Mapping the environmental pressure due to economic factors. The case of Italian coastal municipalities

In this paper, we quantitatively characterize the sector specialization of the coastal municipalities that may affect the environment of the Italian coastal municipalities. We first quantified settlement pressure on the Italian coasts, then we provide an analysis of economic specializations by sectors of coastal municipalities. Finally, we develop a more specific analysis on the specialization and dependence of coastal municipalities. Focusing on two specific groups of economic sectors: i) those that depend on the sea as the primary source input and ii) those that do not depend on the sea but that have high environmental pressures. We provide evidence of the relationship between the two groups of sectors i.e. ‘marine’ sectors and. ‘high pressure’ sectors in coastal municipalities Keywords: Coastal environment; Integrated Coastal Management; Territorial disparities.