Embedding social considerations. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 11, 194–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berkes, F., & Folke, C. (1998). Linking social and ecological systems for resilience and sustainability. In F. Berkes & C. Folke (Eds.), Linking social and ecological systems: management practices and social mechanisms for building resilience (pp. 1–26). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • BOE. (2019). Resolución de 4 de septiembre de 2019, de la Dirección General de Biodiversidad y Calidad Ambiental, por la que se formula declaración de impacto ambiental del proyecto Análisis de soluciones para el objetivo de vertido cero al Mar Menor proveniente del Campo de Cartagena (Murcia). Boletín Oficial del Estado, del jueves 26 de septiembte de 2019.

  • Bradley, T. J., & Yanega, G. M. (2018). Salton Sea: Ecosystem in transition. Science, 359(6377), 754. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aar6088.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caillaud, M. (2017). Pollution de l’étang de Thau: On tient enfin les coupables. Midi Libre, 26.

  • Carreño, M. F. (2015). Seguimiento de los cambios de usos y su influencia en las comunidades naturales en la cuenca del Mar Menor, 1988–2009, con el uso de SIG y Teledetección. Tesis Doctoral. Universidad de Murcia.

  • Carreño, M. F., Esteve, M. A., Martinez, J., Palazón, J. A., & Pardo, M. T. (2008). Habitat changes in coastal wetlands associated to hydrological changes in the watershed. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 77, 475–483.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castro, A. J., Martín-López, B., García-Llorente, M., Aguilera, P. A., López, E., & Cabello, J. (2011). Social preferences regarding the delivery of ecosystem services in a semiarid Mediterranean region. Journal of Arid Environments, 75(11), 1201–1208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Challenger, A., Bocco, G., Equihua, M., & Chavero, M. (2014). La aplicación del concepto del sistema socio-ecológico: alcances, posibilidades y limitaciones en la gestión ambiental de México. Investigación Ambiental, Ciencia y Política Pública, 6, 1–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Comino, E., Bottero, M., Pomarico, S., & Rosso, M. (2016). The combined use of spatial multicriteria evaluation and stakeholders analysis for supporting the ecological planning of a river basin. Land Use Policy, 58(2016), 183–195.

    Google Scholar 

  • Comité de Asesoramiento Científico del Mar Menor. (2017). Informe integral sobre el estado ecológico del Mar Menor. Consejería de Agricultura, Agua y Medio Ambiente. Comunidad Autónoma de la Región de Murcia.

  • Conesa, H., & Jiménez-Cárceles, F. J. (2007). The Mar Menor lagoon (SE Spain): A singular natural ecosystem threatened by human activities. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 54, 839–849.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Delgado-serrano, M., Oteros-Rozas, E., Vanwildemeersch, P., Ortz Guerrero, C., London, S., & Escalante, R. (2015). Local perceptions on social–ecological dynamics in Latin America in three community-based natural resource management systems. Ecology and Society, 20(4), 24. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-07965-200424.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Docampo Calvo, A. M. (2011). Compactación, sellado y pérdida de suelos agrícolas en el Campo de Cartagena a consecuencia de la expansión urbana. TFC en Ciencias Ambientales. Facultad de Biología.

  • Elofsson, K. (2010). Cost-effectiveness of the Baltic Sea action plan. Marine Policy, 34, 1043–1050.

    Google Scholar 

  • Esteve, M. A., Carreño, M. F., Robledano, F., Martínez-Fernández, J., & Miñano, J. (2008). Dynamics of coastal wetlands and land use changes in the watershed: implications for the biodiversity. In R. E. Russo (Ed.), Wetlands: Ecology, conservation and restoration (pp. 133–175). New York: Nova Science Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Esteve Selma, M. A., Martínez Fernández, J., Fitz, C., Robledano, F., Martínez Paz, J.M., Carreño, M.F., et al. (2016). Conflictos ambientales derivados de la intensificación de los usos en la cuenca del Mar Menor: una aproximación interdisciplinar. In V. M León, & J. M. Bellido (Eds.), Mar Menor: una laguna singular y sensible. Evaluación científica de su estado (pp. 79–112). Madrid: Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. 414 p. Temas de Oceanografía, 9. ISBN 978-84-95877-55-0.

