Coastal Management Conflicts (Edexcel A Level Geography)

Conflicts in Coastal Management

• Coastal management affects the lives of the 630 million people who live in coastal areas at risk of coastal flooding

• The impact of coastal management creates winners and losers

Outcomes of Coastal Management

• The impacts are created by policy decisions made by local and national governments

• There are many stakeholders involved in these conflicts including:

  • Homeowners

  • Local authorities

  • Environmental pressure groups

• The impact on people can also vary depending on the level of development of a country

Developed countries - UK

• Happisburgh, in North Norfolk, is a village with a population of 1400 

• The cliffs are made of easily eroded glacial till

• Records show that over 250m of land were eroded between 1600-1850

• Over the last 20 years 36 homes, 3 businesses, the beach car park and toilets have been lost to coastal erosion

• Coastal defences were built at Happisburgh after the floods of 1953, but these are now in need of repair/rebuilding

  • In 1996 the last revetments were damaged by storms or lost to the sea

  • In 2002 and 2007 rock armour was added to the beach and again in 2015 as temporary coastal defence measures

• Cost-benefit analysis was carried out and in 2004, and the revised Shoreline Management Plan changed the policy of coastal defence, to 'no active intervention'

• The losers in this example are the residents and business owners in Happisburgh 

• The Coastal Concern Action Group (CCAG) continues to campaign and raise funds for residents

• In 2009 the North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) were awarded £3 million to spend on helping communities adjust to the changing coastline, including the purchase of properties on Beach Road so that the people could move and the houses demolished

Developing countries - Chittagong, Bangladesh

• Chittagong in Bangladesh is the second largest city in Bangladesh

• It has a population of almost 8.5 million people

• The flood hazard is classified as high

• In July 2012, high tidal water affected over 10% of the sub districts and 15 districts 

  • The flood affected 1.3 million people

• People, in some areas, are now used to their homes and businesses being flooded twice a day by high tides

• Some estimates suggest the area may experience a sea level rise of 30cm over the next 20 years

• In 2019, the government approved a flood control project including:

  • A 2.7km retaining wall

  • An 19km flood wall

  • 69 pumps

  • Improved drainage

• This may cause conflict because, there will be winners and losers:

  • People may be required to leave their homes

  • Businesses will be more protected