Sustainable Land-Use Change in Insular Territories: The Role of Landscape Metrics for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Canary Islands

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate urban land-use dynamics and landscape diversity within the 10-kilometer coastal strip of the Canary Islands between 2012 and 2018, aiming to inform more sustainable and adaptive territorial planning in insular environments. Theoretical Framework: This research is grounded in landscape ecology theory and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which provide a solid basis for understanding spatial and environmental context of urban development and landscape heterogeneity. Method: An integrative methodological framework was adopted, combining high-resolution imagery land-cover data with advanced geospatial analysis and landscape metrics. Shannon’s Diversity Index (SHDI) and Shannon’s Evenness Index (SHEI) were applied to quantify changes in urban- land-use classes and assess landscape heterogeneity and balance. Results and Discussion: The results revealed a general trend of urban expansion and infrastructure growth, especially in Tenerife and Gran Canaria. However, landscape diversity and evenness remained relatively high, indicating urban development with landscape homogenization. Smaller islands showed stable land-use patterns, reflecting effective adaptive governance and community engagement. These findings highlight the importance of integrating landscape metrics into monitoring frameworks to detect unsustainable trends and guide policy interventions. Research Implications: This study provides insights for policymakers and planners on incorporating landscape diversity metrics into land-use planning and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in insular contexts. Originality/Value: This research contributes to the literature by offering a comprehensive, spatially explicit assessment of urban land-use change and landscape diversity in a sensitive insular environment, delivering actionable insights for sustainable development and adaptive governance.