LIVING WITH COASTAL IN EUROPE

SEDIMENT AND SPACE FOR SUSTAINABILITY

RESULTS FROM THE EUROSION STUDY

European Commission COLOPHON FOREWORD

Editors: The history of Europe has been marked by the continuous migration of its Pat Doody, Maria Ferreira, Stéphane Lombardo, Irene Lucius, Robbert Misdorp, inhabitants towards the coastal zones, which very often offered more favourable Hugo Niesing, Albert Salman, Marleen Smallegange conditions for economic growth. Today, about 70 out of the 455 million citizens of the enlarged European Union, i.e. 16% of the EU population, live in coastal Design and production: municipalities. This proportion keeps increasing. Van Rossum Rijgroep bv, Schiedam However, our coastal communities have clearly had an impact on the coastal May 2004 environment. Generally speaking, economic activities imply a pressure on natural areas, but in the case of coastal zones, there are also some specific environmental Cover: issues. These include the proliferation of engineered frontage, the intensive use of From left to right: Costa da Caparica, Portugal (Photo: IHRH); natural shores for recreation and tourism, and the extraction of near-shore sand Saint Quay, France (Photo: anonymous); Cap Blanc Nez, France (Photo: anonymous); and gravel for construction purposes. These fulfil important ecological, societal Scheveningen, the Netherlands (Photo: Rijkswaterstaat). and economical functions. The most important of these functions are the protection of human assets against storm surges and salt water intrusion, the Back: absorption of land-based nutrients and pollutants drained by to the sea, From left to right: Wadden Sea, the Netherlands (Photo: Rijkswaterstaat); and the breeding and feeding of fishes, crustaceans and birds. To replace these Malaga, Spain (Photo: anonymous); Birling Gap, UK (Photo: J. Menrath); naturally fulfilled functions would cost far more than future generations of South Kerry, Ireland (Photo: Marine Institute, Ireland). European citizens could afford. Economic activities can also contribute to accelerated of the European coastline - one of the most visible consequences of this relentless and silent depletion of the coastal environment. Coastal erosion occurs when the sea encroaches upon the land as a result of wind, wave and tide pressure in conditions of poor availability. Coastal erosion is a natural process which has always existed and throughout history has helped to shape Europe’s coastlines, but there is now evidence that the current scale of coastal erosion is far from natural. In many locations, human attempts to remedy the situation, e.g by erecting breakwaters, can actually Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union make the situation worse by causing more erosion further along the coastline. New freephone number: On the other hand, if nothing is done, human-induced coastal erosion will in the 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 long run jeopardise the ability of coastal zones to adapt to the effects of climate change, notably sea level rise and the increased frequency or magnitude of storms. A great deal of additional information on the European Union is available on the Internet. The EUROSION study, commissioned by my Directorate-General for the It can be accessed through the Europa server (http://europa.eu.int). Environment following an initiative by the European Parliament, set out to quantify the status, impact and trends of coastal erosion in Europe and assess Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication. needs for action at EU, Member State and regional levels. The findings and policy recommendations of this study are reported in this publication. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2004 The EUROSION study concludes that efforts should be made to improve coastal resilience through improved sediment management and allocation of sufficient ISBN 92-894-7496-3 space for coastal processes. I hope that EU Member States and regions will take the EUROSION recommendations forward. For our part, the Commission will take © European Communities, 2004 them into account when finalising its thematic strategy on soil, and in other Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. relevant policy areas.

Printed in the Netherlands Margot Wallström PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER Commissioner for the Environment European Commission

3 INTRODUCTION

The scale of the problem coastal erosion or flooding will reach shape European coastal landscapes, All European coastal states are to 158,000 in 2020, while half of Europe’s creating a wide variety of coastal some extent affected by coastal coastal wetlands is expected to types. Erosion of inland soils induced erosion. About twenty thousand disappear as a result of sea level rise. 2 by rainfall and movement along kilometres of coasts, corresponding to riverbeds provides in some areas 20% 1, face serious impacts in 2004. The difficulty of reconciling the safety considerable amounts of terrestrial Most of the impact zones (15,100 km) of people and assets with the benefits to the coast. These are actively retreating, some of them in offered by natural coastal processes has sediments together with those derived spite of coastal protection works (2,900 been exacerbated in the past 15 years from coastal features (such as eroding km). In addition, another 4,700 km as a result of increasing capital cliffs and marine sand banks) provide have become artificially stabilised. investments (in coastal defence) and essential material for the development falling discharges. The length of of offshore reefs, mud flats, The area lost or seriously impacted by new engineered frontage has increased saltmarshes, sandy beaches, sand erosion is estimated to be 15 km2 per by 934 kilometres. Of the 875 km newly , and transitional marshes. In year. Within the period 1999-2002, eroding coastlines (eroding in 2001 but turn, these coastal habitats provide a between 250 and 300 houses had to be not in 1986) 63% is located less than 30 wide range of outstanding benefits abandoned in Europe as a result of kilometres from an engineered including locations for economic and imminent coastal erosion risk and frontage. As for the 37% of remaining recreational activities, protection from another 3,000 houses saw their market newly eroding areas, they tend to have flooding in low lying areas, absorption This map shows the location of the case studies reviewed in value decrease by at least 10%. These a higher density in areas where sea of wave energy during storm surges, the framework of EUROSION study, some with their erosion losses are, however, insignificant level has risen by more than 20 cm in reduction of eutrophication of coastal rate per year. The cases of Cyprus, Tenerife, Azores and French Guiana are compared to the risks of coastal the past 100 years and is likely to rise waters, as well as nesting and hatching not displayed on the map. flooding due to the undermining of another 80 cm this century. of fauna species. Combating coastal coastal dunes and sea defences. This erosion can therefore create new threat has the potential to impact The cost of mitigation actions is problems elsewhere, depending on the regulation works (especially several thousands of square kilometres increasing. In 2001, public expenditure type of measures taken. construction of dams), dredging, and millions of people. Over the past dedicated to coastline protection vegetation clearing, gas mining and 50 years, the population living in against the risk of erosion and flooding water extraction. European coastal municipalities has has reached an estimated 3,200 million more than doubled to reach 70 million euros (compared to 2,500 million in The EUROSION study 1986 3). However, this expenditure As an echo to the threats mentioned mainly reflects the need to protect above, both the European Parliament assets at imminent risk of coastal and the European Commission have erosion, and does not reflect the hidden felt the need to undertake a Europe- costs induced by human activities in the wide study meant to provide quantified long term. Earlier studies for the UN- evidence that coastal erosion in Europe IPCC estimate that the cost of coastal does constitute a problem of growing erosion will average 5,400 million euro magnitude that public authorities do per year between 1990 and 2020. 4 not always succeed in containing, Geological Dept. Ravenna Municipality hence to assess the needs for action. What is coastal erosion ? Lido Adriano (Ravenna). In this picture, one can clearly The results of this two year study, Coastal erosion is the encroachment see that hotels have been built right on the beach, named EUROSION and steered by the resulting in an increased need for coastal protection upon the land by the sea and is (here by breakwaters) Directorate General of Environment of measured by averaging over a period, the European Commission, have been which is long enough, to eliminate the made public in May 2004. These results impacts of weather, storm events and Coastal erosion is usually the result of consist in: local sediment dynamics. a combination of factors - both natural and human induced - that operate on • A cartographic assessment of the Coastal erosion results in three different scales. Most important natural European coasts’ exposure to coastal Aerial photographs different types of impacts (or risks): factors are: winds and storms, near erosion, based on spatial data and of Happisburg inhabitants in 2001 and the total value • loss of land with economical, societal shore currents, relative sea level rise (a GIS analysis. respectively in 1992, 1999 and 2001. of economic assets located within 500 or ecological value combination of vertical land movement Cliff retreat can be meters from the coastline has • destruction of natural sea defences and sea level rise) and slope • A review of existing practices and easily detected in multiplied to an estimated 500-1000 (usually a system) as a result of processes. Human induced factors of experiences of coastal erosion the upper part of the billion euros in 2000. Given the a single storm event, which in turn coastal erosion include: at the level of local and pictures. predictions for climate change, the results in flooding of the hinterland. engineering, land claim, river basin regional authorities erosion and flood risk to urban, • undermining of artificial sea tourism and industrial facilities, defences, potentially also leading to • A set of guidelines to better agricultural lands, recreational areas flood risk. incorporate coastal erosion issues and natural habitats increases every into environmental assessment year. Studies for the UN-International The processes of coastal erosion and procedures, spatial planning and Panel for Climate Change estimate that accretion have always existed and coastal hazard prevention, and into the annual number of victims of actual have contributed throughout history to regional and local information decision-support systems.

