Analysis of Land Use Changes in the Sado Estuary (Portugal) from the 19th to the 21st Century, Based on Historical Maps, Fieldwork, and Remote Sensing

Neise Mare de Souza Alves, Nuno Pimentel (), Débora Barbosa da Silva, Miguel Inácio, Ana Graça Cunha and Maria da Conceição Freitas
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Neise Mare de Souza Alves: Departamento de Geografia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe (DGE/UFS), Av. Marechal Rondon, S/N, São Cristóvão CEP 49100-000, SE, Brazil
Nuno Pimentel: Departamento de Geologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
Débora Barbosa da Silva: Departamento de Geografia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe (DGE/UFS), Av. Marechal Rondon, S/N, São Cristóvão CEP 49100-000, SE, Brazil
Miguel Inácio: Departamento de Geologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
Ana Graça Cunha: Departamento de Geologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
Maria da Conceição Freitas: Departamento de Geologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 13, 1-14

Abstract: This study analyses land use changes in the Sado Estuary (West-Central Portugal) based on a multi-temporal analysis of 19th century cartographic data and 21st century remote sensing land use maps, updated by fieldwork. A GIS plot of land use evolution is summarized in a quantitative table. The comparison shows the changes in land use, with increasing occupation by human economic activities, including extensive agriculture and forestry, as well as localized urbanization and industrialization. The main elements of the landscape impacted by anthropogenic uses were (i) hydrography—river dams affected the flow dynamics and sedimentary processes in the estuary; (ii) vegetation—increasing agriculture and forestry reduced the area of native vegetation, which is now mostly occupied by vineyards, pine forests and cork oaks; (iii) wetlands—tidal and alluvial plains are being occupied by rice cultivation, aquaculture, industries, and ports; (iv) coastal dunes—new developments are occupying large areas of Holocene coastal dunes; and (v) natural environment—mining and dredging have affected some habitats and biodiversity. This analysis is intended to help the territorial organization of present and future economic activities, as well as to reduce environmental and social problems, thus promoting the long-term sustainability of this rapidly evolving region.

Keywords: land use; multi-temporal analysis; geoprocessing; environmental impacts; Sado Estuary (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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