Land-Use Pressures on Coastlines (DP IB Geography)

Revision Note

Land Use Pressures & Conservation Measures

Land-use pressure in coastal areas

  • Coastlines are subject to land-use pressure

  • Various stakeholders use the coastline differently:

    • Residents – living comfortably in the area without disturbance

    • Farmers or fishermen – farming and fishing industries (commercial or subsistence)

    • Business people – developing tourist industry and other coastal businesses

    • Industry officials and workers – for factory work or quarrying 

    • Port authorities – managing the port area

    • Transport companies – maintaining travel networks

    • Wildlife – living safely without human interference 

    • Environmentalists and conservationists – maintaining and protecting habitats and vegetation (speaking on behalf of wildlife) 

    • Tourists – using the beauty of the coastline area for recreation 

    • Developers – building up the coastline for tourism and residential purposes

    • Governments and councils – protecting and maintaining the coastline 

  • The views of these stakeholders may conflict, especially when decisions by one stakeholder negatively affect another

  • All stakeholders need the coastline in some way, so they compete with each other

  • A conflict matrix can show where and how much conflict there is in relation to each other

An example of a conflict matrix at the coast

Conflict level matrix between different interest groups including Bird Sanctuary, Fishermen, Oil & Gas Works, Residents, Tourists, Golfers, Farmers, Ferry Company, and Industry.
An example of a conflict matrix at the coast

Land-use pressure and conflicts

Stakeholder activity

Land-use pressure

Conflicts

Tourism

Coastal areas attract tourists with their natural beauty and recreation opportunities 

Tourism requires the development of hotels and entertainment facilities

Tourism puts pressure on the coastline, e.g. pollution, littering, overcrowding, resource pressure, destruction of habitats, congestion

Tourists argue that coastal maintenance is important to keep tourist access available 

Locals and environmentalists conflict with tourists over sustainability and conservation 

Industry and development

Coastal environments have industrial uses

They are home to industrial activity like energy production, e.g. oil, and gas refineries, quarrying

Coastlines house shipping areas and ports

Industrial activities are unsightly, cause pollution, eutrophication, and degradation of natural areas and habitats 

Urbanisation development increases pressure on the coastline e.g. new housing, car parks, transportation routes and other necessary infrastructure

Can cause conflicts with locals and environmentalists

Tourists may conflict with industrial developers

Residents and housing

Many residents live in coastal areas, from city commuters to retirees 

Residents and locals of coastal areas are against large tourist and industrial activity

Some locals worry about coastal erosion and flooding, and focus their attention on pushing for coastal management 

Locals may conflict with tourists, industry developers and advocates for “do-nothing” management strategies

Agriculture and fishing

Fishing in coastal environments is some people’s livelihood

Fishing industries require processing areas, transport routes and other resources

This can cause overfishing and pollution

Coastal areas are also home to agricultural activity

This can result in fertiliser, pesticide and animal waste pollution, land reclamation and coastal squeeze, overuse of the land and habitat destruction 

Locals and environmentalists conflict with farmers and fishermen

Coastal management

Coastal management is a vital tool for protecting coastlines from erosion and flooding

There are both advantages and disadvantages to hard and soft engineering strategies

There are both winners and losers. Some stakeholders will benefit and some will be negatively affected by management strategies

Conflicts can arise between winners and losers

Conservation measures

Environmentalists and conservationists work to protect coastal habitats and ecosystems 

Protection and preservation of the environment is a top priority

Conflicts can arise between environmentalists and those wishing to exploit or freely use the coastline e.g. industries, tourists and local residents

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Make sure you learn about who conflicts with whom. Are locals angry at industries? Are environmentalists angry at tourists? You might be asked to discuss the conflicting opinions of coastal areas. 

Case Study: Dorset Coast

Dorset, UK

  • Dorset is located in south-west England

  • It is part of the Jurassic Coast

  • It became a World Heritage Site in 2001

Map of the Jurassic Coast

Map of England's southern coast, focusing on Dorset. Insets point to Durdle Door arch, Old Harry Rocks, Chesil Beach, Lulworth Cove, and geology of Studland to Durlston Head.
Map of the Jurassic Coast

Uses of the Dorset Coast

  • Stakeholders use the Dorset Coast in different ways

  • Each stakeholder has a different role on the coastline 

  • Conflicts have arisen between stakeholders

  • Each stakeholder has a role in minimising conflicts between other stakeholders

  • Outcomes of conflict strategies may be effective or ineffective

  • Tourism

    • Water sports are common in this area e.g. swimming, yachting and windsurfing.

    • There are footpaths along the coast for tourists with points of geographical interest e.g. famous coastal landforms like Durdle Door, Old Harry etc.

  • Military

    • The military/army uses part of the coastline for training e.g. Lulworth Army Range

  • Environmentalists/wildlife

    • There is rich biodiversity of the coastal landscape 

    • It is famous for bird-watching sites and Nature Reserves

  • Heritage

    • There are historical areas e.g. Corfe Castle, Tom Hardy’s old cottage 

    • These attract tourists but are vital for maintaining the historical importance of the area

  • Locals and farmers

    • Many people inhabit the coast

    • Roughly 750,000 people live in the Dorset area

  • Industry

    • Quarrying takes place along the coast

Conflicts and outcomes 

Role of stakeholder in land-use pressure

Outcomes

Environmentalists and locals conflict with tourists 

Tourism brings issues like pollution, congestion, footpath erosion, littering and sand dune damage

Second homeowners cause problems with housing affordability and cause service closures in off-peak seasons

Better management of land e.g. National Trust/Dorset Wildlife Trust maintain the footpaths

Improved transport e.g. trains, cycle paths and bus routes to reduce congestion

Better education for tourists and eco-responsibility (leaflets, posters)

Stricter punishment for littering e.g. fines

Litter picking projects

The government supports home ownership schemes to reduce the number of second homes

World Heritage means that there are stricter development rules, reducing dangerous development plans

Revegetation at Sites of Special Scientific Interest to protect sand dunes

Nature Reserve label to increase protection of and funding for wildlife and vegetation

Tourists, locals and farmers may conflict with the military

Military noise can be a problem for livestock

Certain areas forbid tourists 

Zoning areas to separate activities and allow tourists to access the area

Improved signage to make tourists and locals more aware of when military drills or testing occur

Tourists, farmers, locals and environmentalists conflict with industry (quarrying)

Vehicles used for industry are loud and heavy, can damage roads and cause congestion

Dust from quarrying can choke vegetation

Quarry blasting is loud (for locals and tourists)

Quarrying can also increase the risk of coastal erosion, which is worrying for many stakeholders

Washing lorries before they leave the quarry site to remove dust

Transport materials via train, to avoid the road

Plan vegetation to cover the eye-sore of quarry sites 

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Make sure you understand the different conflicts in coastal areas. Be prepared to discuss how those conflicts can be reduced using a case study. You may need to think about how effective the outcomes are.

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