  • Fischer, J., Gardner, T. A., Bennett, E. M., Balvanera, P., Biggs, R., Carpenter, S., et al. (2015). Advancing sustainability through mainstreaming a social–ecological systems perspective. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 14, 144–149.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaja, F. (2008). El “tsunami urbanizador” en el litoral mediterráneo: El ciclo de hiperproducción inmobiliaria 1996–2006. Scripta Nova, 8(270), 66.

    Google Scholar 

  • García-Ayllón, S. (2017). Integrated management in coastal lagoons of highly complexity environments: Resilience comparative analysis for three case-studies. Ocean and Coastal Management, 143, 16–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • García-Ayllón, S. (2018). The Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI) of the Mar Menor as a model for the future in the comprehensive management of enclosed coastal seas. Ocean and Coastal Management, 166, 82–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • García-Ayllón, S. (2019). New strategies to improve co-management in enclosed coastal seas and wetlands subjected to complex environments: socio-economic analysis applied to an international recovery success case study after an environmental crisis. Sustainability, 11, 1039.

    Google Scholar 

  • García-Ayllón, S., & Miralles, J. L. (2014). Design & Nature and Ecodynamics, 9(2), 109–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glenn, E. P., Cohen, M. J., Morrison, J. I., Valdés-Casillas, C., & Fitzsimmons, K. (1999). Science and policy dilemmas in the management of agricultural waste waters: The case of the Salton Sea, CA, USA. Environmental Science & Policy, 2, 413–423.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gren, I. M., Elofsson, K., & Jannke, P. (1997). Cost effective nutrient reductions to the Baltic Sea. Environmental & Resource Economics, 10, 341362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hauck, J., Schmidt, J., & Werner, A. (2016). Using social network analysis to identify key stakeholders in agricultural biodiversity governance and related land-use decisions at regional and local level. Ecology and Society, 21(2), 49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holling, C. S., Berkes, F, & Folker, C. (1998). Op. cit. 5 Audouin, M., Preiser, R., Nienaber, S., Downsborough, L., Lanz, J, & Mavengahama, S. (2013). Exploring the implications of critical complexity for the study of social–ecological systems. Ecology and Society, 18(3), 12. https://doi.org/10.5751/es-05434-180312(Published here under license by the Resilience Alliance).

  • Holling, C. S., & Meffe, G. K. (1996). Command and control and the pathology of natural resource management. Conservation Biology, 10(2), 328–337.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jassen, M., & Ostrom, E. (2006). Governing social–ecological systems. In L. Tesfatsion & K. Judd (Eds.), Computational economics (Vol. 2, pp. 1466–1502). Amsterdam: Elsevier B.V.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kassambara, A., & Mundt, F. (2019). Factoextra: Extract and visualize the results of multivariate data analyses. R package version 1.0.6.

  • Lacroix, A., Beaudoin, B., & Makowsk, D. (2005). Agricultural water nonpoint pollution control under uncertainty and climate variability. Ecological Economics, 53, 115–127.

    Google Scholar 

  • León, V. M., & Bellido, J. M. (2016). Mar Menor: una laguna singular y sensible. Evaluación científica de su estado. Madrid, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. Temas de Oceanografía, 9. 414 p. ISBN 978-84-95877-55-0.

  • Marshall, J. R. (2017). Why emergency physicians should care about the Salton Sea. Western Journal of Emergency Medicine, 18(6), 1008–1009. https://doi.org/10.5811/westjem.2017.8.36034.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martínez Fernández, J., Esteve, M. A., Robledano, F., Pardo, M. T., & Carreño, M. F. (2005). Aquatic birds as bioindicators of trophic changes and ecosystem deterioration in the Mar Menor lagoon (SE Spain). Hydrobiologia, 550, 221–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martínez Fernández, J., & Esteve Selma, M. A. (2000). Estimación de la contaminación agrícola en el Mar Menor mediante un modelo de simulación dinámica.

