Unit 8 - Essays - Sustainable Management of a Coastline SIMPLE ENGLISH UPDATED Flashcards
Evaluate the problems of sustainably managing a stretch or stretches of coastline.
Main Body Paragraph 1: Climate Change and Rising Sea Levels
Main idea: Climate change is making it harder to protect coastlines because sea levels are rising and storms are getting stronger.
Key points:
Sea-level rise is a big problem
The Eastern Seaboard has already seen the sea rise by 30 cm since 1900. Scientists predict it could rise another 60 to 120 cm by 2100.
This means more flooding and stronger erosion, which threatens cities like Miami and New York.
Mangawhai-Pakiri is also affected
Rising sea levels are making beaches smaller and dunes weaker, meaning storms cause more damage.
Stronger storms cause damage
Hurricane Sandy (2012) caused $70 billion in damage in the USA.
More storms in New Zealand are washing away beaches and sand dunes.
Why this is hard to manage
Building sea walls can protect some areas, but they stop sand from moving naturally, making erosion worse in other places.
Link to next paragraph: Natural sand movement is very important for coastlines, but human activities are disturbing it.
Main Body Paragraph 2: Problems with Sand and Sediment Movement
Main idea: Coastlines need a natural flow of sand to stay stable, but human activities like sand mining and building structures can stop this.
Key points:
Sand mining in Mangawhai-Pakiri
Over 1.5 million cubic meters of sand was taken from the area between 1960 and 2000.
This removed sand that would normally replace what waves take away, making erosion worse.
Buildings and structures in the USA stop natural sand movement
Groynes (walls built to trap sand) and jetties (structures protecting harbors) block sand from moving along the coast.
This means some areas get too much sand while others don’t get enough, causing serious erosion.
Why this is hard to manage
When people change how sand moves, the effects may not be seen for many years, so damage builds up slowly over time.
A good management plan needs to look at the whole coastline, not just one small area.
Link to next paragraph: Good coastal management needs strong government rules, but this is often a problem.
Main Body Paragraph 3: Weak Government Rules and Management Problems
Main idea: Coastlines are difficult to manage because many different groups are in charge, and they don’t always agree.
Key points:
Government problems in the USA
Different levels of government (local, state, and national) have different rules.
The Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) was created in 1972 to help manage coastlines, but it doesn’t have enough funding.
Government problems in Mangawhai-Pakiri
The Resource Management Act (RMA) in New Zealand tries to balance the environment with development, but local councils don’t always have enough money or power to enforce the rules.
Why this is hard to manage
No clear leadership means that protecting the coast is difficult because different people have different priorities.
Many rules focus on short-term problems instead of thinking about long-term sustainability.
Link to next paragraph: People also want to use the coast for different reasons, which causes conflict.
Main Body Paragraph 4: Conflicts Between Different Uses of the Coast
Main idea: Different groups of people want to use the coastline in different ways, which makes management difficult.
Key points:
Conflicts on the Eastern Seaboard
Big cities, ports, and tourist areas bring money but also destroy natural areas like wetlands.
Wetlands help control floods, but over 50% of them have been lost due to urban expansion.
Conflicts in Mangawhai-Pakiri
Tourism needs clean, natural beaches, but sand mining removes sand and speeds up erosion.
Farmers want to use land near the coast, but conservationists want to protect the natural environment.
Why this is hard to manage
It is difficult to balance economic benefits (jobs, business) with environmental protection.
Good management needs all groups to work together, but this doesn’t always happen.
Link to next paragraph: Protecting natural habitats is important because they help prevent many coastal problems.
Main Body Paragraph 5: Protecting Natural Habitats and Ecosystems
Main idea: Wetlands, sand dunes, and coastal forests help protect coastlines, but they are being destroyed.
Key points:
Wetlands on the Eastern Seaboard
Wetlands help absorb floodwaters and store carbon, reducing climate change effects.
Scientists estimate these services are worth $23 billion per year.
Urban expansion has destroyed more than 50% of wetlands.
Dune protection in Mangawhai-Pakiri
Sand dunes act as a natural barrier against storms and erosion.
Sand mining and tourism development are destroying these dunes.
Why this is hard to manage
Restoring destroyed areas is very expensive and takes many years.
Sustainable management needs strong laws to protect these areas before they are damaged.
Link to conclusion: To manage coastlines well, we must balance nature, economy, and people’s needs.
Conclusion
Summary of main points:
Climate change is making coastal management harder with rising sea levels and stronger storms.
Sand movement must be managed carefully to avoid long-term damage.
Governments need better rules and enforcement.
There are conflicts between development and conservation.
Protecting natural habitats is essential for long-term coastal protection.
Final judgment:
A sustainable approach must look at the long-term effects of management, not just short-term benefits. It must balance the needs of the environment, people, and businesses so that coastlines remain safe and useful for future generations.
