Coasts Case Studies

Holderness Coastline, UK Odisha Coast, India Kiribati Islands

Holdeness Coast Context

Holdeness Coast Context

63km from Flanborough Head to Spurn Head
Soft Glacial Till and Boulder Clay
Large fetch over Atlantic Ocean
Up to 10m erosion per year
4km cliff retreat over the last 2000 years

Holderness Coast Threats

30 villages lost
The Lagoons (SSSI) at risk
Village of Skipsea at risk
Easington Gas Terminal just 25 metres from cliff edge
Great Cowden Caravan Park losing up to 20 pitches per year

Holderness Coast Management

Mappleton- £2 million revetements and groynes
Privatley built groynes at Skipsea
Easington- 1km revetement
No active intervention at spurn head
Managed retreat around caravan parks

Holderness Coast Evaluation

Easington revetement is too small to fully protect the village
Economic losses from managed retreat at caravan parks
Humber estuary is experiencing sediment deprivation
Terminal groyne syndrome- Cowden Farm at risk

Odisha Context

480km coast in India
Rural communities that rely on fishing/ acquaculture/ tourism
11th largest population
Low-lying, strong littoral drift
1500km squared of mangrove forest
6 deltas
Chilika lake- brackish waters
Bird Sanctuary
Only 14% of the coast is considered stable

Odisha Threats

Olive Ridley Turtle and Irriwaday Dolphin at risk
5km squared of mangroves lost
Increasing tropical storms- 44 died in 2013

Odisha Management

2010 ICZM with Odisha gov., Indian gov. and World Bank ($50 million)
300 hectares mangroves replanted
Heritage site increased visitors by 25%
14 cyclone shelters
6 new ecotourism sites- unemployment decreased by 55%
Koya Craft and Activities helped 600 women
Chilika Lake Wetlands Centre upgraded 10 data buoys
Centre for Management of Coastal Ecosystems has monitoring protocols
Geotextile tube embankment protexts 600 hectares of crops

Kiribati Context

33 coral attols in Pacific Ocean
Population of 130,000
Communities mostly rely on subsistence farming and tourism
At most land is 2 metres above sea level

Kiribati Threats

2 islands already underwater
Tawara population set to double in next 20 years
41% food insecure (overfishing/ salt water incursion making soils infertile)
Access road sunk
Road causeway disrupting ocean currents
43 deaths per 1000 births (due to water contamination)
40 disease outbreaks since 2012
Climate migration has led to a loss of culture

Kiribati Management

2012 Kiribati Adaption Programme ($10 million)
55,000 mangroves planted
‘Migration with Dignity’ programme helps residents find a job if they relocate
Bought land off of Fiji for farming (2000 miles away)
Kiribati Environmental Health Unit invested in new labatories to manage disease
Education scheme to help farmers adapt to climate change
Residents build their own sea walls out of coral
International investment into solar panels/ water wells