Evaluation and land use planning process of a high population growth rate municipality: Los Cabos, Mexico

Abstract

The high productivity, diversity and social-economic importance of coastal systems and their components present a very complex scheme that requires a detailed knowledge of the characteristics of the environment and socialeconomic factors. This has been designated as high priority in the Municipality of Los Cabos, Mexico, where inadequate development plans, caused by a very high rate of economic and population growth (9% per year), have turned it into an extremely vulnerable area with high pressure from the irregular growth of tourists facilities. The purpose of this study was, precisely, to develop a model of ecological ordinance or land use planning in general for the region. This model could integrate other processes of environmental planning that are currently in operation at municipal level, such as those for regional and marine planning in the Gulf of California. A characterization of all environmental, social and economic components of the municipality was carried out. Eighty one environmental units, or micro regions, were identified and mapped out using a scale of 1:50 000 on the basis of sub river basins, physiography and vegetation, integrated with all the data bases available in a Geographic Information System (GIS) of the whole Municipality. A diagnosis and prospective analysis of different scenarios were also developed, using fragility, pressure and vulnerability indicators. Finally, it was realized that the Los Cabos region needs to change its economic development approach, proposing a general model of ecological ordinance with specific actions and criteria of land use for each microregion.