Coast case studies

Impacts of climate change/sea level rise on the coasts = KIRIBATI (about)

= group of 33 pacific islands - sand + mangroves

- average 1m above sea level

- sea level rising 3.2mm/year

- long term threat : 120,000 environmental refugees

- next 50 years, many islands predicted to be lost underwater

Impacts of climate change/sea level rise on the coasts = KIRIBATI (impacts)

- rising sea levels salinise ground water - contamination impacts agriculture

short term: increased food insecurity, reliance on expensive imports

- Tawara, Kiribati - high coastal flooding vulnerability

- increased rates of coastal erosion

- changing sea patterns/over fishing - depleting tuna fish stocks - threatens food/economic security

Impacts of climate change/sea level rise on the coasts = KIRIBATI (solutions)

- 5500 acres land on Fiji purchased in 2014 - Natoavatu Estate - used in immediate future for agriculture - secure food security

- land could be used in long term to house environmental refugees created

- "migration with dignity" programme launched - allows Kiribati population to apply for jobs in neighbouring countries eg. NZ

Local coastal environment case study = Holderness coastline

- physical description

- 50 km stretch of coastline from Flamborough headland to Spurn head, fastest eroding coastline in Europe - 1.8m/year

rock type =

coastline made up of deposits of glacial clays/tills left over from ice age: unconsolidated material is weak/easily eroded, harder chalk band at north results in formation of headland

- soft clays easily saturated and prone to slumping

- thin narrow beaches fail to absorb and dissipate wave energy

wave type =

- faces high energy north sea weather systems + winter storms

- high energy destructive waves accelerate abrasion/hydraulic action - weaken cliff base therefore causing more slumping/collapse

- deep north sea floor - waves hit coast fast due to a lack of friction to slow them down

Local coastal environment case study = Holderness coastline

- shoreline management plan

Shoreline Management Plan = identify a sustainable approach to manage risks from coastal erosion and flood risks

critical = fail to assess risks to entire coastline - often specific to one localised area - can exacerbate flooding/erosion elsewhere

Local coastal environment case study = Holderness coastline

- erosion impacts

- 4km inland retreat of coastline since Roman times

- 29 villages lost in the past and currently erosion threatens villages (Skipsea, Tunstall)

- Skipsea caravan park losing 10 pitches/year

- main road connecting Hornsea/ Withernsea under threat : could cut off access to 7 caravan parks, harm tourism economy

- flooding, salinises farmland - 80,000m2 lost each year

- loss of wildlife diversity behind spurn point due to sediment starvation

- sites of special scientific interest threatened by erosion

- Easington gas terminal at risk - supplies 25% British gas

Local coastal environment case study = Holderness coastline

- flamborough head

- resistant chalk headland at northern Holderness coast, slowed chalk erosion compared to softer southern boulder clays - therefore no current coastal management

- landforms of caves, arches, stacks, wave cut platforms

Local coastal environment case study = Holderness coastline

- hornsea

Local coastal environment case study = Holderness coastline

- mappleton

- small village with key road B1242 (connects coastal towns) rapidly eroding due to soft unconsolidated boulder clay exposed to destructive north sea waves

- granite blocks implemented at cliff base + 2 rock groynes - however as a result Great Cowden is sediment starved and experiences accelerated erosion (10m/year) - loss of 100 chalets at Golden Sands Holiday Park

Local coastal environment case study = Holderness coastline

- spurn head spit

- depositional landform formed by sediment eroded higher up coastline and transported by LSD

- 3% sediment eroded annually deposited on SPS

- shrinking due to erosional management up shore

- salt marsh behind - low energy site of special scientific interest - loss of sediment

- formed at mouth of Humber estuary- sea meets slow flow of water

Contrasting coastal landscape case study = Odisha Coast

- description

- Eastern India, Bay of Bengal - 9th largest state

- 480 km straight coast, population dense along coast

- dynamic coastline, seasonal variations in water/sediment inputs due to monsoons

