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Assessing the Multidimensionality of Coastal Erosion Risks: Public Participation and Multicriteria Analysis in a Mediterranean Coastal System
Author(s) -
Roca Elisabet,
Gamboa Gonzalo,
Tàbara J. David
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
risk analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.972
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1539-6924
pISSN - 0272-4332
DOI - 10.1111/j.1539-6924.2008.01026.x
Subject(s) - coastal management , coastal erosion , shore , environmental resource management , environmental planning , mediterranean climate , citizen journalism , robustness (evolution) , computer science , risk analysis (engineering) , business , environmental science , geography , oceanography , geology , biochemistry , chemistry , archaeology , world wide web , gene
The complex and multidimensional nature of coastal erosion risks makes it necessary to move away from single‐perspective assessment and management methods that have conventionally predominated in coastal management. This article explores the suitability of participatory multicriteria analysis (MCA) for improving the integration of diverse expertises and values and enhancing the social‐ecological robustness of the processes that lead to the definition of relevant policy options to deal with those risks. We test this approach in the Mediterranean coastal locality of Lido de Sète in France. Results show that the more adaptive alternatives such as “retreating the shoreline” were preferred by our selected stakeholders to those corresponding to “protecting the shoreline” and the business as usual proposals traditionally put forward by experts and policymakers on these matters. Participative MCA contributed to represent coastal multidimensionality, elicit and integrate different views and preferences, facilitated knowledge exchange, and allowed highlighting existing uncertainties.