omar cervantes - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by omar cervantes
The agricultural zones subjected to fertilizer use and inland runoff of nutrients leads to accele... more The agricultural zones subjected to fertilizer use and inland runoff of nutrients leads to accelerated eutrophication with negative effects on coastal ecosystems and therefore significant negative economic impacts. The Palo Verde estuary (PVE) is a
shallow estuary (0.4–1.5 m depth) located in the lower area of the sub-basin of the Armería River, in Colima, México. The
PVE forms a temporary connection with the sea during unusual extreme meteorological events, but it is otherwise isolated.
Freshwater inputs are restricted to discharges from nonpoint sources, such as agricultural runoff, torrential streams, and seasonal
input from the Armería River. Farming is practiced along the boundaries of the PVE and involves an area of ~34.36 km2
such that the estuary is under considerable anthropogenic pressure. The PVE has been recognized as a RAMSAR site (no.
1985), due to the biological, ecological, and socio-economic importance, but the estuary has been the focus of very few environmental studies, and there is a need to demonstrate, quantify and predict the effects of human activities on these interrelated components in space and time.
Beach quality can be understood according to uses established for this coastal system, the most c... more Beach quality can be understood according to uses established for this coastal system, the most common being tourism, fishing and conservation. This is especially true with regards to tourism, where quality is frequently measured with respect to two major areas: environmental and recreational. In 2002, an environmental quality index for tourist beaches was developed in Colombia, called ICAPTU (Índice de Calidad Ambiental en Playas Turísticas). ICAPTU had four indicators and eleven parameters, mainly focused in environmental aspects. In 2010, a research project started with the objective of updating ICAPTU with a more comprehensive scope, dividing environmental quality into three indicators: sanitary, eco-systemic and recreational. This research paper presents the progress on the design of five parameters considered in the newer version of ICAPTU, all related to recreational issues: a. Coastal Scenery, focused on an assessment tool tested in Europe, USA and Australia; b. Safety and security, measured from risk perception and real risk; c. Urbanization, related to ecosystem resilience to infrastructure on the shore; d. Zoning, understood as a spatial organization of beach activities; e. Environmental behaviour, assessed from a test focused on common attitudes of tourists when they visit the beach. These five parameters were used on-field techniques as a method for acquiring information. Several instruments were designed based on surveys, checklists and interpretation sheets. Every tool was applied and tested on Colombian beaches located in four Departments: La Guajira, Magdalena, Atlántico and Bolivar. Geospatial technologies are also explored as resources for improving the evaluation of beach environmental quality. Finally, this work concluded that beach quality can be assessed by recreational parameters, scientifically designed, supporting decision making of coastal zone management.
Beach users’ preferences range greatly according to their cultural and educational heritage, nati... more Beach users’ preferences range greatly according to their cultural and educational heritage, national and local traditions, social status, sex, etc. Questionnaire surveys carried out on beach user preferences (50 beach aspects) in Wales, UK (n = 2,345); Hollywood beach, Florida, USA (n = 83), the Costa Dorada, Spain (n =157); Malta (n = 154) and Turkey’s Aegean coast (n = 245) showed that five parameters were of the greatest importance on beach choice: safety, facilities, water quality, litter and scenery. Such kind of detailed surveys has never been carried out in Caribbean countries. Consequently, a great uncertainty exists regarding beach users’ preferences. Dur ing Easter 2012, a total of 435 beach users along eight beaches of the Caribbean littoral of Colombia (Mayapo, Riohacha, Taganga, Rodadero, Puerto Colombia, Salgar, Bocagrande and Manzanillo) were interviewed. Specifically, persons were asked (i) to choose from a list of parameters, the three most important aspects to be taken into account in choosing a beach and (ii) the reason they decided to visit that specific beach. Dealing with the former, results differed from ones recorded in Europe in that scenery was deemed not to be important. Concerning the latter, great variety of responses was recorded but the main aspect in beach selection was “proximity” for both local and national visitors. Aspects such as “a relaxed friendly” atmosphere and “party atmosphere” were mentioned. In this sense, it is interesting to notice the particular perception that Caribbean beach users showed for the “relaxed friendly” atmosphere. On many occasions beaches classified as such, were very crowded and extremely noisy because of loud music and peddlers. Results obtained constitute a first step in the knowledge of Caribbean beach users’ preferences and therefore is one, which is of a great importance for beach management.
Environmental Management, 2008
Four beaches that share physiographic characteristics (sandy, wide, and long) but differ in socio... more Four beaches that share physiographic characteristics (sandy, wide, and long) but differ in socioeconomic and cultural terms (three are located in northwestern Mexico and one in California, USA) were evaluated by beach users. Surveys (565) composed of 36 questions were handed out to beach users on weekends and holidays in 2005. The 25 questions that revealed the most information were selected by factor analysis and classified by cluster analysis. Beach users’ preferences were assigned a value by comparing the present survey results with the characteristics of an “ideal” recreational urban beach. Cluster analysis separated three groups of questions: (a) services and infrastructure, (b) recreational activities, and (c) beach conditions. Cluster linkage distance (r = 0.82, r = 0.78, r = 0.67) was used as a weight and multiplied by the value of beach descriptive factors. Mazatlán and Oceanside obtained the highest values because there are enough infrastructure and services; on the contrary, Ensenada and Rosarito were rated medium and low because infrastructure and services are lacking. The presently proposed method can contribute to improving current beach evaluations because the final score represents the beach users’ evaluation of the quality of the beach. The weight considered in the present study marks the beach users’ preferences among the studied beaches. Adding this weight to beach evaluation will contribute to more specific beach planning in which users’ perception is considered.
