2b.10a Flashcards
What two losses from coastal recession can be significant in dense coastal developments
- Economic losses (housing, business, agriculture, infrastructure)
- Social losses (relocation, loss of livelihood, amenity value)
e.g in holderness or happisburgh
State generic examples of economic loss
- Economic losses to businesses if areas become unattractive and depopulated.
- whole village could be at risk (part social)
- Falling property values, and an inability to sell property
- Unexpected recession can cause localised loss (building collapse)
- Loss of a major asset, and the costs of buying a new home
- An inability to insure against the loss (because its a certainty, not a risk)
Why do economic losses tend to be quite small
- Erosion happens slowly; a small number of properties are affected over decades.
- Property at risk looses its value to buyers long before it is at risk from erosion
- Areas of high-density population, such as towns and villages, tend to be protected by coastal defences. (which means the actual economic loss is much lower)
Outline generic social losses (loss of livelihoods, relocation)
Relocation
- Cost (can be quantified)
- Break up of community, loss of friends and activities like a football team or classes
- Also stressful!
Loss of livelihoods (which can be quantified)
- Source of income (can be quantified)
- Financial problems and job searching leads to stress (and divorces, etc…)
What is amenity value?
There are also losses in amenity value and economic losses to businesses if areas become unattractive and depopulated. For example, abandoned buildings, damaged roads, rerouted footpaths, loss of access to beach. (Amenity value is the value in cultural, human well-being and economic terms of an attractive environment people enjoy using.)
Describe trinidad’s situation as an island
A small island developing state (SID) – low lying and susceptible to current 0.06 m/yr rise in SL (IPCC).
What percentage of trinidad’s population live/work on the coastline
70%
Describe Trinidad’s climate
- Winter Storms (Nov-Apr) from Atlantic have higher swell waves – affecting North & East coasts.
- NE-SW wind direction means east coast beaches are subject to southerly LSD – and subsequently have highest erosion rates – esp. Coco Bay and Guayaguayare Bay (0.63m/yr).
What is a dense coastal development in trinidad?
Mayaro is largest coastal development (community) – but Guayaguayare vital site of oil industry – main source of GDP and exports
Describe coastal flooding in trinidad’s past
Coastal flooding along 20km of Manzanilla Beach in 2014 cuts off routes to SE (300m destroyed).
Describe trinidad’s coastline geology
mix of low grade metamorphic rocks, and weak sandstone and alluvium deposits.
State three environmental losses from coastal recession at trinidad’s coastline
- Nesting sites for endangered Leatherback turtles along North & East coast beaches (impossible to quantify loss – but RISK: also contribute significantly to growing ecotourism industry.
- 16,000 acre Trinity Hills Wildlife Sanctuary & Reserve on south coast has wealth of flora, fauna.
- Ecosystems thought to adapt to small incremental changes of coastal erosion – so impact is smaller?
What social tensions are created by coastal recession at trindiad’s coastline
Social tensions created by individual management attempts upstream which block LSD sediment.
How might a loss of livelihoods occur due to coastal retreat at trinidad’s coastline
- Potential loss of coconut plantations (Cocal) which dominate east coast – also home to watermelon and vegetable cash crops (RISK: livelihood for inhabitants).
- RISK: Potential damage to existing hotel & tourist industry (e.g. Manzanillo beach facility) – consider aesthetics!
Why might relocation occur at trini coastline
Value of luxury coastal property likely to decrease over time (risk) with increased erosion rates – cost of relocation and break up of community more damaging for poorer locals (stress).