• A set of policy recommendations 1 Due to isostatic post-glacial rebound, Sweden and Finland are subject to uplift and relative fall of sea level so they are not significantly affected by coastal erosion (with the exception of South-Sweden); If the relatively stable coastlines of meant to improve coastal erosion Sweden and Finland are excluded the percentage of coasts affected by erosion amounts to 27. management in the future at the 2 Salman et al, Coastal Erosion Policies: Defining the issues. EUROSION Scoping Study, 2002. Figures derived from the European, national, regional and Global Vulnerability Assessment. WL Delft Hydraulics / Rijkswaterstaat, 1993. local level. 3 Results of EUROSION survey 2002; figures for 1986 are subject to uncertainties. 4 Salman et al, Coastal Erosion Policies: Defining the issues. EUROSION Scoping Study, 2002. Figures derived from the Famous cliffs of Etretat (Higher Normandy) shaped by Global Vulnerability Assessment. WL Delft Hydraulics / Rijkswaterstaat, 1993. coastal erosion

4 5 EUROSION FINDINGS

Finding 1: Shortage of coastal sediments and space results In spite of coastal erosion problems The reasons for this are multiple: • Current national legislation on EIA do into “coastal squeeze” and the increasing impacts of ‘coastal not prescribe any clear rules for squeeze’ on the ability of the coast to • Considerable interventions affecting public hearings, i.e. for Urbanisation of the coast has turned coastal erosion from sustain human use, development coastal erosion processes have taken communicating to and cooperating a natural phenomenon into a problem of growing pressures on the coast have not place since the 1900s (1950s in the with local stakeholders, when intensity. In many coastal areas erosion problems are now abated. The building of protective case of river damming), that is to say establishing an EIA. In a number of increased by human activities and artificially stabilised structures is still widely practised, well before the existence of EIA countries (notably Italy, Portugal and seafronts are progressively encroaching on sedimentary threatening natural resources. This will regulations in Europe (in general in Spain) EIA reports are released for coastlines and cliffs. Dynamic ecosystems and their result in further reduction in the space the 1980’s). Many of these comments to the public at a very late undeveloped coastal landscapes are gradually available at the coastal margin both for investments are still “active” in stage of project development and disappearing, and lack of sediment can be a major human activity, the protection afforded disturbing only for a short period. This was contributory factor. In many places ‘coastal squeeze’ by naturally functioning coastal processes. River basin regulation found to considerably hamper the is the manifestation of this phenomenon. systems and the sustainable works, which disrupt the transport of integration of local "knowledge" on exploitation of natural resources. coarse river sediments to the sea, potential environmental damage – The combined effect of coastal erosion, cause an annual sediment deficit including damage due to coastal infrastructure development and the Urban sprawl estimated at 100 million tons erosion - in project design; along the Dutch erection of defences to protect them coast. (source: derived from EUROSION have created, in many areas, a narrow Urbanised areas database); The consequences of EIA limitations in coastal zone. “Coastal squeeze” occurs appear in red. addressing coastal erosion properly especially in low-lying and inter-tidal Courtesy: • Coastal erosion results from the result in a significant increase of costs Rijkswaterstaat areas, which would naturally adjust to cumulative impact of a wide range of (or at least risks) for society, in terms the changes in sea level, storms and natural and human-induced factors, of habitat loss, loss of public facilities tides, but cannot do so due to the none of which may be considered as and invested capital, and cost of construction of inflexible barriers such the single cause for erosion. This is mitigation measures. as roads, dykes, urbanisations, leisure true for dams (each dam perhaps parks, industrial and other facilities. only trapping a small proportion of This causes a direct loss of natural total sediments); and for other Finding 3:The risk of coastal erosion is supported projects related to industrial financially by the public at large A.M. Stacey development, tourism (marinas, building too close to the shoreline can result in seafront rehabilitation), urbanisation, The cost of reducing coastal erosion risk is mainly a loss of the shoreline and most of its functions sand mining and dredging, and supported by national or regional budgets, hardly ever coastal protection itself. In case an by the local community and almost never by the EIA is required for such projects, owners of assets at risk or by the party responsible for experience has shown that their coastal erosion. This is emphasized by the fact that individual impact on coastal erosion coastal erosion risk assessment has not been may not be significant enough to incorporated in decision-making processes at the local justify the integration of coastal level and risk information to the public remains poor. Finding 2: Current Environmental Impact Assessment sediment transport in the EIA; (EIA) pratices do not address coastal erosion properly The risk of coastal erosion at a The figure depicts particular location is the result of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures - the catchment of probability (frequency) of coastal as implemented under the terms of the directive the Ebro river. erosion events and of the impacts Red triangles 85/337/EEC – have been insufficient in addressing the represent the (capital investment or population in the impact of human activities, such as development, on dams built along risk zone). Current pratices observed in the wider coastal environment. Subsequently, the cost the river. Europe reveal that the tax payer – of attempting to reduce coastal erosion has increased Particularly dama- through expenditures executed by ging to the coastal considerably in relation to the assets requiring sediment budget public authorities - supports the major protection. Consequently it has resulted in a need to are those dams part of costs associated with coastal transfer the cost of coastal erosion mitigation measures built in the down- erosion risk. Almost no cases are found to such activities. stream part of the where the parties responsible for catchment. coastal erosion or the owners of assets In spite of clear evidence that human • Large size projects, such as harbour at risk were paying the bill. activities can increase coastal erosion, extension, land reclamation for observations made at the level of creating wind parks or energy Public expenditure dedicated to habitats. In areas where relative sea EUROSION case studies demonstrate production plant do address coastal coastline protection against the risk of level is rising or where sediment that Environmental Impact Assessment erosion processes within the erosion and flooding has reached an availability is reduced, there is a (EIA) procedures have not been able to framework of their EIA. However, it estimated 3,200 million euros in 2001. further coastal squeeze resulting from contain the extent of coastal erosion. is quite common that the cost of This amount covers both new a steepening beach profile and mitigation measures exceeds the investments made in 2001 (53%), costs foreshortening of the seaward zones as willingness - or the capacity - of the for maintaining existing protection illustrated in the figure below. project developer to pay for it. This is schemes and monitoring the coastline SPOT Image best illustrated by the case of Aveiro (38%), and provision for purchasing Image of SPOT satellite sho- where the cost of annual sand by- coastal lands at risk (9%) . Though little wing the coastal morphology of the Ebro Delta. Available passing has been deemed excessive data exists on the contribution of from Catalogue Sirius at Spot by the harbour authorities; private funding to coastal erosion Image: management in European member http://sirius.spotimage.fr/ • EIA procedures are not states, it is highly probable that this systematically applied to small and contribution does not reach 10% of the A simple illustration of ‘Coastal squeeze’. Habitats are lost medium size projects, though they public expenditure. Of the case studies as a result of land claim, sea level rise or reduction in may, when taken together, reviewed, only Denmark showed a sediment availability exacerbate coastal erosion. significant contribution from private owners, in this case reaching up to 50%

