“ICZMs/ SMPs can effectively tackle expected eustatic
rise and associated threats to coastal landscapes over
the coming decades”
ICZMs work with various shareholders to ensure sustainable management of the coastline
for local people, job, wildlife etc, and will often use shoreline management plans in their
approaches, usually through holding the line or managed retreat strategies. They are
particularly useful as they work outside of the limits of local administrative boundaries to
effectively tackle future threats to coastlines, including increased erosion due to eustatic
sea level rise, and subsequent coastal flooding.
In Odisha, India, ICZM focuses on planting mangroves. Along the coast, there are 6 major
deltas, and only 14% of land is stable, while 37% is eroding. combat this by planting
mangroves, not only increase accretion rates by 50% in dense areas, but also protect
against tropical storms associated with climate change. 1 degree increase temp = 7% more
water vapour, more intense rainfall, more frequent storms and storm surges. 30
mangroves per 0.1ha can decrease storm damage by 90%, and following cyclone Kalina in
1999, areas with over 4km squared mangroves reported zero deaths. Mangrove planting
successfully tackles eustatic rise and storm threats by increasing accretion rates, as well
as interception and infiltration. The ICZM in Odisha also manages threats to local people
by providing people with salt tolerant crop varieties, as well as watertight containers for
belongings and rainwater storage. Threats to local wildlife are mitigated by strict
monitoring of of biodiversity and chilika lake bird sanctuary. Extremely effective.
In Holderness, England - europe’s fastest eroding coastline - SMP has had very limited
success. Vulnerable area due to poor geology and disequilibrium morphology. 1991:
groynes at Mappleton to minimise erosion by longshore drift. Locally “solves” the
problem but actually just moves the problem further along the coast. Over 200 homes
are at risk of being lost in the next 20 years, and a “managed retreat” approach is being
increasingly promoted, which had led to significant socio economic implications,
especially for local residents.
Long term, as sea levels continue to rise due to the enhanced greenhouse effect and
glacial melting, ICZMs and SMPs will become increasingly less effective. Many areas, such
as Pacific Island Nations, will be unable to tackle sea level rise. The Maldives, for example,
is expected to experience 0.5m sea level rise by 2050, while 80% of its land is 1m or less
above sea level. ICZMs and SMPs will not be able to tackle such profound impacts, and
this has led to emigration from the most affected areas, and the first climate refugees.
Overall, while SMPs and ICZMs have had successes at certain coastlines, long term, as sea
levels continue to rise, they be increasingly unable to tackle threats to coastal
landscapes. The only way to truly effectively manage the threats to coastlines by climate
change is to tackle the root of the problem, and decrease GHG emissions and
deforestation, and promote CCS technology to combat the enhanced greenhouse effect.
rise and associated threats to coastal landscapes over
the coming decades”
ICZMs work with various shareholders to ensure sustainable management of the coastline
for local people, job, wildlife etc, and will often use shoreline management plans in their
approaches, usually through holding the line or managed retreat strategies. They are
particularly useful as they work outside of the limits of local administrative boundaries to
effectively tackle future threats to coastlines, including increased erosion due to eustatic
sea level rise, and subsequent coastal flooding.
In Odisha, India, ICZM focuses on planting mangroves. Along the coast, there are 6 major
deltas, and only 14% of land is stable, while 37% is eroding. combat this by planting
mangroves, not only increase accretion rates by 50% in dense areas, but also protect
against tropical storms associated with climate change. 1 degree increase temp = 7% more
water vapour, more intense rainfall, more frequent storms and storm surges. 30
mangroves per 0.1ha can decrease storm damage by 90%, and following cyclone Kalina in
1999, areas with over 4km squared mangroves reported zero deaths. Mangrove planting
successfully tackles eustatic rise and storm threats by increasing accretion rates, as well
as interception and infiltration. The ICZM in Odisha also manages threats to local people
by providing people with salt tolerant crop varieties, as well as watertight containers for
belongings and rainwater storage. Threats to local wildlife are mitigated by strict
monitoring of of biodiversity and chilika lake bird sanctuary. Extremely effective.
In Holderness, England - europe’s fastest eroding coastline - SMP has had very limited
success. Vulnerable area due to poor geology and disequilibrium morphology. 1991:
groynes at Mappleton to minimise erosion by longshore drift. Locally “solves” the
problem but actually just moves the problem further along the coast. Over 200 homes
are at risk of being lost in the next 20 years, and a “managed retreat” approach is being
increasingly promoted, which had led to significant socio economic implications,
especially for local residents.
Long term, as sea levels continue to rise due to the enhanced greenhouse effect and
glacial melting, ICZMs and SMPs will become increasingly less effective. Many areas, such
as Pacific Island Nations, will be unable to tackle sea level rise. The Maldives, for example,
is expected to experience 0.5m sea level rise by 2050, while 80% of its land is 1m or less
above sea level. ICZMs and SMPs will not be able to tackle such profound impacts, and
this has led to emigration from the most affected areas, and the first climate refugees.
Overall, while SMPs and ICZMs have had successes at certain coastlines, long term, as sea
levels continue to rise, they be increasingly unable to tackle threats to coastal
landscapes. The only way to truly effectively manage the threats to coastlines by climate
change is to tackle the root of the problem, and decrease GHG emissions and
deforestation, and promote CCS technology to combat the enhanced greenhouse effect.