  • Martínez Fernández, J., & Esteve Selma, M. A. (2020). El colapso ecológico de la laguna del Mar Menor. In F. La Roca & J. Martínez (Eds.), Informe del Observatorio de las Políticas del Agua 2019. Observatorio de las Políticas del Agua (OPPA).

  • Martínez Fernández, J., Esteve Selma, M. A., & Guaita, N. (2017). La crisis eutrófica del Mar Menor. Situación y Propuestas. In F. La Roca, & J. Martínez (Eds.), Informe del Observatorio de las Políticas del Agua 2017 “Retos de la Planificación y Gestión del Agua en España”. Observatorio de las Políticas del Agua (OPPA). Disponible en: https://fnca.eu/oppa/planificacion-hidrologica/informes.

  • Martínez-Fernández, J., Esteve-Selma, M. A., Martínez-Paz, J. M., Carreño, M. F., Martínez-López, J., Robledano, F., et al. (2014). Tradeoffs between biodiversity conservation and nutrients removal in wetlands of arid intensive agricultural basins: The Mar Menor case, Spain. In S. E. Jørgensen, N.-B. Chang, & F.-L. Xu (Eds.), Advances in ecological modelling and ecological engineering applied on lakes and wetlands (pp. 275–310). New York: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martínez-Graña, A., Gómez, D., Santos-Francés, F., Bardají, T., & Zazo, C. (2018). Analysis of flood risk due to sea level rise in the Menor Sea (Murcia, Spain). Sustainability, 2018(10), 780. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10030780.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martínez-Paz, J. M., Perni, A., & Martínez-Carrasco, F. (2013). Assessment of the programme of measures for coastal lagoon environmental restoration using cost–benefit analysis. European Planning Studies, 21(2), 131–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martínez-Paz, J. M., Ruiz-Martínez, M., Martínez-Fernández, J., & Esteve-Selma, M.A. (2005). Stakeholder analysis: gainers and losers for each management option. Technical report. Project DITTY “development of an information technology tool for the management of European Southern Lagoons under the influence of river-basin runoff”.

  • Mumtas, M., & Wichien, C. (2013). Stakeholder analysis for sustainable land management of park Phanang River Basin, Thailand. Social and Behavioural Sciences, 91, 349–356.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nebel, B., & Wright, R. (1999). Ciencias Ambientales. Ecología y desarrollo sostenible. Mexico: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • OECC, MIMAM. (2006). Plan Nacional de adaptación al cambio climático.

  • Ostrom, E. (1990). Governing the commons: The evolution of institutions for collective action. Natural Resources Journal, 32, 415.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérez Morales, A., Gil Guirado, S., & Olicina Cantos, J. (2015). Housing bubbles and the increase of flood exposure. Failures in flood risk management on the Spanish south eastern coast (1975–2013). Journal of Flood Risk Management. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.12207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez Morales, A., Romero Díaz, A., & Caballero Pedraza, A. (2016). Urbanization process and its influence in the increase in flooding (Región of Murcia, Campo de Cartagena-Mar Menor, Southeast Spain). Aportación del Comité Español de la Unión Geográfica Internacional. The 33th International Geographical Congress. Beijing: IGU, 2016 (en prensa).

  • Perni, A., & Martínez-Paz, J. M. (2013). A participatory approach for selecting cost-effective measures in the WFD context: The Mar Menor (SE Spain). Science of the Total Environment, 458–460, 303–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prell, C., Hubacek, K., & Reed, M. (2009). Stakeholder analysis and social network analysis in natural resource management. Society & Natural Resources, 22(6), 501–518. https://doi.org/10.1080/08941920802199202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Purnomo, B., Anggoro, S., & Izzati, M. (2017). Analysis of perception and community participation in forest management at KPHP model unit VII-Hulu Sarolangun, Jambi Province. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 70, 012034.

    Google Scholar 

  • R Core Team. R. (2019). A language and environment for statistical computing. Vienna: R Foundation for Statistical Computing. https://www.R-project.org/.

