Public Perceptions and Uses of Natural and Restored Salt Marshes

Abstract

Only a few restoration projects incorporate public perception in their monitoring. However, participation of local people is a key process if social benefits are to be achieved. This study analyses, through a survey, citizens’ perceptions and usage of natural and restored coastal marshes in the city of Huelva (southwest Iberian Peninsula, Spain), as well as landscape preferences. Most of Huelva’s citizens recognised the benefits of coastal marshes (75%), a perception which increased with level of education. The majority of the respondents showed a low level of knowledge about the eco-lo-gical services and functions of salt marshes. In addition, visitor numbers to the studied restoration project increased by 27% after restoration. Regarding landscape preferences, most of the respondents preferred the native Chenopodiaceae salt marsh, and the native Spartina maritima landscape was chosen less often. In light of our results, environmental education campaigns should be carried out in the city of Huelva to increase its citizens’ knowledge of salt marshes.

Key Words:

• landscape preference
• Odiel Marshes
• public use
• restoration project
• salt marsh monitoring
• Spartina

Acknowledgements

We thank the Port Authority of Huelva for their sponsorship of the monitoring ecological engineering project in the Odiel Marshes and Ana Dante and Cinta Barahona and all students and friends who helped us during the survey. We also thank Proof-Reading-Service.com for the language editing and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Project CTM2008-04453).