6 7 of the overall cost of coastal protection. believe that they will be financially • realignment of assets, consisting in executed with only a limited The contribution of the private sector responsible for only a small portion removing or abandoning houses and knowledge of coastal hydraulics. Bad to coastal erosion management costs of their losses should a hazard occur. other constructions from the erosion- practices of sand nourishments is not seen by private entrepreneurs as In that respect, common practice in prone areas. notably include those cases where their responsibility but as a business most European countries has largely the availability of appropriate opportunity. Only authorities of shown this belief to be well founded. Case studies reviewed by EUROSION sediments for nourishment is not medium-to-large size harbours In a number of cases, public policy have provided a range of experiences garanteed (resulting in higher costs) contribute significantly to works to and funding are directed to threatened in relation to the cost-effectiveness and or where dredging of sand has mitigate the impact of their activities property owners and by the empathy environmental friendliness of such caused irreversible damage to sea on coastal erosion. their situation generates in the public protection schemes. Major lessons grass communities (e.g. Posidonia at large. In other cases, public learnt from these are: along ). Observations made at the local level authorities may be held responsible make it possible to classify the for damage induced by coastal • Lessons learnt from hard protection • Lessons learnt from managed behaviour governing investment at risk erosion because they granted techniques. Many hard constructions realignment. Since the early 1990s, along the coast. Such behaviour construction permits in areas at risk. have had positive effects only in a a new approach to address coastal includes: short time and space perspective. By erosion has developed in Europe and The use of public money to safeguard disrupting long-shore drift of consists in abandoning lands at risk • An underestimation of hazard the safety of people and economic sediment transport, beaches located and relocating the assets further probability. Some individuals may infrastructure does not pose a problem further down-drift of hard inland. Such an approach has been perceive the probability that damage as such. However, it may be constructions in many cases have implemented in the UK (Essex and caused to their property by coastal questionable whether public been deprived of sediment and as a Sussex) and France (Criel sur Mer). erosion is not sufficiently high to authorities should bear the financial result suffered from increased In those cases, cost benefit analyses alter the decision to build or move to cost when others are responsible for erosion. Vertical constructions such have demonstrated that the cost of an alternative location. In practice, a coastal erosion or where owners as seawalls and bulkheads also traditional protection would have majority of private owners having choose to live within areas at risk. The increase turbulence and sediment largely exceeded the value of assets experienced such damage report opportunity to place the onus for scouring, which help to undermine to be protected in the long term their lack of knowledge about the coastal defence in these circumstances their own foundations. Particularly (over the life expectancy of the risks beforehand ( “I wish I had on the beneficiaries (the “polluter illustrative of this are the seawalls of assets), making managed known…”) and often blame the pays” principle) and investments at Playa Gross (built in 1900), realignment a more reasonable authorities that have allowed such risk must therefore be considered. Chatelaillon (1925), or De Haan option from a an economical point of investments. Only few countries (1930), which still continue to view. Furthermore, managed have institutionalized the assessment exacerbate erosion problems. realignment may constitute a sound and systematic mapping of risks as Finding 4:Traditional approaches to counteract coastal As for groins, they are effective for a environmental solution as cliff integral part of spatial planning erosion may be counterproductive limited length of coast, but on the erosion is not stopped and continues processes. Note that even where downdrift side erosion often to provide sediments further down- they exist, such risk maps are not Over the past hundred years the limited knowledge of necessitates an extension of the drift. Experience has also shown that systematically made accessible to coastal sediment transport processes at the local groin-field, resulting into a “domino” the financial basis and timing of the public. authority level has often resulted in inappropriate effect. Hard engineering also proved “compensation” are key to ensure a measures of coastal erosion mitigation. In many cases, to have limited efficiency in the case broad acceptance of managed measures may have solved coastal erosion locally but of protected cliffs, such as those of realignment in some areas. Pieterjan van der Hulst have exacerbated coastal erosion problems at other Ventnor on the Isle of Wight and in Road damaged by coastal erosion on Isle of Wight locations – up to tens of kilometres away – or have Sussex. Here slumping of soft rock These experiences demonstrate the generated other environmental problems. cliffs is the result of terrestrial limits of piecemeal responses to processes such soil weathering coastal erosion, and the need for the As of 2001, about 7600 kilometres (through water seepage), lubrication adoption of a proactive approach benefit from coastal erosion mitigation between geological layers and based on planning, monitoring, schemes, and 80% of these schemes erosion by rainwater along streams evaluation, and ICZM principles. have been in place for more than 15 and gullies and does not just years. Such mitigation schemes use originate as a result of wave attack. and combine a wide range of techniques and approaches which • Lessons learnt from soft protection • Short term horizons. Individuals and include: techniques. Dune, beach and near investors may have relatively short shore sand nourishments have time horizons during which they • hard engineering techniques, i.e. aroused a tremendous enthusiasm in want to recover their investment. using permanent concrete and rock the past 20 years. The enthusiasm Even if the expected life of the house constructions to “fix” the coastline generated lies in their ability to is 40 or 50 years, the investor may and protect the assets located contribute positively to safety as well only look at the potential benefits of behind. These techniques - seawalls, as to other functions such as his/her investment over the next groins, detached breakwaters, or recreational, water purification (in eight to ten years before resale. They revetments - represent a significant dunes) and ecological values. In the F. Sabatier may reason that they will not be share of protected shoreline in case of the Netherlands, systematic Series of groins along the coast of Camargue. In some places, residing in the property for longer Europe (more than 70%); dune, beach and foreshore the sea has almost breached the sand barrier than this period of time. This way of nourishment has been successfully thinking has prevailed along the • soft engineering techniques (e.g. applied since 1990. Sand Mediterranean coast, where the sand nourishments), building with nourishment is particularly profit return period in the tourism natural processes and relying on successful wherever: 1) it is proven sector generally does not exceed 10 natural elements such as sands, as an efficient safety measure; 2) it is years. dunes, marshes and vegetation to cost effective and 3) it provides prevent erosive forces from reaching opportunities for other coastal • Expectation of public assistance. the backshore; functional uses. However, it is quite Individuals may have little interest in frequent that these requirements are considering the risk level if they not met and sand nourishments are

8 9 Finding 5: The knowledge base for decision-making on • the long term costs and benefits of • reluctance to release key producing and diffusing baseline coastline management is weak, in general. coastal erosion mitigation measures, information. Poor access to data over the whole national territory which would make it possible to documents or datasets considered – e.g. national geological surveys, In spite of the availability of tremendous amount of data, select the most cost-effective important to decision making is national meteorological centers, information gaps continue to exist. scenario and if needed propose reported by the vast majority of the national mapping agencies, The practice of coastal information management – from areas where retreat should be local stakeholders interviewed. Often hydrographical offices and river raw data acquisition to aggregated information managed. the reluctance of the information basin agencies – other institutions dissemination - suffer from major shortcomings which producer to release his/her produce data largely for their own result in inadequate decisions. Surprisingly, sharing and Paradoxically, these information gaps information has resulted in purposes (be it research or dissemination of coastal data, information, knowledge and contrast with the tremendous amount misunderstandings and conflict. management oriented) and not for experiences are hardly ever considered by regional and of data available on near-shore areas These feelings, which may be external users. Extending their local stakeholders. (data being defined here as a exaggerated in some cases (see next mandate to data dissemination The use of a better knowledge base when coastal "collection of raw measurements and point), can be verified for example in would require rethinking development is proposed provides an opportunity, which observations not collated into relation to requests for organisational issues, defining data would reduce technical and environmental costs of human meaningful information"). This Environmental Impact Assessment diffusion policies and most of all activities (including measures for coastal erosion mitigation) suggests that information gaps mainly (EIA) reports. Here the experience of identifying the economical incentives and could help anticipate future trends and risks. originate as a result of organisational the EUROSION team, who made 78 which are currently not well and institutional shortcomings rather requests for EIA studies in 11 perceived by the data producers In spite of its importance for than technological limitations. European regions, suffered 71 (especially publicly funded supporting decision-making, investigations carried out by refusals (see also Finding 2). producers). information is generally not seen by EUROSION at the level of Aquitaine, Surprisingly, such documents had public authorities in charge of coastline Catalunya, Isle of Wight, Essex, Aveiro, been cleared by public authorities The above mentioned shortcomings management as a strategic sector, and North-Holland largely confirm this and were meant to be accessible. are emphasized by the fact that, which justifies major investments. This conclusion and have identified a contrary to other sectors (e.g. coastal does not necessarily mean that the number of shortcomings in coastal • poor archiving and dissemination defence, land-use planning, water budget dedicated to data collection information management practices, capacities. Delays in accessing management), the sector of coastal and analysis should be increased – it which can be summarized as follows: information also originate in the lack information management does not already reaches between 10 and 20% of of clearly established dissemination clearly fall under the responsibility of all expenses related to coastal erosion • a considerable fragmentation of data mechanisms such as information any of the institutions existing at the management within the cases repositories and host institutions. resource centres, virtual libraries, or national or local level. This reviewed (between 320 and 640 Million This aspect is all the more critical simply contact persons for each administrative vacuum also Euro extrapolated to all Europe). since rigorous risk and impact existing datasets or documents. With jeopardizes the emergence of a long Instead, it suggests that authorities are assessment, as well as land use the notable exception of term vision to overcome these reluctant to conduct the appropriate planning in coastal zones require a governmental bodies in charge of shortcomings. reforms in the fields of information wide variety of information involving management. Reforms would make it many issues, wide time horizon and possible in the long run to: (i) increase spatial scales. These include wave the cost-effectiveness of decisions and wind climate, tidal regime, near- made in the field of coastline shore current patterns, history of management and, (ii) to reduce and extreme water elevations, coastal optimise the expenditure related to geology and geomorphology, coastal data production and sedimentary properties of the processing. Yet, evidence shows that seabed, terrestrial and marine inadequate use of existing information topography, land use, and land has been responsible for considerable tenure. Each host institution uses (in economic losses in Europe as illustrated general) its own standards, which by the case of Vale do Lobo or significantly increases the costs for Lacanau-Cap Ferret. making the data interoperable and delays the retrieval of data. Although a wide range of stakeholders are involved in coastline management • duplication of data production at all levels, the information needs are efforts. In a significant number of quite similar for most of these cases, similar datasets have been stakeholders and most of European collated by different institutions regions surveyed by EUROSION, and resulting in a considerable can be summarised as follows: duplication of data acquisition costs. It is also quite frequent that two or • the impact of human activities on three departments of a same coastal sediment transport institution finance, independently processes, which would make it from other departments, the possible to optimise the selection of acquisition of the same data, which Ile aux oiseaux - Arachon Basin suitable sites for investments and/or results in a considerable waste of to establish environmental liabilities; financial resources. This was epitomized by the case of North- • the delineation of areas at risk of Holland. But lack of coordination coastal erosion for the coming years, does not explain everything: which would make it possible to excessive access fees to existing prioritise coastal erosion mitigation data sources combined with measures and control urban restrictive copyrights have also led development; various stakeholders to develop their own datasets.