  • Raji, O., Niazi, S., Snoussi, M., Dezileau, L., & Khouakhi, A. (2013). Vulnerability assessment of a lagoon to sea level rise and storm events: Nador lagoon (NE Morocco). Journal of Coastal Research: Special issue 65—International coastal symposium (Vol. 1, pp. 802–807).

  • Reed, M. (2008). Stakeholder participation for environmental management: A literature review. Biological Conservation, 141(10), 2417–2431.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rickson, R. E. (1985). Community responses to non-point pollution from agriculture. Journal of Environmental Management, 20, 281–293.

    Google Scholar 

  • Romero Díaz, A., Belmonte Serrato, F., Docampo Calvo, A. M., & Ruíz Sinoga, J. D. (2011). Consecuencias del sellado de los suelos en el Campo de Cartagena (Murcia). In V. González Pérez & J. A. Marco Molina (Eds.), Urbanismo expansivo de la utopia a la realidad (pp. 605–616). Alicante: Univ. Alicante.

    Google Scholar 

  • Romero Díaz, A., & Pérez Morales, A. (2017). Expansión urbana y turismo en la Comarca del Campo de Cartagena-Mar Menor (Murcia). Impacto en el sellado del suelo. Cuadernos de Turismo, 39, 521–546.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruiz Fernández, J. M., León, V. M., Marín Guirao, L., Giménez Casalduero, F., Alvárez Rogel, J., Esteve Selma, M. A., et al. (2019). Informe de síntesis sobre el estado actual del Mar Menor y sus causas en relación a los contenidos de nutrientes. Disponible en: https://fnca.eu/biblioteca-del-agua/directorio/file/2897?search=1.

  • Sodhi, N. S., et al. (2009). Local people value environmental services provided by forested parks. Biodiversity and Conservation, 19(4), 1175–1188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trepel, M. (2010). Assessing the cost-effectiveness of the water purification function of wetlands for environmental planning. Ecological Complexity, 7, 320–326.

    Google Scholar 

  • Upadhyay, R. K., Raw, S. N., Roy, P., & Rai, V. (2013). Restoration and recovery of damaged eco-epidemiological systems: Application to the Salton Sea, California, USA. Mathematical Biosciences, 242, 172–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Velasco, J., Lloret, J., Millán, A., Marín, A., Barahona, J., Abellán, P., et al. (2006). Nutrient and particulate inputs into the Mar Menor lagoon (SE Spain) from an intensive agricultural watershed. Water, Air, and Soil pollution, 176, 37–56.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vidal-Abarca, M. R., Esteve Selma, M. A., & Suárez Alonso, M. L. (2003). Los Humedales de la Región de Murcia: Humedales y Ramblas de la Región de Murcia. Murcia: Consejería de Agricultura.Agua y Medio Ambiente.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wold, S., Esbensen, K., & Geladi, P. (1987). Principal component analysis. Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems, 2, 37–52.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, J. (2014). An investigation of stakeholder analysis in urban development projects: Empirical or rationalistic perspectives. International Journal of Project Management, 32(5), 838–849.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zanou, B., Kontogianni, A., & Skourtos, M. (2003). A classification approach of cost effective management measures for the improvement of watershed quality. Ocean and Coastal Management, 46, 957983.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Life Sciences, University of Alcalá, Edificio de Ciencias, 28805, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain

    Noelia Guaita-García

  2. New Water Culture Foundation, Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain

    Julia Martínez-Fernández

  3. Metropolitan Technological Institute, Calle 73 No. 76A - 354 Vía al Volador, Medellín, Colombia

    Carlos Javier Barrera-Causil

  4. Department of Ecology and Hydrology, University of Murcia, Avda. Teniente Flomesta 5, 30003, Murcia, Spain

    Miguel Ángel Esteve-Selma

  5. School of Geosciences, University of South Florida, 1936 Harbortown Drive, Fort Pierce, FL, 34946, USA

    H. Carl Fitz

Authors
  1. Noelia Guaita-García
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Julia Martínez-Fernández
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Carlos Javier Barrera-Causil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Miguel Ángel Esteve-Selma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. H. Carl Fitz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Noelia Guaita-García.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Appendix 1: Structure and content of the survey

Appendix 1: Structure and content of the survey

1.1 Block I: Urban tourist development

  • Q1. Do you think that the current urban tourist development of the Mar Menor area is adequate?

