Unit 8 - Essays - Sustainable Management of a Coastline UPDATED Flashcards
Evaluate the problems of sustainably managing a stretch or stretches of coastline.
Main Body Paragraph 1: The Impact of Climate Change and Rising Sea Levels
Topic Sentence: Climate change, especially rising sea levels and more frequent storms, is a significant challenge for sustainable coastal management.
Key Points to Cover:
Rising Sea Levels:
USA’s Eastern Seaboard: Sea level has risen by about 30 cm since 1900; projected to rise by 60–120 cm by 2100.
Impact: Increased coastal flooding and erosion risks for cities like Miami and New York.
Mangawhai-Pakiri: Sea-level rise causing faster erosion of beaches and sand dunes.
Impact: Damage to infrastructure and increased vulnerability to storms.
Increased Storm Frequency and Intensity:
USA: Hurricanes like Sandy (2012) caused $70 billion in damage.
Mangawhai-Pakiri: Higher storm surges causing dune erosion and habitat loss.
Challenges for Management:
Hard engineering solutions (sea walls, groynes) vs. soft engineering (beach nourishment, dune restoration).
Issue: Hard engineering protects specific areas but disrupts natural sediment flow, worsening erosion elsewhere.
Link to Next Paragraph: The management of natural sediments is crucial for coastline stability but is often disrupted by human activities.
Main Body Paragraph 2: Problems with Sand and Sediment Management
Topic Sentence: Human activities, such as sand mining and coastal construction, disrupt natural sediment flows, complicating sustainable management.
Key Points to Cover:
Sand Mining in Mangawhai-Pakiri:
1.5 million cubic meters of sand removed between 1960–2000.
Impact: Reduced natural beach replenishment, accelerated erosion.
Spatial Scale: Affects nearby beaches and sand dune systems.
Coastal Engineering on the Eastern Seaboard:
Jetties and groynes disrupt longshore drift.
Impact: Sediment starvation and increased erosion in down-drift areas.
Challenges for Management:
Need for integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) to consider sediment budgets and the interconnectedness of coastal systems.
Temporal Challenge: Effects of sediment disruption can take decades to become evident.
Link to Next Paragraph: Effective management depends on strong governance and well-coordinated policies.
Main Body Paragraph 3: Governance Challenges and Policy Limitations
Topic Sentence: Weak and fragmented governance structures make it difficult to implement effective coastal management policies.
Key Points to Cover:
Governance in the USA:
Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) of 1972.
Issue: Limited funding and conflicting state and federal policies.
Examples of conflict: Development vs. conservation priorities in New Jersey and Florida.
Governance in Mangawhai-Pakiri:
Resource Management Act (RMA) aims for sustainable management.
Issue: Local councils lack resources and authority for effective enforcement.
Challenges for Management:
Need for a unified coastal management strategy that aligns local, regional, and national policies.
Importance of stakeholder participation to balance different interests.
Link to Next Paragraph: Governance issues are often compounded by conflicts between different land uses and interest groups.
Main Body Paragraph 4: Conflicts Between Different Land Uses
Topic Sentence: Conflicting land uses, such as tourism, urban development, and conservation, pose challenges for sustainable management.
Key Points to Cover:
Eastern Seaboard Conflicts:
Urban development vs. wetland conservation.
Example: Loss of over 50% of wetlands due to urban expansion.
Economic benefits of tourism and ports vs. environmental protection.
Mangawhai-Pakiri Conflicts:
Tourism demands for pristine beaches vs. sand mining for construction.
Agriculture vs. coastal conservation efforts.
Challenges for Management:
Need for cost-benefit analysis to evaluate trade-offs between different land uses.
Importance of zoning and regulations to balance economic development and conservation.
Link to Next Paragraph: Protecting natural habitats is essential for sustaining coastal ecosystems and mitigating other management challenges.
Main Body Paragraph 5: Protecting Natural Habitats and Ecosystems
Topic Sentence: Protecting natural habitats, such as wetlands and dunes, is essential for sustainable coastal management but faces significant challenges.
Key Points to Cover:
Importance of Wetlands on the Eastern Seaboard:
Provide flood protection and carbon storage, valued at $23 billion annually.
Issue: Urbanization has destroyed over half of the original wetlands.
Dune and Coastal Vegetation in Mangawhai-Pakiri:
Sand dunes act as natural barriers against storms.
Impact of Sand Mining: Loss of dunes and increased coastal erosion.
Challenges for Management:
Restoration projects vs. high costs and long timeframes.
Need for ecosystem-based management (EBM) to integrate conservation with human activities.
Link to Conclusion: Effective coastal management must balance environmental protection, economic interests, and community needs.
Conclusion
Summary: Managing coastlines sustainably requires addressing climate impacts, sediment dynamics, governance weaknesses, land-use conflicts, and habitat protection. The cases of the Eastern Seaboard and Mangawhai-Pakiri highlight the need for integrated and adaptive management strategies that balance short-term needs with long-term sustainability.
