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- Is the Sea the Enemy?: occupation and anthropogenic impacts at Costa da Caparica (Portugal)Publication . Pereira, Olegário Nelson Azevedo; Bastos, Rosário; Ferreira, José Carlos; Dias, João AlveirinhoThis article explores the development of human occupation and the anthropogenic impacts at Costa da Caparica, a Portuguese coastal town that faces several challenges concerning coastal erosion processes. A historical long-term analysis was made, mainly through medieval and modern writing sources, crossing such textual data with geology, geography, and other related scientific disciplines studies regarding the coastal erosion problems of the study area. Therefore, from the Middle Ages to the present, human actions concerning this area were examined. The sea was first seen as an income, due to tourism, and later seen as a danger. It is argued that human behaviors were the main cause of historical problems and also the present vulnerabilities and risks associated with this coastal stretch of the Portuguese littoral. We must search the past for answers to understand present problems and think about the future. This is the main purpose of this paper: to contribute to a better knowledge concerning coastal sustainability based on the results of past human actions, as a way to avoid such mistakes in the future.
- Governing coastal change: adaptive responses to Portugal's littoral challangesPublication . Bastos, Rosário; Pereira, Olegário Nelson Azevedo; Jóia, Catarina; Ferreira, José CarlosPortugal's 900 km Atlantic coastline has become the site of pronounced territorial imbalance, marked by dense coastal occupation and the progressive desertification of inland regions. Today, over 80% of the population lives within 50 km of the coast, exposing these areas to increasing vulnerabilities, ranging from climate change impacts to environmental degradation, and intense urban pressures. Historically, the situation was different. During the Middle Ages, coastal zones were largely uninhabited, perceived as perilous spaces due to both natural hazards and human threats. Populations tended to settle 75-100 km inland. This pattern, however, shifted during Portugal's maritime expansion, which gradually stimulated settlement closer to the shoreline. The 19th and 20th centuries accelerated this reconfiguration: modern transport networks, airports, and the rise of coastal leisure and tourism encouraged mass coastal settlement, while inland areas declined. This historical evolution now poses significant challenges for spatial planners and environmental policymakers. Climate risks are especially acute in coastal zones, and the legacy of uneven development allied with the heavy dependence on grey infrastructure (e.g. groynes and seawalls) for protection, presents challenges for governance. To address these issues, the proposal urges for a reassessment of highly exposed and vulnerable coastal areas, the implementation of adaptive governance strategies suited for crisis contexts, and the promotion and integration of more sustainable approaches. Naturebased solutions, which enhance protection while supporting biodiversity and human health and wellbeing, should be prioritized as part of long-term resilience strategies. Equally important in the active involvement of citizens in the planning process. Only through integrated, forward-looking spatial planning and meaningful public engagement can Portugal achieve more resilient, equitable, and sustainable territorial dynamics in the face of escalating coastal pressures.
- "Costalizing" in earlier portuguese timesPublication . Bastos, Rosário; Pereira, Olegário Nelson Azevedo; Ferreira, J. C.; Dias, João Alveirinho
- Medieval and early modern trawling fishery in Portugal: a project proposalPublication . Pereira, Olegário Nelson Azevedo; Ferreira, José Carlos; Dias, João Alveirinho; Bastos, Rosário