    • □ Yes

    • □ No. Should be developed more.

    • □ No. It is too crowded.

  • Q2. How do you assess the current tourist quality of the Mar Menor area?

    • □ Very good.

    • □ Good.

    • □ Acceptable.

    • □ Regular.

    • □ Bad.

  • Q3. What aspects have you taken into account to make your assessment? Order them from 1 to 3 in order of importance, without repeating the assessments, with 1 being the most important and 3 being least important. Put 0 if you have NOT taken it into account.

    • □ Ecological aspects (Landscape, water quality of the Mar Menor lagoon and nature).

    • □ Economic aspects (Affordable travel, lodging and hotel services costs).

    • □ Social aspects (Cultural offer, leisure, available health services, tranquility).

    • □ Others. Which one?

  • Q4. Indicate how you would place the tourism quality of the Mar Menor basin compared with the tourism quality in Spain according to the following aspects, taking into account: 1 = on the average, 2 = above the average, 3 = below the average, 4 = I do not have elements of comparison. Do not give the same value to different aspects.

  • Q4_1. Ecological aspects (Landscape, water quality of the Mar Menor lagoon and nature).

    • □ Average.

    • □ Above.

    • □ Below.

    • □ I do not have elements of comparison.

  • Q4_2. Economic aspects (Affordable travel, accommodation and hotel services costs).

    • □ Average.

    • □ Above.

    • □ Below.

    • □ I do not have elements of comparison.

  • Q4_3. Social aspects (cultural offer, leisure, health services available).

    • □ Average.

    • □ Above.

    • □ Below.

    • □ I do not have elements of comparison.

  • Q5. Do you think there is a need for improvements in the urban tourist development of the Mar Menor area?

    • □ Yes (In this case, answer question 6).

    • □ No.

    .

  • Q6. What aspects and measures need an urgent improvement in the urban tourist development of the Mar Menor area? Order them from 1 to 10 in order of importance without repeating the assessments, with 1 being the most important and 10 the least important. Put 0 for that activity that you DO NOT want done.

    • Q6_1. Urban moratorium.

      Q6_2 Improve the management and protection of the natural areas around the Mar Menor, coastal wetlands and free areas of buildings.

      Q6_3 Greater construction of hotels.

      Q6_4 Greater offer of second homes.

      Q6_5 Remodeling built buildings for an improvement of tourist image.

      Q6_6 Improvement of the bike lane and spaces adapted for walking and sports.

      Q6_7 Improvement of the public transport network.

      Q6_8 Improvement of the infrastructure for road traffic.

      Q6_9 Improvement of accessibility to urbanizations and beaches.

      Q6_10 Improvement of parking.

      Q6_11 Other. Which one?

1.2 Block II: Agricultural activity

  • Q7. How do you assess the existing agricultural activity in the Mar Menor basin in terms of its economic importance? Check ONE option.

    • □ Irrigated agriculture is essential for economic development in the Mar Menor area.

    • □ Irrigated agriculture is a relatively important sector, although it does not generate the greatest economic wealth of the Mar Menor area.

    • □ Irrigated agriculture does not contribute significantly to the general wealth of the Mar Menor area.

  • Q8. How do you assess the existing agricultural activity in the Mar Menor basin in terms of its social importance? Check ONE option.

    • □ Irrigated agriculture is very important because of the quantity and quality of the employment it generates. Irrigation is a guarantee of present and future for the surrounding population.

    • □ Irrigated agriculture generates many jobs, but employment is not quality or a guarantee for the future.

    • □ Irrigated agriculture is in the hands of large companies that create scarce and precarious employment.

  • Q9. What is your assessment of the environmental impacts caused by the agricultural activity of the Campo de Cartagena on the Mar Menor lagoon? Check ONE option.

