I. The Coastal Zone
17
Management of processes may be more important than management of uses,
which may be better based on complementarity. The coastal zone management
concept has gained acceptance in many non-industrialized countries. To achieve
significant results, the natural functions of complex coastal resources systems,
e.g. wetlands, should be assessed correctly, goods and services appraised, and
practical techniques to promote system conservation and sustainable resource use
developed. It has been shown that single purpose approaches and the exercise of
unharnessed private property rights are frequently detrimental to good
management.
Planning is facilitated by carving up the coastal zone in survey units, thereby
permitting a.o. possible impact and users' reciprocal i~ffluence assessment. It
must consider relationships, for instance the interaction of a beach and an
adjoining touristic complex. Complementarity or parallelism of uses could be
strived for. Beneficial multi-use strategies should be planned.
The cost of coastal erosion can be very high. Remedial action requires
familiarization with the genesis and the history of the beach, examination of the
current state of the system, and the natural evolution trend. Economic realities
notwithstanding, the "forever" defense stand will have to be abandoned and after
each storm consideration will have to be given to rebuild or not some homes.
How well a community adapts to such dilemma will depend largely on the
direction it takes when it reaches this crossroads.
Coastal protection management can consider stabilization, let nature take its
course, or compromise. Land-leasing rather than selling, and use of movable
buildings may be indicated. A management plan that ignores rising sea-levels, a
gnawing erosion, silting access routes is futile. Storms can wipe out a beach in a
matter of hours, geological subsidence is not uncommon, seismic and volcanic
events affect many a coastal area.
Economic potential maps would constitute a working dossier for planners and
allow weighing the benefits-disadvantages balance of major undertakings. Thus
consequences were not projected when constructing the Volta River barrage in
Ghana : the drastic reduction of sediment apport near the Volta's mouth led to
the dissapearance of the cities of Ada and Keta. The harbor extension and
construction in Cotonou (Benin) and neighbouring Lom6 (Togo) led to
disquieting erosion.
Major coastal zone processes should be monitored continuously. The casual
approach to its occupation and use must bow to the imperatives of the coming
decades : scientific approach, careful planning, resistance to selfish private
interests, a "global" approach, synchronized legislation. Research should a.o.
specifically aim to provide long- and short-term solutions to planning,
development and management.
17
Management of processes may be more important than management of uses,
which may be better based on complementarity. The coastal zone management
concept has gained acceptance in many non-industrialized countries. To achieve
significant results, the natural functions of complex coastal resources systems,
e.g. wetlands, should be assessed correctly, goods and services appraised, and
practical techniques to promote system conservation and sustainable resource use
developed. It has been shown that single purpose approaches and the exercise of
unharnessed private property rights are frequently detrimental to good
management.
Planning is facilitated by carving up the coastal zone in survey units, thereby
permitting a.o. possible impact and users' reciprocal i~ffluence assessment. It
must consider relationships, for instance the interaction of a beach and an
adjoining touristic complex. Complementarity or parallelism of uses could be
strived for. Beneficial multi-use strategies should be planned.
The cost of coastal erosion can be very high. Remedial action requires
familiarization with the genesis and the history of the beach, examination of the
current state of the system, and the natural evolution trend. Economic realities
notwithstanding, the "forever" defense stand will have to be abandoned and after
each storm consideration will have to be given to rebuild or not some homes.
How well a community adapts to such dilemma will depend largely on the
direction it takes when it reaches this crossroads.
Coastal protection management can consider stabilization, let nature take its
course, or compromise. Land-leasing rather than selling, and use of movable
buildings may be indicated. A management plan that ignores rising sea-levels, a
gnawing erosion, silting access routes is futile. Storms can wipe out a beach in a
matter of hours, geological subsidence is not uncommon, seismic and volcanic
events affect many a coastal area.
Economic potential maps would constitute a working dossier for planners and
allow weighing the benefits-disadvantages balance of major undertakings. Thus
consequences were not projected when constructing the Volta River barrage in
Ghana : the drastic reduction of sediment apport near the Volta's mouth led to
the dissapearance of the cities of Ada and Keta. The harbor extension and
construction in Cotonou (Benin) and neighbouring Lom6 (Togo) led to
disquieting erosion.
Major coastal zone processes should be monitored continuously. The casual
approach to its occupation and use must bow to the imperatives of the coming
decades : scientific approach, careful planning, resistance to selfish private
interests, a "global" approach, synchronized legislation. Research should a.o.
specifically aim to provide long- and short-term solutions to planning,
development and management.