Work

Temporal and Spatial Analysis of the Environmental State of the Valencia Plain Aquifer Area Using the Weighted Environmental Index (WEI)

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This article analyses the impact of urban sprawl on the Valencia Plain aquifer system from 1990 to 2018, focusing on land use and land cover (LULC) changes and their environmental implications. The study applies the Weighted Environmental Index (WEI), a composite indicator based on a functional landscape perspective, to quantify changes in the environmental value over time. The WEI combines CORINE Land Cover and World Settlement Footprint data to enhance spatial resolution and urban land detection. The results show a significant territorial transformation, with urban surfaces expanding by 70% and rainfed agricultural areas declining by over 59%. Consequently, the WEI decreased from 44.80 in 1990 to 40.68 in 2018, representing a 9.2% reduction in the environmental value. These changes threaten the sustainability of key ecosystems such as the Albufera Natural Park and indicate a reduced capacity to deliver ecosystem services, including aquifer recharging, biodiversity conservation, and climate regulation. The findings underscore the need for integrated land-use planning, the protection of peri-urban agricultural areas, and the implementation of nature-based solutions to counteract the environmental impacts of urban growth in Mediterranean metropolitan contexts.

Source: Sustainability

DOI: 10.3390/su17135921

Authors: Javier Rodrigo-Ilarri, Claudia P. Romero-Hernández, Sergio Salazar-Galán, María-Elena Rodrigo-Clavero

Institutions: Universitat Politècnica de València, Universidad Pablo de Olavide

Language: English

Topic: Land Use and Ecosystem Services

Subfield: Global and Planetary Change

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Life on land, Clean water and sanitation, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896