10 11 – SCHLESWIG HOLSTEIN

Germany’s northernmost outpost the past 50 years as a result of sea This flexible measures did not Sylt is ’s northernmost level rise and warmer and stormier completely dispel the need for hard outpost, located in the German winters. In the very south of Sylt, protection but contributed to improve Wadden Sea in the federal state of erosion devoured 15 metres of sandy their efficiency and life expentancy. Schleswig-Holstein. As a barrier island, beaches only in 2002. In that respect, Sylt is quite the largest of the Fresian archipelago, illustrative of successful beach Sylt consists of beaches and dunes Predictive models for the next fifty nourishment schemes. The main built against a residual core of glacial years have confirmed that erosion reason for this lies in the fact that drift deposits. The island Sylt also will continue to affect the entire west sediments with appropriate provides many recreational coast of Sylt and in particular the characteristics can be dredged at low opportunities. Each year, the 40 km northern part of the island at Kampen cost in the vicinity of Sylt and without long west coast with its sandy beaches and the southern part at Rantum and irreversible impact on the attracts about 600,000 tourists, which Hornum. The central part of Sylt is environment. Moreover, lonsghore makes tourism, with its 5 million hotel Westerland resort on expected to remain reasonably stable sediment transport rates remain nights spent on the island, the main the western coast of Sylt provided adequate protection is within reasonable values, which source of income for the island. implemented. increases the time interval between two succesive nourishment Case Studies A protected environment A dynamic coastline Working this nature operations (every 6 years on average) In 1985, the region was designated as The entire west coast of Sylt has been Past erosion mitigation strategies in thus limiting impacts on the national park (the Schleswig-Holstein severely eroding for a long time, as a Sylt used to be based on hard coastal environment and cost. Wadden Sea National Park) in result of strong exposure to frequent defence works, including groins and recognition of the high ecological and heavy storm surges coming from concrete seawall. These measures Finally, by extending the width of significance of the Wadden Sea. It the west. In addition, waves induced proved to be counterproductive in the beaches, sand nourishment is serves, for example, as a place to feed by alternatively north westerly and long run since they contributed to compatible with tourism and and rest for migratory birds and is an south westerly winds generate a net disrupt longshore sediment transport, recreational activities, which important nursery for many fish and longshore transport which is directed thus generating further erosion down- increases its social acceptability by crustaceans. In 1999, an amendment southward in the south and drift and other environmental local population and balances was added to the law to enlarge the northward in the north of Sylt. This problems. Moreover, the seawall at limitations induced by the protection boundaries of the National Park west causes the island to bend as an arc Westerland suffered from severe of the Wadden Sea National Park. of the islands of Sylt and Anrum with and to grow both northwards and damage during storm surges as a a view to protect harbour porpoise – southwards. Moreover, the island is result of foreshore lowering in front listed in Appendix II of the Habitats submitted to changing conditions. of the structure. This led regional and Directive – and to create a whale While the average annual retreat at federal authorities in the early 1970s protection area. Activities such as the west coast from 1870 to 1950 to adopt new measures based on hunting, mussel fishery and boating reached 0.9 metre per year, it has and flexible are severely controlled. increased up to 1,5 metre per year in solutions such as geotextile revetment.

Lubos Polerecky Dunes of Sylt

12 13 HAUTE NORMANDIE

”La côte d’albâtre”: an outstanding to the coast - such as in Dieppe, Saint- Addressing erosion issues to improve decisions concerning landscape in the service of the regional Valery, Fécamp and Le Tréport – which National and regional authorities have shoreline management in Haute economy lie below the high water level during recently realised that human activities Normandie and adjacent regions. The white cliffs of Haute-Normandie spring tides. According to the and traditional approaches to manage extend from the Seine Bay to the south EUROSION database, more than coastal erosion – via groins and Managed realignment in Criel sur Mer to the town of Ault-Onival along the 300,000 inhabitants are estimated to breakwaters - have had The example of Criel sur Mer, located French oriental Channel. These cliffs live within the impact zone of coastal counterproductive effects and reduced in the North-eastern part of the Côte have been made famous all over the erosion and associated risk of flooding. the mobility of sediments along the d’Albâtre, is quite illustrative of correct world by the outstanding scenic beauty This risk has become higher since the coast, which used to provide a natural decisions recently made in the fields of of Etretat located south of the coast. establishment of two nuclear power protection to cliffs and urbanized cliff erosion management. In 1995, the The dominant chalk substratum has stations - Paluel and Penly – along the valleys. This lesson has motivated the French Government introduced new inspired the coast name – the “côte shoreline. regional authorities of Haute legislation aimed at mapping the d’albâtre” or the alabaster coast - and Normandie and Picardie, which share potential extent of natural hazards endows the region with atypical flora Causes of coastal erosion the same coastal sediment cell, to and anticipating their impact and fauna, including in particular typical The cliffs of Haute-Normandie have establish a partnership and to exchange (“Barnier Act”). Under the terms of this bird species attracted by the cliff retreated at an average rate of 20 experience with the view to address new act, the expropriation of cavities suitable for nesting. The Pointe centimetres per year over the past 50 coastal erosion problems consistently. inhabitants living in areas at imminent Case Studies Fagnet has been designated since 1990 years. This retreat takes the form of This partnership was initiated in the risk has become possible. Criel-sur-Mer as a Special Protection Area (SPA) coastal landslide events which are framework of the Contrat de Plan has been among the first examples of under the terms of the Bird Directive responsible, individually, for the Interregional du Bassin Parisien application of this measure in France. and a significant part of the coast has collapse of up to 10 metres of coastal (Paris Basin Interregional Development From 1995 to 2003, a total of 14 houses been proposed as sites of community lands. Erosion results from both Contract) and continued within the were abondoned and their inhabitants interest for the Habitats Directive. marine and continental processes: framework of the INTERREG II relocated. As a consequence of this outstanding they are dominated by the assaults of programme “Beach erosion of the landscape, the region captures a western waves and storms which Rives-Manche”. As a first step of this The originality of this expropriation substantial part of its income from undermine the cliff stability, water interregional cooperation, an assessment process is that the indemnification rate tourism and recreational activities. In seepage from the top of the cliff which of future erosion has been conducted does not reflect the real market value - 1999, tourism reached 12 million hotel decreases the cohesion of the cliff rock, based on the analysis of historical and which tends to decrease when the risk nights principally along the coast and the which recent aerial photographs. becomes imminent - but was based transports sediments – notably pebbles on its “riskless” market value, which Assets at risk that protect the cliff base from wave This assessment is being followed by preserved the interest of relocated EUROSION has estimated that about attacks – towards the North-East. the implementation of a coastal families. Cliffs continue to retreat and 180 km2 of areas of high ecological observatory to become operational in to provide valuable sediment to value lie within the radius of influence In the past 100 years however, coastal the second half of 2004. On the protect the valleys downdrift, and of coastal erosion in Haute Normandy. erosion has been exacerbated by human medium term, a better understanding people remain safe. Besides nature, cliff retreats also activities, notably the mining of pebbles, of coastal erosion processes is expected directly affect houses located on the forbidden since 1972, and hard coastal cliff top, most notably in the defence works such as groins and municipalities of Criel, Quiberville and breakwaters, which have disrupted the Saint-Pierre en Port. But this is not all: longshore transport of pebbles, that though dominated by natural areas used to protect the base of the cliffs and farmlands, the cliffs are locally cut and the beaches of urbanized valleys by highly urbanised valleys perpendicular downdrift.

Endangered houses in Criel-sur-Mer (Higher Normandy)- U.Dornbusch, University of Sussex, http://www.geog.sussex.ac.uk/BERM/

14 15 GULF OF RIGA

A natural and cultural heritage under protection The Gulf of Riga extends over 240 km from the Cape Kolka in the northwest to Ainazi in the northeast. Four large rivers , as well as 140 small rivers and creeks exit into the gulf. Along the gulf, sandy and boulder beaches, dunes, coastal forests, meadows, marshes and constitute the most commonly found habitats, which in turn shelter a large concentration of waterfowl in winter during moult and migration, and a wide diversity of birds in the breeding season. Beside nature, the gulf shores also host a large number of cultural heritage sites, in Case Studies particular the Daugavgriva fortification An increasing erosion risk due to a inherited from the 17th century. changing environment The last four decades witnessed changes This natural and cultural heritage has of dynamic equilibrium conditions in led the Latvian authority to designate a coastal development of the Gulf of strip of 300 metres either side of the Riga. Major among those changes are coastline as a Coastal Protection Zone. an increasing frequency of western Foto J.Vitins , A.Asars, JVK Within this zone, clear-felling, and northern storms as well as an Aerial photograph of Riga and the Daugava river mouth. excavations, building outside already increased water discharge from the inhabited areas and any other activity rivers flowing into the gulf. which may adversely affect the protective function of coastal habitats Both changes result in a significant rise In addition, the damming of the Daugava protection to coastal assets. However, are severely controlled. of the mean sea level as measured by river and dredging of the Lielupe river experience has shown that this the tide gauge of Daugavgriva. bed for construction purposes since protection is relative as witnessed by A local economy oriented towards the In turn, relative sea level rise is held the 1930s have drastically reduced the the storm event of 2001 which has sea responsible for a redistribution of amount of river sediments reaching the partly destroyed hard revetments at Thirty towns and villages are located sediment cross-shore hence, Gulf of Riga and caused further retreat Ziemas osta and washed away 300,000 close to the Gulf and notably in the a recession of sandy beaches and of foreshore and beaches in the vicinity euros of artificially nourished beaches. south of the Gulf lies the capital Riga dunes which can reach up to two metres of Riga and Jurmala. and the resort of Jurmala that is visited annually. Moreover, particularly strong Future perspectives by up to 10 million tourists each year. coastline erosion in the last decade A number of houses adjacent to the In spite of its legislation on coastal Seven harbours are established along occurred during extremely severe storm foredune in Jurmala and to the protection, effective shoreline the gulf, among which is the harbour events of 1992 and 2001 which usually harbour facilities at Ziemas osta management along the gulf of Riga of Riga, whose freight traffic, occur with a 100 year return period. in Daugavgriva have been abandoned suffers an overlap of responsibilities principally composed of timber, oil and In particular, erosion of 20 to 30 metres as a result of shoreline recession. In among national and local institutions fertilizer products, reached 15 millions during a single event has been other districts of Jurmala and Riga, and from conflicts with other existing tons in 2001. Small-scale fisheries recorded along the urbanized beach of erosion of beaches threatens legislation. In the future, reinforced occur in the mouth of the Lielupe. Jurmala and Riga. economical assets associated with spatial planning regulations are leisure facilities. Recent studies have expected to better control the evaluated that up to three million euros development of assets along the coast of capital are at direct risk of coastal and to clarify the responsibilities of the erosion in Riga. various stakeholders towards coastal However, this is nothing compared to erosion and associated risk of flooding. the potential damages of extreme This is expected to be achieved in storm surges as witnessed by the connection with the implementation of coastal flooding of 2001 which the ICZM Recommendations by the breached the Daugavgriva foredune in Latvian government. November 2001, and inundated the hinterland.

