Consequences of coastal erosion on communites

Question 1

How much of Bangladeshes farmland will be inundated by 2080?

Answer 1

40%

Question 2

By how much do mangroves reduce wave height?

Answer 2

40%

Question 3

What are economic costs?

Answer 3

Loss of property in the form of homes, businesses and farmland.
These are relatively easy to quantify.

Question 4

What are social costs?

Answer 4

Costs of relocation and loss of livelihood/jobs.

Also includes impact on health which are harder to quantify.

Question 5

What are environmental costs?

Answer 5

Loss of coastal ecosystems and habitats. These are almost impossible to quantify financially but are likely to be small.

Question 6

What is amenity value?

Answer 6

Value in cultural, human well being and economic terms of an attractive environment that people enjoy using.

Question 7

Why are economic losses because of erosion so small?

Answer 7

Erosion happens slowly with a small number of properties affected over a long period of time.
Property that is at risk loses its value long before it is destroyed by erosion.
Areas of high population or value tend to be protected by coastal defenses anyway.

Question 8

Why is economic loss significant because of erosion?

Answer 8

Falling property values
Inability to sell their property because risk is too great.
Inability to insure against the loss
Increasingly unattractive environment.