Conflict at the Coast (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Jacque Cartwright
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Conflict Between Development & Conservation
Careful management of coastal regions is necessary for sustainability
Coastal environments have multiple uses:
Development such as homes, shops, roads etc.
Nature reserves
Industry such as ports, fishing and aquaculture
Tourism
Agriculture
These different activities bring people and ecosystems together and there becomes a competition for space
Conflict arises when coastal development is given a higher priority than coastal conservation
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Make sure you consider all the options here. Conflict resolution can be achieved by a mix of strategies, but achieving this is not always straightforward. Therefore, you need to be able to debate this.
Conflict Between Coastal Users
Coastal users and wildlife are referred to as stakeholders
Each stakeholder has a different priority or need
Wildlife want an unpolluted, safe and quiet environment
Local residents want jobs, clean beaches, affordable housing and schools
Tourists want beaches, hotels, B&Bs, entertainment, holiday homes, and marinas
Employers want building space, offices, and factories
Developers want areas by the sea for tourists—hotels, duplexes, golf courses
Fishermen want harbours, unpolluted waters, and ease of access to the sea
Farmers want well-drained land, sheltered from prevailing winds
Government and Councils want to build offshore wind farms and coastal defences
Transport companies want good road networks, well-connected ports and terminals
The different needs of stakeholders often conflict as they compete for the same resources
Relationship between Stakeholders and Coastal Zone Issues
Stakeholder Activity | Consequences | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
Agriculture | Fertiliser and pesticide overuse, increased livestock density, overwater abstraction, animal waste disposal, land reclamation | Species and habitat loss, eutrophication, water pollution, coastal squeeze |
Urbanisation and Transport | Change of land use (car parks, ports, etc.) waste disposal, pollution, water abstraction, hard road surfaces | Increased flooding, congestion, pollution, loss of habitats, increase in weeds and invasive species |
Tourism and Recreation | Harbours, marinas, waste disposal, fuel spillages, change of land use, water abstraction, effluent disposal | Congestion and pollution (noise, light, visual, aroma), loss of habitats, loss of species, litter and fuel spills |
Fisheries and Aquaculture | Ports, fish processing facilities, trawlers, road networks, lorries, fishing gear, fish farm pollution, water abstraction | Overfishing, pollution on beaches, habitat damage, water pollution, aroma, visual and noise pollution from trawlers, and increased seagull activity |
Industry | Land use change, change in tidal range, power stations (nuclear and gas), natural resource extraction, road networks, cooling water/abstraction, waste pollution (chemical, biological, nuclear, etc.). | Thermal pollution, habitat destruction, change and loss, water eutrophication, water pollution, visual eyesore |
The level of conflict varies depending on who and what the needs are
This can be shown in a conflict matrix
Examiner Tips and Tricks
A conflict matrix is just one way to display information & is subjective in its response. You may not agree with the above levels of conflict, that is fine, so long as you can justify why you disagree or agree.
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