    • □ Agriculture does not generate environmental impacts.

    • □ Agriculture needs fertilizers and phytosanitary products, but its environmental effect is not considerable.

    • □ Agriculture is causing pollution of the Mar Menor lagoon and measures are needed to reduce the impact of agriculture and the use of pesticides and fertilizers.

    • □ The intensive agriculture of the Campo de Cartagena is the main responsible for the current eutrophic state of the Mar Menor lagoon. The sector must assume its share of co-responsibility, and the polluter-pays principle.

  • Q10. What effects does irrigated agriculture have on the Mar Menor lagoon and the value of its surroundings? Check ONE or SEVERAL options.

    • □ Pesticide and fertilizer pollution.

    • □ Negative impact due to the degradation of the landscape.

    • □ Negative effects on recreational and leisure uses of the Mar Menor lagoon.

    • □ Negative effects on other economic sectors such as tourism (Tourism quality).

    • □ Positive effect because people like to see the irrigated crops of Campo de Cartagena.

    • □ There is no effect.

    • □ Others. Which one?

  • Q11. Do you think that the entry of nutrients into the Mar Menor lagoon should be limited?

    • □ Yes. (In this case, answer question 12).

    • □ No.

  • Q12. What measures would you use to limit the entry of nutrients into the Mar Menor lagoon? Order them from 1 to 9 in order of importance without repeating the assessments, with 1 being the most important measure and 9 the least important. Enter 0 for that activity that you DO NOT want done.

    • Q12_1. Reduce the irrigated area.

      Q12_2. Elimination of irregular uptake of groundwater.

      Q12_3. Require that each desalinator includes a brine treatment.

      Q12_4 Establish and monitor the application of maximum values of fertilizer contribution.

      Q12_5 Collect the brines and pour them into the Mediterranean Sea.

      Q12_6. Collect the brines and part of the flows of the waters of the ramblas and after its dislocation, pour its reject flows into the Mediterranean Sea.

      Q12_7 Build a green filter to treat the flow of the Albujón watercourse (“rambla”).

      Q12_8 Apply natural measures of water and nutrient retention at plot scale and in the basin as a whole (example: green hedges, small ponds, etc.).

      Q12_9 Recover and enhance the lost surface of natural wetland in the periphery of the lagoon.

      Q12_10 Other. Which one?

1.3 Block III: Water resources

  • Q13. Indicate what is the economic activity in the Mar Menor and its basin that requires more water. Order from 1 to 3, with 1 being the one that requires more water and 3 requiring less water.

    • □ Agriculture.

    • □ Urban tourist consumption.

    • □ Industry.

  • Q14. Do you think that the water quality of the lagoon is good?

    • □ Yes, the water quality is good.

    • □ Yes, water quality is good despite specific episodes of pollution.

    • □ No, the water quality in the lagoon is no longer good.

  • Q15. What do you think is the main cause of water pollution in the Mar Menor lagoon? Order from 1 to 3 in order of importance, with 1 being the most important and 3 the least important.

    • Q15_1. Discharges spills.

    • Q15_2 Discharges of agriculture.

    • Q15_3. Discharges of urban-tourist wastewater.

    • Q15_4. None of the discharges is relevant.

  • Q16. Who do you think is the main responsible with regard to water pollution by nutrients in the Mar Menor lagoon? Check ONE option.

    • □ Many of the farmers with little responsible use of fertilizers.

    • □ The autonomous public administration (Ministry of water, agriculture and environment) and state (Segura Hydrographic Confederation), for its insufficient control and monitoring of agricultural activity in general, and the uses of water.

    • □ Agricultural technical advisors for their insufficient involvement or training in low-impact agricultural techniques (for example, in organic farming techniques, etc.).

    • □ Others. Which one?

  • Q17. What would be the main problems caused by the loss of water quality in the lagoon? Order them from 1 to 5 in order of importance without repeating the assessments, with 1 being the most important and 5 the least important. Put 0 with the option you do not agree with.

    • □ The loss of quality of bathing water (cloudy water, etc.).

