Identifying landslide activity as a function of economic development: a case study of increased landslide frequency surrounding Dominical, Costa Rica

• Published in: Environment, development and sustainability Vol. 13; no. 5; pp. 901 - 921
• Main Author: Miller, Andrew J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer-Verlag 01.10.2011; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Activation; anthropogenic activities; Biodiversity; Case studies; Coasts; Costa Rica; Data analysis; Data collection; Deforestation; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Economic development; Economic Geology; Economic Growth; Environment; Environmental degradation; Environmental Economics; Environmental impact; Environmental Management; Environmental protection; Financing; foreign direct investment; Foreign investment; Geographical information systems; Human agency; Investment; land cover; Land use; land use change; Landslides; Landslides & mudslides; laws and regulations; Legislation; Monitors; Natural disasters; Natural environment; Precipitation; probability; Remote sensing; Risk; Soil testing; Statistical analysis; Studies; Susceptibility; Sustainability; Sustainable Development; Topography; Costa Rica; ASW, Costa Rica; I, Pacific; Human–environment impact; Deforestation; Geographic information systems (GIS); Land-use/land-cover change; Remote sensing
• ISSN: 1387-585X; 1573-2975
• DOI: 10.1007/s10668-011-9297-5

Despite legislation and voluntary initiatives aimed at protecting the environment, previously undeveloped areas of Costa Rica are subject to new development opportunities. This growth has been largely unchecked, and has led to enormous amounts of foreign direct investment. This unchecked investment has led to destabilization of the natural environment, and, in the case of the Dominical–Uvita corridor on the Pacific Coast, has led to an observed increase in landsliding activity. Data collection for a landslide inventory of the study area was created via direct inspection and remote sensing techniques in December 2007 and November 2008. Evaluation of data was based on the slide location, surrounding land cover/land use, and evidence of reactivation. Data were subjected to a χ2 2 × 3 contingency table and the Freeman–Halton extension of the Fisher exact probability test to gauge the level of impact from human-induced land-use change on the rate of landslide events. The results suggest more attention needed to monitor the impacts of human agency in the region lest landslide susceptibility become greater.