Author(s)

M. Vera González, J. Navarro Pedreño, J. C. Aranda López, I. Gómez Lucas

Abstract

The Municipal Natural Park (MNP) of the “Clot de Galvany” is situated in the municipality of Elche (Alicante, South-East of Spain). It includes lagoons, small hills and its coastal area (beaches and sand dunes) and it has important wildlife (flora and fauna), geology and paleontology, soils and landscape diversity, and relevant socio-cultural values (old military ruins and a roman settlement among others). This MNP is included in the European Natura 2000 Network inside the Site of Community Importance (SCI) of Tabarca (ES5213024). However, in recent decades, it has undergone strong anthropic pressure. This work describes the analysis of the conditions and the pressure exerted by man in this Municipal Natural Area, such as habitat fragmentation, increase of visitors, loss of biodiversity by the introduction of invasive species, damage to the infrastructure, etc. The Department of Environmental Control and Educational Service of this protected area obtained the data used in this work, from monthly and annual reports through the management of this natural park for the period 1998–2013. These data have been incorporated into a Geographic Information System and been analyzed. The results indicated that it is so clear that habitat fragmentation has been due to the different owners of the land (public or private) and urban pressure. The pressure from visitors is most important in spring and summer (especially in the coastal area), and it is notorious for the presence of invasive species due to the abandoning of animals that were previously pets. However, several actions like the increment of the attendance of the visitors, the creation of new infrastructures to preserve some areas and the programs to capture and take away the invasive species are positive for the natural park. These measures improve the management of the Municipal Natural Area and the protection of the wildlife and landscape.

Keywords

human pressure, invasive exotic species, GIS Management, Natura 2000 Network