ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: The western coast of Huelva has enjoyed a great environmental interest derived from the presence of tidal marshes in a considerable state of conservation. The great dynamism characteristic of these ecosystems, along with the symbolic nature of the fauna that they gather, has helped concentrate efforts to environmentally protect them. However, tidal marshes have formed due to the sheltering of beaches and dunes that often give rise to spit bars or barrier islands. Overall, they make up a complex ecosystem that has evolved as a whole until human activities have begun to disrupt them. Undertaking a review of the plans and regulations with environmental implications that have been adopted in recent decades in this littoral, particularly those affecting beaches and dunes, explains why there has been a growing interest in the protection of wetlands over coastal sandy areas. Furthermore, the analysis of these plans allows evaluation of future opportunities for the conservation of endangered beach and dune systems of the west coast of Huelva as a consequence of progressive urban and tourist developments.
