Integrated networks. A territorial planning proposal for biodiversity conservation in urban, densely populated regions. The case of the Autonomous Region of Madrid, Spain

摘要

Just like many other natural areas in urban, industrialised regions worldwide, the protected areas of the Autonomous Region of Madrid suffer from two main threats which can compromise long-term biodiversity conservation: land use changes towards artificial uses and massive tourism pressure. To address both threats and achieve effective sustainable development in the region, this paper proposes a GIS, ecology-driven, biodiversity-oriented model based on sound territorial planning whose underlying theory can be exported to other regions with similar characteristics. This model is based on three different protected networks with a decreasing degree of protection and an increasing degree of public use intensity, respectively. It underpins the conservation aims of protected areas, considers the importance of the territorial matrix and allows a wide range of recreational and economic uses across the territory.