Relative protection combining different techniques Latvian authorities have developed an approach based on a combination of different measures. Replanting of foredunes with marram grass and willows, as well as maintenance of pine forest plantations constitute the main technical measures to slow down the shoreline recession over the major part of the Gulf of Riga. Along the urbanised and industrialised Alise Tumane frontage of the gulf, hard revetment Dune erosion along the Gulf of Riga and submerged nourishment are deemed to provide an immediate

16 17 ESSEX

A coastal county at the door of London supply of material from the north with the The County of Essex is in the south-east of approaches to Harwich Harbour forcing the England and lies just to the north-east of material seawards. The loss of saltmarshes London. The coastline around its south- in south east England has been subject to east edge is deeply indented, but flat, due a considerable amount of research. Losses to several river estuaries enclosed due to enclosure and subsequent use for between those of the river Stour to the agriculture amounted to some 4,340 ha. North and the river Thames to the South. Essex has always been an agricultural Accelerated sea level rise: a new threat ? county, with a clay based but fertile soil Beside its exposure to coastal erosion and superb grain growing countryside – processes – either nature or human driven the subsequent grain giving rise to - Essex has to face another threat. Its associated milling, malting and brewing coast lies in an area where sea level is industries. Livestock is common as well. rising relative to the land. Sea level rise Plant nurseries and market gardens abound respectively reaches +1.7 mm/year in where the clay soil is covered by lighter, Stour , +1.4 mm/year in Crouch more fertile soils. The coastline has also estuary, and +1.5 mm/year in Swale (Kent). Case Studies brought great wealth, with important A well known effect of sea level rise is the trading, fishing and shipbuilding centres. depletion of salt marshes, which provide a Sea salt from Maldon, oysters from high level of safety by absorbing wave Colchester and cockles at Leigh-on-Sea are energy during storms. Some estimates famous nation-wide. Today Essex is home suggest that without a fringing saltmarsh to Tilbury Docks, the Port of Harwich and a sea wall needs to be four times as high Bradwell Power Station. Its area is 3672 km2, and could cost ten times more to and its population around 1.5 million. construct than one fronted by an 80m wide saltmarsh. Coastal lowlands challenged by the sea Extensive areas of salt marshes, mudflats and offshore sand banks fringe the Essex coast. The area also includes grazing marsh, small areas of shingle shore, as well as coastal cliffs to a smaller extent. Landward areas are low-lying and mainly dedicated to agriculture. Much of these areas are protected from inundation from the sea by earth, sea walls and concrete embankments. Seaward of the seawall are large areas of salt marsh which flood on high tides and provide a form of protection from wave attack. Essex is one of the most threatened areas with respect to coastal flooding in England. For the whole country, over 1,8 million residences and 180,000 commercial properties are considered at risk, potentially 5 million people, and 1,4 million hectares of agricultural land including 61% of the total of grade 1 land in England and Wales.The total value of the assets at risk is estimated to be over 350 billion Euro for England.

All the estuaries show signs of erosion and from North to South there appears to be a general decline in beach levels. This is most noticeable in the salt marshes. In the North this is attributed to the poor

Loss of saltmarsh in the Essex estuaries in ha, derived from Burd (1992) and Coastal Geomorphological Partnership (2000)

Original area Total area Total area Net loss Net loss 1973 1988 1998 1973-1998 1973-1998

Stour 264.2 148.2 107.4 156.8 59.3% Hamford Water 876.1 765.4 621.1 255.0 29.1% Colne 791.5 744.4 694.9 96.6 12.2% Blackwater 880.2 738.5 683.6 196.6 22.3% Dengie 473.8 436.5 409.7 64.1 13.5% Crouch 467.1 347.4 307.8 159.3 34.1% Thames (Essex) ? 197.0 181.0 No 1973 data

18

Acceleration of the pace at which sea level is rising, as observed today, could therefore jeopardize the ability of salt marshes to provide cost-effective protection to the hinterland against the risk of flooding.

Current shoreline management A.M.Stacey strategies Cudmore Grove Country Park. Salt marshes between the The Essex coast provides a good defensive bank, the sea wall, and the beach. example of the way in which the policies associated with coastal maintenance of coastal protection defence, particularly those relating to features, extreme events will always protection of the land from erosion and overcome the defences. flooding, have developed over the last 20 years or so in the United Kingdom. It is too early to tell whether the long Since then the loss of habitat, changing term realignment of the coast will perceptions of the implications of sea achieve the aim of securing a more level rise and cost of maintaining hard sustainable and cost effective approach defences have all contributed to the to coastal defence. It is already clear, move away from ‘protect at all costs’ however, that the re-creation of mudflats to a policy of ‘realignment’ which and salt marshes are possible and that accepts that some land will be lost to considerable benefits are derived for the sea. This combined with the use of nature conservation. The case for and ‘softer’ engineering options, such as the benefits derived from adopting a beach recharge, represent a much more more flexible approach to coastal flexible approach to coastal protection. management are becoming much However, it does not imply that the more widely accepted as the policy is policy supersedes all locations where promoted within the wider coastal coastal protection may be in place. community and to the public. Indeed there are several large towns and villages where protection is desirable In that perspective, the Essex Estuaries and cost effective because of the Initiative (EEI) - partly funded through assets they protect. The identification Interreg IIC - is a strategic approach to of the most sustainable approaches to coastal management, which aims to manage risk along the shoreline over coordinate and support the Essex the next 50 years has been supported Estuaries European Marine Site. This is by the elaboration of the Shoreline a statutory designation which involves Management Plans (SMP) at the level of a wide range of authorities from local each coastal sediment cell, authorities to fisheries regulators, from recommended by the Department for nature conservation agencies to Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs harbour authorities. The main purpose (DEFRA) and the Environment Agency. is to ensure the nature resources of the The SMP for the Essex Estuaries was coast, both on sea and land, in order to enforced in 1995. continue supporting business, wildlife, and the sustainable development of Future perspectives coastal populations and nature areas. It is clear from the analysis of the situation in Essex that a rising sea level The development of appropriate imposes severe restrictions on the management will facilitate the capacity of the ‘Hold the line’ option to attainment of the twin goals of conser- be sustainable in the medium to long vation of the European Habitat Directive term. Recent flooding events in the UK whilst at the same time maintaining - and in the rest of Europe - suggest and enhancing the socio-economic that whatever is spent on capital and development of the area.

Box: Shoreline management policy options in Essex Policy 1: Hold the line by maintaining or changing the standard of protection. This policy should cover those situations where works or operations are undertaken in front of the existing defences, to improve or maintain the standard of protection provided by the existing defence line.This policy has been adopted at Sales Point, Marsh House, Deal Hall and Hamford Water. Policy 2: Move seaward by constructing new defences seaward of the original defences. Policy 3: Managed realignment by identifying a new line of defence and constructing new defences landward of the original defences. Some experimental sites of this option were Blackwater Estuary, Orplands, Tollesbury and Abbost Hall. Policy 4: Limited intervention by working with natural processes to reduce risks while allowing natural coastal change. This policy was adopted at Cudmore Grove. Policy 5: Do nothing where there is no investment in coastal defence assets or operations.