    • □ The loss of species and habitat most characteristic of the Mar Menor.

    • □ Impacts on tourism quality and the image of the Mar Menor, with the arrival of fewer visitors.

    • □ Changes and reduction of the fishing catch of usual species of the Mar Menor.

    • □ Problem of legal breach at regional, state and European level.

    • □ No additional problems generated by the loss of water quality.

  • Q18. Do you think that climate change can improve or worsen the state of the lagoon?

    • □ Yes, climate change can make it worse.

    • □ Yes, climate change can improve it.

    • □ I do not think it affects.

  • Q19. What measures would be applied to improve the water quality status in the Mar Menor lagoon? Check ONE option.

    • □ Eliminate or reduce the entry of nutrients from the basin.

    • □ Expand communication channels with the Mediterranean.

    • □ Apply direct intervention measures within the lagoon (supply of oxygen, promote filtering species in the lagoon, etc.).

    • □ I would not apply any measure.

    • □ Others. Which one?

1.4 Block IV: Environmental values and ecosystem services of the Mar Menor lagoon

  • Q20. Do you think that the Mar Menor lagoon has relevant environmental values and ecosystem services?

    • □ Yes. (In this case, answer question 21).

    • □ No.

  • Q21. What are the most relevant environmental values and ecosystem services of the Mar Menor lagoon? Order them from 1 to 4, without repeating the assessments, with 1 being the most important and 4 the least important. Enter 0 with the option that you do not agree with.

    • Q21_1. Fishing Production.

    • Q21_2 Biodiversity conservation of the lagoon and the surrounding wetlands.

    • Q21_3 Sports/recreational activities healthy, tourist and leisure.

    • Q21_4 Cultural identity and quality of life.

    • Q21_5 Others. Which one?

  • Q22. Do you think that the environmental values ​​and ecosystem services of the Mar Menor lagoon are threatened?

    • □ Yes. (In this case, answer question 23).

    • □ No.

  • Q23. Which of these environmental values and ecosystem services are most threatened? Order them from 1 to 4, without repeating the assessments, with 1 being the most threatened service and 4 the least threatened service. Enter 0 with the option that you do not agree with.

    • Q23_1. Fishing Production.

    • Q23_2 Biodiversity conservation of the lagoon and the surrounding wetlands.

    • Q23_3. Sports/recreational activities healthy, tourist and leisure.

    • Q23_4 Cultural identity and quality of life.

    • Q23_5 None of the values and services are threatened.

    • Q23_6. Others. Which one?

1.5 Block V: Respondent information

  • How old are you?   years.

  • Gender: □ Male □ Female.

  • What is your level of education?

    • □ Basic studies.

    • □ Secondary.

    • □ Professional training (FP, Modules).

    • □ University.

    • □ Postgraduate (Master, Doctorate).

  • Place of habitual residence.

  • If you live in the basin or surroundings of the Mar Menor, how long have you lived in the Mar Menor environment?   Years.

  • What is your current occupation and main economic activity?

    • □ Fishing.

    • □ Agriculture. If you are a farmer, do you have an irrigation system? □ Yes □ No.

    • □ Livestock.

    • □ Tourism: (Hotels and restaurants).

    • □ Tourism: (Services).

    • □ Industry.

    • □ Construction.

    • □ University student or other similar levels.

    • □ Professor or researcher.

    • □ Administration.

    • □ Others. Which one?

  • What relationship does it have with the Mar Menor and the surrounding wetlands?

    • □ Resident.

    • □ Regular visitor.

    • □ Sporadic Visitor.

    • □ No visitor.

  • Do you participate in any association?

    • □ Association of sports activities.

    • □ Neighborhood association.

    • □ Social or cultural association.

    • □ Association related to the Environment.

    • □ I do not participate in any association.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Guaita-García, N., Martínez-Fernández, J., Barrera-Causil, C.J. et al. Local perceptions regarding a social–ecological system of the mediterranean coast: the Mar Menor (Región de Murcia, Spain). Environ Dev Sustain 23, 2882–2909 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-020-00697-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-020-00697-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation