An experimental methodology for the management of marine protected areas

Sustainability poses several important questions concerning the knowledge and interpretation of the coastal area. This means that management and planning instruments are required in order to balance trade-offs between environmental conservation and economy grow. The use and protection of the coastal areas have a dual relationship: the use has an environmental impact on the coastal system and the protection limits the coastal system use. Therefore, the environmental systems need conceptual models which are able to join the ecological sensitivity with the anthropic pressure. The methodological approach proposed here aims to provide the definition of an experimental protocol in order to integrate the protection and the management plans for coastal natural heritage. This study describes the results of the research experiments carried out on the experimental protocol application for developing the Marine Protected Area Regulations of the "Isola dell'Asinara" and "Tavolara - Punta Coda Cavallo". This planning approach should support the integration of decision-making procedures to achieve inclusiveness, interactivity, and repeatability of the planning processes.