Ocean & Coastal Management, 2008
The agricultural zones subjected to fertilizer use and inland runoff of nutrients leads to accele... more The agricultural zones subjected to fertilizer use and inland runoff of nutrients leads to accelerated eutrophication with negative effects on coastal ecosystems and therefore significant negative economic impacts. The Palo Verde estuary (PVE) is a
shallow estuary (0.4–1.5 m depth) located in the lower area of the sub-basin of the Armería River, in Colima, México. The
PVE forms a temporary connection with the sea during unusual extreme meteorological events, but it is otherwise isolated.
Freshwater inputs are restricted to discharges from nonpoint sources, such as agricultural runoff, torrential streams, and seasonal
input from the Armería River. Farming is practiced along the boundaries of the PVE and involves an area of ~34.36 km2
such that the estuary is under considerable anthropogenic pressure. The PVE has been recognized as a RAMSAR site (no.
1985), due to the biological, ecological, and socio-economic importance, but the estuary has been the focus of very few environmental studies, and there is a need to demonstrate, quantify and predict the effects of human activities on these interrelated components in space and time.
Beach quality can be understood according to uses established for this coastal system, the most c... more Beach quality can be understood according to uses established for this coastal system, the most common being tourism, fishing and conservation. This is especially true with regards to tourism, where quality is frequently measured with respect to two major areas: environmental and recreational. In 2002, an environmental quality index for tourist beaches was developed in Colombia, called ICAPTU (Índice de Calidad Ambiental en Playas Turísticas). ICAPTU had four indicators and eleven parameters, mainly focused in environmental aspects. In 2010, a research project started with the objective of updating ICAPTU with a more comprehensive scope, dividing environmental quality into three indicators: sanitary, eco-systemic and recreational. This research paper presents the progress on the design of five parameters considered in the newer version of ICAPTU, all related to recreational issues: a. Coastal Scenery, focused on an assessment tool tested in Europe, USA and Australia; b. Safety and security, measured from risk perception and real risk; c. Urbanization, related to ecosystem resilience to infrastructure on the shore; d. Zoning, understood as a spatial organization of beach activities; e. Environmental behaviour, assessed from a test focused on common attitudes of tourists when they visit the beach. These five parameters were used on-field techniques as a method for acquiring information. Several instruments were designed based on surveys, checklists and interpretation sheets. Every tool was applied and tested on Colombian beaches located in four Departments: La Guajira, Magdalena, Atlántico and Bolivar. Geospatial technologies are also explored as resources for improving the evaluation of beach environmental quality. Finally, this work concluded that beach quality can be assessed by recreational parameters, scientifically designed, supporting decision making of coastal zone management.
Beach users’ preferences range greatly according to their cultural and educational heritage, nati... more Beach users’ preferences range greatly according to their cultural and educational heritage, national and local traditions, social status, sex, etc. Questionnaire surveys carried out on beach user preferences (50 beach aspects) in Wales, UK (n = 2,345); Hollywood beach, Florida, USA (n = 83), the Costa Dorada, Spain (n =157); Malta (n = 154) and Turkey’s Aegean coast (n = 245) showed that five parameters were of the greatest importance on beach choice: safety, facilities, water quality, litter and scenery. Such kind of detailed surveys has never been carried out in Caribbean countries. Consequently, a great uncertainty exists regarding beach users’ preferences. Dur ing Easter 2012, a total of 435 beach users along eight beaches of the Caribbean littoral of Colombia (Mayapo, Riohacha, Taganga, Rodadero, Puerto Colombia, Salgar, Bocagrande and Manzanillo) were interviewed. Specifically, persons were asked (i) to choose from a list of parameters, the three most important aspects to be taken into account in choosing a beach and (ii) the reason they decided to visit that specific beach. Dealing with the former, results differed from ones recorded in Europe in that scenery was deemed not to be important. Concerning the latter, great variety of responses was recorded but the main aspect in beach selection was “proximity” for both local and national visitors. Aspects such as “a relaxed friendly” atmosphere and “party atmosphere” were mentioned. In this sense, it is interesting to notice the particular perception that Caribbean beach users showed for the “relaxed friendly” atmosphere. On many occasions beaches classified as such, were very crowded and extremely noisy because of loud music and peddlers. Results obtained constitute a first step in the knowledge of Caribbean beach users’ preferences and therefore is one, which is of a great importance for beach management.
Environmental Management, 2008
Four beaches that share physiographic characteristics (sandy, wide, and long) but differ in socio... more Four beaches that share physiographic characteristics (sandy, wide, and long) but differ in socioeconomic and cultural terms (three are located in northwestern Mexico and one in California, USA) were evaluated by beach users. Surveys (565) composed of 36 questions were handed out to beach users on weekends and holidays in 2005. The 25 questions that revealed the most information were selected by factor analysis and classified by cluster analysis. Beach users’ preferences were assigned a value by comparing the present survey results with the characteristics of an “ideal” recreational urban beach. Cluster analysis separated three groups of questions: (a) services and infrastructure, (b) recreational activities, and (c) beach conditions. Cluster linkage distance (r = 0.82, r = 0.78, r = 0.67) was used as a weight and multiplied by the value of beach descriptive factors. Mazatlán and Oceanside obtained the highest values because there are enough infrastructure and services; on the contrary, Ensenada and Rosarito were rated medium and low because infrastructure and services are lacking. The presently proposed method can contribute to improving current beach evaluations because the final score represents the beach users’ evaluation of the quality of the beach. The weight considered in the present study marks the beach users’ preferences among the studied beaches. Adding this weight to beach evaluation will contribute to more specific beach planning in which users’ perception is considered.
Ocean & Coastal Management, 2008