Climate change has been in the news a great deal lately, but what many people don’t realise is that many World Heritage sites are under threat from coastal erosion and flooding. A study published in the well-respected journal, Nature, has revealed that many famous sites, including the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the ancient city of Carthage, will likely be underwater by the end of the century.
Sites Under Threat
There are more than 1,092 World Heritage sites under threat. One major site, Venice, has been under threat from flooding for many years. But it’s not alone. Most of the affected sites are less than 10m above sea level. Italy is the worst affected, followed by Croatia and Greece. Tyre, an ancient Phoenician site in Lebanon is under threat from coastal erosion. It lies on the Mediterranean, where the shore is mostly sand, and the waves are big.
World Heritage sites are not the only ones affected by coastal erosion. There are many communities around the world dealing with a diminishing coastline, which is eating away at their gardens and threatening their livelihood. In some at-risk areas, several meters of land disappear into the sea every year.
East Riding Coastline Vanishing
According to figures compiled by East Riding Council in the UK, around 13 feet of land is disappearing each year on unprotected stretches of coastline. The council says more than 200 homes will be lost by 2105, with 24 homes likely to disappear in the next seven years. There are also stretches of road at risk, with the B1242 already perilously close to the cliff edge. If this road vanishes, local people will be forced to take a huge detour.
Despite the problems in many coastal communities, there has been very little research carried out into the effects of global warming and coastal erosion. Yet there are methods to minimise the damage caused by high tides and waves, which are used to protect marine installations and other coastal structures.
Modern Coastal Erosion Solutions
Companies like Maccaferri produce a range of coastal products. These coastal building products offer improved foundation stability, temporary emergency protection, and prevent erosion from impacting submerged breakwaters and other marine structures. These strategies have all been used successfully to protect marine developments and structures, but they are not so applicable for the people living with an aggressive coastal climate.
Many older coastal towns have concrete seawalls designed to keep the tide at bay, but concrete structures don’t last forever. Timely repairs are needed to ensure the sea doesn’t weaken the seawall, causing it to crack and fail.
Maintaining the beach is another important factor. The danger with coastal erosion is that the sea slowly but surely strips the sand away and relocates it elsewhere. Transplanting sand from other areas helps to slow down the tidal incursion and keep the sea at bay. Seaweed should be encouraged too, as this slows down coastal erosion.
The problem of coastal erosion is not going to go away. As our climate warms, sea levels will rise and encroach inland. To prevent further sustained damage, a multi-pronged approach will be needed.