II. Coastal Management and Coastal Defense
23
This approach can be implemented through :
-
regulations that prohibit private construction of protective structures,
-
conversion of land ownership to long term or conditional leases which
expire when the sea reaches a particular level or when the property owner
dies.
The third option would be to depend on the workings of the private market.
Productive crop and timber lands may be left to slowly and progressively
deteriorate as a result of salt intrusion into the groundwater or by surface
flooding. Wells and surface water exposed to salt water intrusion would gradually
be abandoned. Natural resources~ such as mangroves, marshes and coral reefs,
would be left to their natural processes as sea level rises. However, salt intrusion
with consequent loss of wells use, does not necessarily result in habitant
departure. On Long Island, N.Y., water was simply provided from outside
sources.
Under this option, governments could take the more limited role of ensuring that
all participants in potentially vulnerable areas have full knowledge about the
expected sea-level rise and its associated uncertainties. Development would
presumably not occur if developers, lenders and insurers were not willing to
accept the risks. However, if people continue to build in vulnerable areas,
governments must be prepared to take the necessary actions to ensure public
safety.
For small island states, retreat does not offer a broadly applicable alternative.
There would be little or no land for resettlement, in addition to loss of heritage
and cultural upheaval. This is particularly true for Pacific Ocean island countries
which have hardly- any elevation above present sea level.
23
This approach can be implemented through :
-
regulations that prohibit private construction of protective structures,
-
conversion of land ownership to long term or conditional leases which
expire when the sea reaches a particular level or when the property owner
dies.
The third option would be to depend on the workings of the private market.
Productive crop and timber lands may be left to slowly and progressively
deteriorate as a result of salt intrusion into the groundwater or by surface
flooding. Wells and surface water exposed to salt water intrusion would gradually
be abandoned. Natural resources~ such as mangroves, marshes and coral reefs,
would be left to their natural processes as sea level rises. However, salt intrusion
with consequent loss of wells use, does not necessarily result in habitant
departure. On Long Island, N.Y., water was simply provided from outside
sources.
Under this option, governments could take the more limited role of ensuring that
all participants in potentially vulnerable areas have full knowledge about the
expected sea-level rise and its associated uncertainties. Development would
presumably not occur if developers, lenders and insurers were not willing to
accept the risks. However, if people continue to build in vulnerable areas,
governments must be prepared to take the necessary actions to ensure public
safety.
For small island states, retreat does not offer a broadly applicable alternative.
There would be little or no land for resettlement, in addition to loss of heritage
and cultural upheaval. This is particularly true for Pacific Ocean island countries
which have hardly- any elevation above present sea level.