1.3 Protection of coastal environments

Question 1

Why is Ainsdale important?

Answer 1

• Mainly about increasing stabilization of loose sand
• National Nature reserve important – protects finest lime rich sand dunes, is an SSSI and is 21km of long unspoilt sand dune systems.
• is also a Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area
• Key species – Sand Lizard, Natterjack toad, Petalwort
• 7km2 of 22km coastline – 3 million people in area

Question 2

What are the threats to Ainsdale?

Answer 2

Threats: scrub growth and rank vegetation – non native pines and poplars and rank grasses and herbs such as brambles

Public pressure - popular tourist area, dune erosion, loss of habitat quality –vandalism, fire and collection of rare species

Question 3

What are the management strategies in ainsdale?

Answer 3

• Scrub cutting and clearance and mowing to control height of species
• Turf stripping and excavation
• Grazing by sheep and cattle
• Dune stabilization and restoration work
• Species management
• Visitor management – permit only areas, concentrating tourism

Question 4

Why is Keyhaven under threat?

Answer 4

• Hurst Castle spit extends 4 km across the Solent and provides sheltered environment where mud flats and marshes formed.
• Marshes grown 2m higher than otherwise as they were reclaimed. The spit has receeded across the marshes creating an artificially high, masking the loss of shingle supplied by LSD
• Marsh has subsided under weight of the shingle, reducing the height of the spit. Marsh has become exposed on seaward side of the spit leading to rapid erosion – platforms of bare mud vulnerable.

Question 5

What are the management of Keyhaven?

Answer 5

SSSI and as a wetslands RAMSAR site

• Shoreline Management Plan in 1998 evaluation options to protect marshes – depended on survival of Hurst Castle Spit.
• Created 550m of rock armour to protect Western end
• Nourished with 300000 cubic metres of shingle dredged from the offshore
• 12 metres wide and varying in height between 5 and 8 metres.
• 100 metre rock revetment built at the eastern end of the spit to protect it
• Stabilisation and maintenance of spits provide essential protection for the salt marshes
• Existing defences – low embankments and sea walls maintained
• Working party developed saltmarsh strategy investigating impacts of reclamation and sea level rise as well as effects of dredging, pollution, grazing and recreation.

Question 6

Where is the mangrove what are the threats

Answer 6

Koh Klang Province

• Shrimp farming, Palm oil plantations, Coastal development, Fuelwood and timber
• Needed for fuel, wood, charcoal, dyes, timber, food.
• Since 1960 nearly 60-80% of mangrove forest have been lost and estimated they will vanish in 100 ears.
• Shrimp aquaculture caused half mangroves to be lost in Thailand as they were degraded or abandoned after a few years due to costs, disease and salinity issues.
• This cause sea level rises, rapid erosion of 3m per year, community relocation, cross contamination
• Removed for shrimp farming, oil palm, infrastructure, tourism, logging

Question 7

What is the Mikoko project?

Answer 7

Mikoko Project in Kenya – 615 ha of forest in pioneering project. Scientists work with local communities, health check on forest, looing at cover, biomass, diameter and evidence of new growth. Concentrate on small areas.

In Gazi bay, locals used to depend on harvesting trees for money but community based programme funded by sale of carbon credits – earn money for keeping mangrove intact – poverty high so money well received. Store 1500 tonnes of carbon per hectare which is sold on carbon credit market.

Benefits: 2000 carbon credits a year roughly $60,000 per village

-Clean water supplies, supplies for clinics, schools, forest rangers guard the forest, catches larger in oceans, positive relationship between community and mangrove

Question 8

What is done to manage mangroves?

Answer 8

• banning shrimp aquaculture in 90s
• Remove sea barriers to allow water to flow in for shrimp farms
• allowed to naturally recolonise in right location by restoring hydrology propagules
• MAP’s marvellous mangroves curriculum educated locals about protecting them
• 91 UNESCO biosphere reserves protected
• monitored by NASA
• Replanting projets of sea trees - community based
• Fishpond reversion
• Diversification of livelihoods
• Ecotourism projects e.g. ZSL.

Question 9

What is the management plan at abbots hall farm?

Answer 9

• -Offset current losses due to coastal squeeze and erosion
• Maintain existing extent of saltmarsh habitat - 40,000 hectares
• Restore area of saltmarsh
• Plan to reduce risk of flooding, improve coastal landscape and conserve nature
• Defence realignment needed in right location
• 283 ha of land in Abbotts Hall farm needed realignment, moving the defence inland to recreate natural coastal defences.
• Current 3km of sea wall defends small strip of arable land-Reverting 80 ha of arable land
• Supports local wildlife
• Restoring hedgerows, ponds, ditches and grasslands
• Realigned small estuary to create new marshland