23 BAY OF GIARDINI NAXOS – SICILY

A typical Mediterranean resort Tourism facilities in management practices along the bay restoration of the natural conditions The bay of Giardini Naxos is situated southern part of Giardini Bay of Giardini are not sustainable. The which led originally to the formation in the Northern sector of the Ionian Regional Department of the of the shoreline, with particular coast of Sicily, between the towns of Environment (ARPA) published a reference also to building activities Messina and Catania. The town of public announcement relating to an inland, to the recovery and restitution Giardini Naxos has about 10,000 major investment programme for the to their natural state of the wet and inhabitants and is characterized by period 2000-2006. This public dry river courses and the restoration strong tourism with more than 1 announcement contains the of the solid littoral transport. million tourists per year. With its 34 guidelines for the definition of Particular attention is to be paid also hotels and 46 restaurants priority areas to be protected and the to the effects on an increase in tourist concentrated along only 5 km of aggravated by a series of man-made types and schedule of measures to be potential, the recovery of state coastline, the bay of Giardini is quite constructions within the catchment taken. Literally, the aim of this property and the protection of private illustrative of coastal tourism of Alcantara river, along the coast, investment programme is the and public goods from sea storms”. development along the or directly at sea (harbour quays). “removal of the causes of This investment programme is still in Mediterranean sea. In summer, the The coastal stretch between San deterioration and/or erosion in the its definition phase. promenade may be frequented by Pancrazio’s church and lido Sirinetta is coastal areas, by means of the more than 20,000 tourists a day, i.e. particulalrly exposed and requires Case Studies twice the population of Giardini continuous protection since the Naxos. 1970s. This has been mainly achieved by the erection of rigid structures, The causes of erosion such as groins and breakwaters. Over recent years, several stretches However, evidence has been given What is at stake in Sicily ? of the coast of Giardini have been that these structures were rarely EUROSION estimates that about 900,000 inhabitants live within the radius of influence of coastal subject to intense erosive forces. placed at a sufficient distance from erosion is Sicily, which makes Sicily the fourth most exposed Italian region in terms of population at This erosion is mainly driven by the the shore to be effective, in risk, after Veneto (1,200,000 inhabitants), Tuscany (950,000) and Campania (915,000). However, Sicily dominant East and North East winds consequence of that they had a comes just after the Veneto region in terms of urbanised area at risk (250 km2 within the radius of that tend to generate southward limited efficiency causing further influence of coastal erosion) which is mainly explained by the presence of densely populated coastal littoral currents which mainly erode erosion problems downdrift. settlements along the coasts such as the cities of Palermo, Messina, Catania, Syracuse, or Taormina. the central –southern sector of the Moreover, the coastal urbanisation growth rate in Sicily (about 30%) between 1975-1990 is among the bay. The reaction of regional authorities highest rates in Europe. EUROSION also estimates that Sicilian coasts also shelter about 315 km2 of However, it readily apparent that Regional authorities have recently areas of high ecological value which are at risk of coastal erosion. these erosive processes have been grown aware that the current erosion

ESA – ENVISAT Extract of a MERIS image . The green colour of the water along the southern coast of Sicily is due to longshore currents. Suspended matters taken away from the beaches are visible in the long plume extending along the southeast extremity of the island

24 25 AVEIRO Eng. Mota Lopes (DRAOT-CENTRO) Aveiro resort located south of the Harbour.

An open door towards the Iberian When the amount of sediments moving How to address coastal erosion: peninsula along the coast is high enough, the ICZM approach Aveiro has an unrivalled position, in outgoing sediments are immediately Lessons learnt from the past have geostrategic terms, at the intersection replaced by incoming sediments and demonstrated that hard engineering of two vital transport axes: the shore is overall stable. During protection structures – such as groins, longitudinally, the axis linking Galicia storm surges the amount of sediments seawall, and breakwaters - established to South of Portugal, and transversally removed is much higher but generally by the national and local authorities the axis linking the Atlantic Ocean to restored during the calm seasons. along the coast, provide very local Central Spain. Together with Costa solutions which do not address the Nova - Vagueira, Ilhavo and Vagos, its However, in the case of Aveiro, harbour underlying cause of erosion (shortage neighbouring municipalities, Aveiro activities have significantly modified of sediment) and generally accelerates hosts nowadays 132,000 inhabitants ecosystems and one of the most sediment transport patterns by trapping the problem down-drift of the coastal (2001 census), 10% more than in 1991. extensive wetlands in Portugal. Part of sediments at the level of its protection. the Ria – the natural reserve of San breakwaters and by regularly dredging The geostrategic position of Aveiro is Jacinto dunes – already enjoys a legal large amount of materials from the To address this issue, whose combined with an outstanding protection status. Other parts of the Ria entrance channel. Yet, harbour consequences may affect the whole ecological context, the municipality may be designated in the near future activities cannot be considered as the ecosystem and related Case Studies being located right at the tidal of the as part of the Natura 2000 network. only reason for erosion south of Aveiro activities (fisheries, aquaculture, lagoon “Ria de Aveiro”. “Ria de Aveiro” (four to six meters per year along tourism), the national and regional ecosystem shelters a wide range of More than fifty fish species live in the Ilhavo shoreline): the heavily dammed governments, municipalities, the natural habitats including sandy coast Ria of Aveiro, some of which rely on Iberian rivers as well as an average harbour authority, and various and dune systems with a high the estuarine system for spawning and one mm sea level rise per year along universities have joined their efforts to recreational value, as well as salt and growing. Mullet, bass, gilt sea bream, the Portuguese coast are also suspected find integrated solutions (see box brackish marshes suitable for fisheries white sea bream, sole and eels are the to contribute to coastal erosion patterns. beside). and aquaculture, which together with best known fish that can be found in harbour activities constitute the major the Ria. Cockle, carpet shell, clam and Coastal erosion has already caused sources of income for Aveiro citizens. razor shell are among the most exploited severe economical losses by reducing SOLUTIONS PROPOSED bivalve molluscs in the Ria. They are the frequentation of beaches, estimated Aveiro harbour is of significant manually collected on mudlflats at low to half a million people during summer • Working with the harbour authority to implement a importance nationally, with a fast tides or “ dredged” in the channels. in Aveiro. In the same time, the cost for “sand by-passing” system from north of the growing annual freight traffic, which Finally, the Ria hosts various shoreline creating and maintaining efficient coastal harbour entrance breakwater to south, thus amounted to 2,820,000 tons in 2001. bird species, migrants or residents, such protection works – which in 1998 reached reactivating the sediment transport processes; Aveiro harbour benefited during the last as godwits, dunlins, plovers, stilts, 2,2 million euros for the seafront of five years from significant investments, avocets, herons and birds of preys. Ilhavo and Vagos only - has resulted in • Identifying areas where natural coastal protection including those from the European lower value for land properties processes could be stimulated, such as Regional Development Fund (ERDF), to The threats on the coast established along the coast (down to rehabilitated dunes or beaches regularly supplied become a major intermodal hub and a More than the risk of industrial pollution 80% of initial value in some places). with non-contaminated materials collected from first class short-sea shipping port in induced by harbour activities, coastal dredging activities along navigation channels; Southern Europe in line with the erosion is estimated to be the main On a longer term perspective, the European Transport Policy. immediate threat affecting Aveiro coastline is expected to retreat to such • Severely controlling illegal sand extraction coastline in terms of economy, people a point that new will break with activities and any other activity which may disturb The Ria de Aveiro and nature at risk. Along sedimentary considerable damage to the lagoon. natural beach and dunes restoration; In the front of the bay, formed by the coasts (beaches, dunes, flats), oblique Predictable damages include both the deposit of sediments from the flow of breaking waves generate turbulences flooding of low-lying built areas and the • Regulating urban seafront extension, in order to the rivers Vouga, Agueda and Certima, which remove and transport sediments intrusion of salt water into agricultural maintain protection costs at a low level. Ria de Aveiro is one of the finest in a longshore direction. lands.

Eng. Mota Lopes (DRAOT-CENTRO) The picture illustrates the extent of coastal erosion in Vagueira, located 9 km south of Aveiro habour entrance. Sediments carried along the coast by longshore currents are partly trapped by Vagueira’s groin, which results in a sediment deficit downdrift and coastal erosion in the non protected section of the waterfront.