- Hexadeltaic region - fed by 6 key deltas/rivers

- low lying coastal planes, mangrove forests, Chilika lake (salty lagoon)

Contrasting coastal landscape case study = Odisha Coast

- opportunities

- high biodiversity of marine/coastal flora/fauna and habitats (mangroves, marshes, sea grass, sand dunes)

- olive ridley turtles, 184 bird species in Chilika lake

Chilika = salty coastal lagoon

- employment in coastal fishing/aquaculture (shrimps farming key part of economy - threatened by pollution at Panadapada)

- potential for Indian government to implement offshore wind/tidal power for green energy sources

- 35% coastal stretch full of sediment materials/heavy metals

- cultural/archaeological sites attract tourism - Konark sun temple - world heritage site - religous site

Contrasting coastal landscape case study = Odisha Coast

- risks

- increased erosion rates in recent decades - 36.8% coastal stretch eroding (mainly in the South), shown in mapped shoreline change plan 2011

Paradeep port (exports of coal and mineral ores - 2017 - 100 million tonnes cargo)

hard engineering strategies - breakwaters at port accelerate erosion to the south

- block flow of sediment via LSD - removes erosional barrier on south beaches

- similar to groynes - starving beaches down the coast

- short term - increased vulnerability to storm surges/tsunamis

- long term - risks from climate change/sea level rise/flooding

- tropical storm (cyclone) risks

cyclone phailin - october 2013

- 1,000,000 evacuated, 44 deaths

- economic losses of $700,000 from agricultural damages

- destroyed mangroves therefore increasing further vulnerability to storm surges - positive feedback loop

- warnings and evacuations communicated are now building resilience

Contrasting coastal landscape case study = Odisha Coast

- integrated coastal zone management

ICZM = hybrid model combining top down and bottom up strategies, funded by Odisha government, World Bank and Ministry of Forest + Environment but all local stakeholders/communities are factored into/ included in decisions - 2010

- combines environmental conservation with sustainable long term economic growth

Issues identified =

- vulnerability to disasters eg. cyclones

- coastal erosion

- pollution

- conservation of culture

- loss of biodiversity

Aims =

- improve fishing community resilience

- improve Chilika lake quality

- equilibrium of conservation/economic growth

Actions =

- alternate jobs provided to fishing: dairy farming/poultry, provides income for farmers in off season fishing, allows time for fish stocks to recharge

- multipurpose cyclone shelter built - reduce social losses of life from cyclones

critical = doesnt provide economic protection to infrastructure/ farm land that mangroves might against storm surges/floods

- Chilika lake scientifically monitored + new solid waste disposal plant to reduce pollution

- ecotourism: Godwit Eco cottages close to Chilika lake ; made of bamboo/mud, encourage biodiversity conservation whilst simultaneously aiding economic growth - attract tourists

Contrasting coastal landscape case study = Odisha Coast

- mangrove importance

Mangrove importance =

- in Bhadrak + other areas with dense mangrove vegetation accretion levels (sediment accumulation) were 50% higher that elsewhere along coast

- store 10x more carbon/hectare than terrestrial forests

- key habitats: support fish nurseries/ high biodiversity - opportunities for economic development of fishing however aquaculture (shrimps) can be detrimental

- mangrove forest strip in Odisha has reduced from 5.1 km wide to 1.2 km wide in 50 years

- mangroves are more effective than sea walls against erosion, can cope with sea level rise of 25mm/year - 8x global rate

- long term more effective - sea walls need to be replaced every 10-15 years

- during 1999 super cyclone Kalina, villages with more than 4 km mangrove forest had no deaths

- trap sediments, protect from erosion through dissipating energy

Contrasting coastal landscape case study = Odisha Coast

- Mahandi Delta mangrove conservation

Mahandi Delta management =

- replant and cultivate mangrove forests along coastal line/tidal river banks

- funded by NGO (Wetlands International) + Odisha ICZM project

- more than 48,000 mangrove saplings grown in one project