The History of Environmental Degradation in Mar Menor

This book offers a multidisciplinary analysis of the degradation process of an ecosystem, drawing upon the Mar Menor as a case study to highlight the damage human pressure causes to the environment.

All ecosystems change over time, although in some cases, this variation is more dynamic and evident. The Mar Menor is a clear example of this ‘ecological transition’, as it is the largest coastal lagoon in the western Mediterranean and the first ecosystem in Europe to be granted legal personhood rights. This book provides an extensive overview of the history of its environmental degradation over the past 100 years, highlighting the subsequent succession of environmental crises including phytoplankton explosions, the disappearance of large areas of submerged meadows due to eutrophication, and episodes of mass mortality of aquatic fauna. Split into three sections to reflect thematic blocks, the book begins with a comprehensive description of the Mar Menor and its marine ecosystems, emphasising its ecological value and unique space in Spain and Europe. It discusses intensive and globalised agriculture, surrounding agro-export, and the laws that legislate it. In the second part, the book draws on a series of cultural concepts, theoretical frameworks, and participatory arts-based research to enrich our understanding of the environment from multiple perspectives. Finally, in the third part, the book uses analysis gathered from the Mar Menor case study to discuss wider conclusions about the ways in which we can begin to undo our damage to the environment and restore ecosystems.

The book will be useful for students, academics and researchers interested in environmental justice, environmental history and anthropology, sustainable development, and environmental studies more broadly.