26 27 THE EUROSION VISION

Understanding the dynamic nature of cliffs (bluffs) is often a natural The results of the EUROSION case These requirements are more likely to the coastal margin is a key factor in phenomenon contributing material to studies and other Europe wide be met if the sediments within the managing coastal erosion. Human the coastal sediment volume. In its evidence, suggests that too often in the reservoir have characteristics that populations have always tended to turn this can increase shoreline width, past insufficient attention has been paid closely resemble those in the local favour settlement along the coastal protecting the cliffs themselves from to the functioning of the whole area. By definition, after designation, margin. In historical times these were wave attack and helping to support the sedimentary system (as depicted above). sediment reservoirs should be left largely at the mercy of the forces of development of sedimentary habitats In this context sediment availability (or undeveloped. nature. From Roman Times onwards on adjacent shorelines. Where this lack of it) is of fundamental importance. coastal defences have been built to interplay is maintained and the In order to link the two key elements of Major concerns: what is at stake? protect ‘new land’ created during sediment budget is positive or in ‘sediment availability’ and ‘functional EUROSION has identified the periods of relative sea level fall or balance then the resilience of the wider space’ for sediment dynamics to operate following trends, which are likely to when an increased sediment supply system is more likely to remain intact. EUROSION proposes the identification have an increasingly adverse affect resulted in shoreline accretion. of ‘strategic sediment reservoirs’. on the coastline of Europe over the Structures such as sea walls and groin next 50 years unless policies are fields have not only helped to sustain EUROSION defines coastal resilience as the inherent Strategic Sediment Reservoirs changed: these lands from erosion and flooding, ability of the coast to accommodate changes induced A negative sediment balance in a but also provided the impetus for more by sea level rise, extreme events and occasional particular coastal area is likely to lead • Sediment loss through river coastal land to be developed. This has human impacts, whilst maintaining the functions to erosion and an increased threat regulation and dam construction, in turn resulted in a sometimes fulfilled by the coastal system in the longer term. from flooding. EUROSION dredging, sand mining and offshore dramatic loss of habitats (especially The concept of resilience is particularly important in recommends that to counteract these sediment extraction; coastal dunes, beaches, intertidal the light of the predictions for global climate change. trends a source of sediment should be saltmarshes, sand and mud flats, and identified, which would help improve • Loss of dynamic coastlines and seagrass beds) and with them a the ‘resilience’ of these areas. These natural habitats as a result of reduction in their natural dynamic Two key factors can be identified in ‘Strategic Sediment Reservoirs’ could coastal urbanisation, enclosure of characteristics. determining whether sensitive be derived from: tidal land, golf course development (‘soft/dynamic’) coastal systems are (on dunes), or by the use of EUROSION has shown that whilst inherently resilient or not: • offshore: sands on the sea bed sedimentary habitats to provide protection is possible, extreme events (below low water); sources of sediments to undermine and/or overtop coastal 1. local availability of sediments in compensate for chronic losses due defences locally. Long term trends and sufficient quantity to sustain the • the coastal area: eroding cliffs; to human interventions; knock-on effects from the structures dynamic equilibrium between intertidal shingle, sand and mud themselves can also result in negative erosion and accretion and attaining banks (supporting shingle structures, • Loss of resilience as the coast effects on the resilience of much larger a ‘favourable sediment status’. dunes and beaches) and less becomes more vulnerable to coastal units. It is anticipated that this Chronic losses of sediments will valuable agricultural land; erosion and flooding; situation will be aggravated by rising lead to an increase in the balance of sea levels and a more unpredictable erosion over accretion and • the hinterland: this option is to be • An accelerated sea level rise and and extreme storm climate associated ultimately in a loss of habitat and considered if insufficient sediment more unpredictable and extreme with climate change. This will result in narrowing of the shoreline; reserves are available either offshore storm events as a result of climate a long term threat to the safety of or within the coastal area. change. people, the sustainability of many 2. space for coastal processes to coastal activities, coastal biodiversity operate. Limitations on the space In some areas a positive sediment All of these hazards and risks (including Natura 2000 sites) and the available to accommodate the balance may hamper sustainable associated with them are ability of the coast to provide a natural retreat of cliffs and development locally e.g. in port or unpredictable. However, what is clear ‘natural’ coastal defence. In extreme sedimentary habitats and/or the sea resort areas. In these cases it may is that the increase in coastal erosion situations the coastal margin can redistribution of sediments as a be appropriate to consider making and flooding will result in an disappear altogether (see figure result of this retreat will decrease material removed from the system increasing cost to society, namely opposite). In this context the coastal resilience. (e.g. to keep harbour entrances open) through: maintenance of artificial shorelines available for the future by ‘feeding’ needs to be re-examined. Some of the factors important to the an offshore sediment reservoir. • Risk to lives and economic assets. delivery of sediment to the coastal Protecting some of our important Coastal resilience zone are shown in the figure below. towns and cities is likely to become EUROSION recognises the sustainable a major drain on resources leaving development of coastal zones and the little spare capacity for the protection conservation of dynamic habitats, ‘Strategic Sediment Reservoirs’ can be defined as: of other less valuable assets; especially on the remaining amounts of sediment of ‘appropriate’ characteristics undeveloped coast, as important long that are kept available for future replenishment of the • Increasing habitat loss. It can be term goals for European coastal zones. coastal zone, either temporarily (to compensate for expected that considerable areas of This requires a respect for, and in losses due to extreme storms) or in the long term coastal dunes and wetlands will many cases restoration of, the natural (at least 100 years). disappear and with it their social, functioning of the coastal system and economic and ecological functions; hence its natural resilience to erosion and flooding. • Greater mitigation and The identification, designation and use management cost. The current trend The implications of coastal resilience of strategic sediment reservoirs should in coastal defence, which may result vary depending on the coastal type. be subject to environmental impact in excess of 10,000 kilometres being For hard rock coasts resilience may not assessment (cf. EUROSION ‘protected’ by 2020 will become be critical because the rocks Some of the principle causes of change in sediment movement in a Recommendation nr. 2) and be cost increasingly economically themselves are resistant to erosion. ‘sediment system’. In this diagram the coast is taken to include the sea cliffs effective (cf. EUROSION unsustainable. and sand dunes, tidal saltmarshes and mud/sand flats. Nearshore marine Conversely active erosion of ‘soft-rock’ waters (blue) and the hinterland (green) make up the ‘sediment system’. Recommendation nr. 3). They must also In the diagram sediment movement is tending towards ‘sediment sinks’ be environmental acceptable and be The European dimension associated with a coastal embayment, such as an estuary able to contribute effectively to coastal The major problem posed by coastal ‘resilience’. erosion and flooding has only recently

28 29 been recognised as a key issue at management takes place at the Armed with this information it will be community level. The European local/regional level. EUROSION lays possible to develop appropriate Commission Strategy for Integrated great emphasis on applying the policies to manage the erosion and Coastal Zone Management (2000) first concepts identified above to local flood risk within the sediment cell. identified the importance of the issue decision making. In this context it This management should be based on with Members of European Parliament recommends coastal erosion a number of policy options 1, which in taking it forward by allocating the management should move away from summary are: budget for the EUROSION study. piecemeal solutions to a planned • Hold the line; The variety of socio-economic and approach. This should be based upon • Move seaward; environmental risks associated with accountability principles, which optimise • Managed realignment; the current trends in coastal erosion investment costs against values at risk, • No active intervention. and the threat from flooding has led increase social acceptability of EUROSION to attach considerable proposed actions and keep options importance to the concept of ‘coastal open for the future. This move should 1 Based on the UK approach to Shoreline Management Plans, Interim Procedural Guidance, DEFRA 2003 available @ resilience’. ‘Strategic sediment be driven by the need to restore the http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/ reservoirs’ by helping to attain a ‘coastal resilience’ and meet the favourable sedimentary budget within conditions for ‘favourable sediment a specific coastal area would help status’. create the conditions for improving ‘resilience’ and reducing the threats A Coastal Sediment Management Plan from erosion and flooding. provides the building block for coastal erosion management. In line with the This could be achieved either by vision developed by EUROSION, a amending existing directives – notably Coastal Sediment Management Plan Arradon (France) - courtesy: Philippe Hermange the Water Framework Directive and the (CSMP) is a document, which “sets the Habitats Directive – or by considering objectives of favourable sediment the opportunity to develop a specific status within a specific coastal directive on sediment management. In sediment cell and defines the means addition to the Europe-wide for achieving these objectives”. Figure 3 environmental and socio-economic indicates the principle components of a implications of current erosion trends coastal sediment cell in relation to the there are at least two other reasons for catchment and near shore zone. suggesting Community level involvement:

1. Catchments and the movement of water and sediments within them often transcend national boundaries. For example river regulation works may have impacts on coastal zones of other Member States;

2. Current coastal erosion management tend to see Natura The coastal sediment cell is made up of the principle coastal habitats (plus shingle shores and structures) as shown in the diagram. 2000 sites as sources of sediment or as areas that can be ‘sacrificed’ in areas of erosion. This has long term and possibly irreversible A first stage in any CSMP must include implications for the Natura 2000 identification of all the principle forces Network. influencing the rate at which sediment is removed from (or delivered to) the EUROSION judges that a legal system and the way in which the response – through amending existing dynamics operate. These should be directives or proposing a new directive assessed: – aimed at clarifying the international - on a timescale of at least 30 years, status of sediments must be increasing to 50 or 100 years in some considered seriously in order to lay cases; down the conditions for coordinated - with an understanding of the whole sediment management at the EU level. sedimentary system from the In this respect, the approach is similar catchment to the coast and including to that advocated within the Water the near shore marine environment Framework Directive. Beside this legal (see figure 3 above); response, EUROSION also proposes a - and takes account of economic, number of accompanying measures social and environmental effects. which can be best achieved through non legal arrangements.

