The governance of the coastal region: evolutionary changes in the conceptualisation and integration of landscape in Portuguese coastal planning institutions

Abstract Context Coastal landscapes are unique and fragile socio-ecological systems, yet despite political and scientific efforts toward integrated coastal governance, challenges such as fragmented approaches, multiple boundaries, and inadequate policy integration persist. While landscape governance offers significant potential for rethinking coastal governance by emphasising the integrative power of landscapes, many scientific discussions still employ a binary perspective, limiting its full potential. Additionally, research on how the conceptualisation and integration of landscape has evolved in European coastal planning institutions remains scarce. Objectives This article aims to advance coastal landscape governance research by examining the evolution of the conceptualisation and integration of landscape in Portuguese coastal planning institutions, assessing whether the narrow view found in national laws is reflected at the policy instrument level. Methods We used multiple explanatory case study research to explore the evolution of the conceptualisation and integration of landscape within Portuguese coastal planning institutions from 1978 to 2021, employing qualitative content analysis. Results Findings indicate that coastal plans have increasingly failed to use the integrative potential of landscapes fully. This decline is accompanied by a growing tendency to associate landscape valuation with Nature Protected Areas. Furthermore, the analysed instruments revealed an increase in references to the landscape over time. However, differing conceptualisations of the landscape emerged, with the unexpected finding that a holistic conceptualisation did not always correspond to high levels of integration. Instead, landscape integration primarily focused on aspects such as multifunctionality, connectivity, and fragmentation. Conclusions Our research underscores the urgent need for more empirical research in coastal landscape governance. From a broader perspective, such research could demonstrate the benefits of leveraging the integrative power of landscapes in coastal governance, potentially contributing to a paradigm shift towards coastal landscape governance.