Local action - Coastal Sediment Management Plans (CSMP) Whatever legislation is adopted at European or national level,

30 31 FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE COASTAL EROSION MANAGEMENT

On the basis of the findings and the By introducing the concept of favourable Coastal Sediment Management Plan (CSMP): EUROSION Vision four key sediment status into the European a high level document that sets the objectives of recommendations are proposed that, legislation, it is expected that future favourable sediment status within a specific coastal once implemented as a package, will management policies will take into sediment cell and defines the means for achieving make coastal erosion problems and consideration the undisturbed conditions these objectives. This concept is further developed under risks in Europe manageable. of the sediment system and will make Recommendation nr. 3. progressive efforts towards restoration of these conditions a legally binding EUROSION Recommendation nr. 1 obligation at the European level. Actions to be taken at EU-level EUROSION proposes that the concepts Restoring the sediment balance and providing space for of a ‘favourable sediment status’ of coastal processes Coastal sediment cell: coastal zones and of ‘strategic EUROSION defines a coastal sediment cell as a sediment reservoirs’ be introduced A more strategic and proactive approach to coastal erosion coastal compartment that contains a complete cycle within EU legislation. This can be done is needed for the sustainable development of vulnerable of including sources, transport paths, either by amending existing directives coastal zones and the conservation of coastal biodiversity. and sinks. The cell boundaries delineate the – notably the Water Framework Archief Natuurcentrum Ameland In light of climate change it is recommended that coastal geographical area within which the budget of Directive and the Habitats Directive – Acute erosion during a in Ameland (Wadden Sea) resilience is enhanced by: (a) restoring the sediment sediment is determined, providing the framework for or by considering the opportunity to balance; (b) allocating space necessary to accommodate the quantitative analysis of coastal erosion and develop a specific directive on natural erosion and coastal sediment processes and (c) accretion. In this respect, coastal sediment cells sediment management. The rationale the designation of strategic sediment reservoirs. constitute the most appropriate units for achieving for introducing these concepts at the Current EIA procedures have not the objective of favourable sediment status and level of a directive is that sediment sufficiently addressed human-induced Based on the findings, EUROSION hence coastal resilience. management is a cross-border sector coastal erosion. This can be improved proposes the introduction of the concept In practical and management terms, the coastal which interacts, and in certain cases through better incorporating coastal of favourable sediment status within the sediment cell sits within a sedimentary framework conflicts, with the requirements of erosion concerns (especially risk European legislation as the cornerstone composed of three geographical zones: the catchment, other existing European directives and assessments) into the implementation of coastal resilience and sustainable the shoreline, and the near shore marine environment. policies. These mechanisms should be of existing instruments at all levels of shoreline management. Because sediment implemented through the preparation administrations. EUROSION proposes management involves different sectors of Coastal Sediment Management the following: – including soil, water and habitat The identification and designation of Plans for vulnerable coastal zones. management – several options are ‘strategic sediment reservoirs’ for each Environmental Assessment suggested to facilitate the introduction of coastal sediment cell is seen as a Actions to be taken at Member EUROSION has prepared Guidelines this concept within European legislation. mechanism that will facilitate the States level for incorporating coastal erosion issues The objective of favourable sediment restoration of a favourable sediment Member States are encouraged to into Environmental Assessment for EIA status for the coastal zone shall be status and the provision of space for prepare a national policy framework to practitioners. The European Directive achieved for each coastal sediment cell coastal processes to take place. coastal resilience and promote the 2001/42/EC on Strategic Environmental principally via the designation of strategic It is important to understand the elaboration of Coastal Sediment Assessment (SEA) recognises the sediment reservoirs in combination with different processes, which may Management Plans. importance of taking a wide-range traditional measures such as spatial generate a demand for sediments. It is In particular, the responsibility of perspective when addressing the planning, building regulations, therefore valuable to make a Member States for the maintenance of cumulative impact of piecemeal environmental assessment procedures, distinction between different types of the Natura 2000 Network requires that developments and could be used to and coastal erosion mitigation measures. sediment reservoirs. In the process of the implications of favourable address coastal erosion and flooding designating strategic sediment sediment status and strategic sediment issues. This is particularly relevant to reservoirs, EUROSION recommends reservoirs on designated habitats and management within water catchment Favourable sediment status identifying three types of sediment associated species are taken fully into areas and coastal and near shore The favourable sediment status for coastal systems may reservoirs: account. Member States should ensure coastal zones. be defined as the situation where the availability of • type 1: buffer zones between land that areas designated for nature ‘coastal sediments’ supports the objective of promoting and sea conservation (Natura 2000) are not Hazard and risk mapping coastal resilience in general and of preserving dynamic • type 2: sediment stocks to adjust to used as sources to supply sediments to In most countries coastal erosion risks coastlines in particular. Coastal sediments consist of sea level rise compensate chronic deficits of are not sufficiently assessed, so it is onshore and near shore sediments derived from coastal • type 3: sediment stocks to sediments as a result of human proposed to bring the various existing cliffs, marine deposits and riverine sources. compensate for a human-induced intervention. approaches together into a common sediment deficit. methodology. To this end EUROSION has prepared Guidelines for mapping From a coastal resilience point of view, EUROSION proposes to adopt the coastal erosion hazards. the status of coastal sediments is concept of a Coastal Sediment EUROSION Recommendation nr. 2 favourable when: Management Plan (CSMP) as follows: Spatial planning a) their actual volume and distribution Internalise coastal erosion cost and risk in planning and By incorporating coastal erosion approximates to the situation before investment decisions hazards and risk mapping into long- chronic loss of sediments started to term plans local and regional occur as a result of human The impact, cost and risk of human induced coastal authorities can effectively divert intervention, with regard to: erosion should be controlled through better development from areas at risk from • net input of sediment from river internalisation of coastal erosion concerns in planning erosion, and reduce financial claims to catchments; and investment decisions. Public responsibility for compensate erosion damage. • longshore sediment drift; coastal erosion risk should be limited and an appropriate • cross-shore sediment exchange. part of the risk should be transferred to direct b) the resistance of sediments to beneficiaries and investors. Environmental Assessment erosive forces is supported by their instruments should be applied to achieve this. Risks natural geological texture, should be monitored and mapped, evaluated and vegetation or by a natural flexibility Rijkswaterstaat incorporated into planning and investment policies. Protection of coastal dunes in the Netherlands mitigating loss of natural resistance.

32 33 Financial instruments The management of expectations in An accountable coastal erosion - taking account of economic, social The design of innovative funding connection with risk is a crucial part of management and environmental effects. mechanisms is proposed, in particular: policy application. It must be made • has explicit objectives for a defined • measures to support the clear that development in risk locations timescale; Although the consequences of erosion implementation of Coastal Sediment will only be allowed where it does not • defines clear responsibilities at the may be the loss of property and land, Management Plans; lead to the need for subsequent action various levels of administration; the greater impact is caused when low- • financial compensation schemes to to reduce the level of risk from coastal • is based upon an understanding of lying areas (particularly at the coastal accommodate the resettlement of erosion. the sediment balance and long term margin) flood. It is therefore important coastal populations at imminent risk trends; to recognize the value of coastal from coastal erosion or flooding; In connection with the identification of • does not compromise safety, sedimentary habitats (notably tidal • a broader use of financial market strategic sediment reservoirs it is important environmental values and flats, saltmashes and sand dunes) in instruments, in particular to transfer important to prepare a mechanism to natural resources; providing natural defences. At the the costs related to adverse allow for expropriation or compensation • is based on a cost-benefit same time the opportunities for consequences of coastal erosion (the in order to accommodate managed assessment; restoring nature conservation, externalities) from the community to realignment in compliance with EC • is supported by an appropriate recreational and landscape features in the investors through insurance competition regulations. An example is budget for both investments and realignment or non intervention policies, bank loan conditions, and provided by the French Law that maintenance as well as for a schemes should not be overlooked. limitations to disaster compensation facilitates expropriation of assets financial mechanism to locally funds. threatened by natural hazards (Loi accommodate erosion or its impacts; The CSMP should define the objectives Barnier). • is implemented by technical for each coastal segment or cell in Integrated Coastal Zone Management measures that have proved to be fit terms of target thresholds for meeting In combination with Environmental Actions to be taken at the local level for purpose; the conditions of a ‘favourable Assessment instruments the EU Authorities should promote public • includes a programme to monitor sediment status’. These objectives may Recommendation on ICZM (2002) can information and awareness of coastal developments and effectiveness of be best described using a combination be used to identify mitigation solutions erosion risks as a basis for coastal measures; of four generic policy options (adapted which are innovative, cost-effective, planning and management, e.g. • determines the duty to publicly from the generic policy options and socially acceptable. Wherever through the dissemination of risk maps report on all above aspects. identified in the UK): ICZM plans are implemented, Coastal at local scale (1:25,000). Consultation • Hold the line Sediment Management Plans shall be with stakeholder groups and the Scope of CSMPs • Move seaward considered as part of them. public, to help ensure that coastal Coastal sediment management plans • Managed realignment management policies are understood provide one element in the • No active intervention Actions to be taken at EU-level should be a priority. Particular attention development of integrated As part of a wider initiative on risks should be given to Environmental management of coastal areas. Beside and insurance it is recommended that Assessment in relation to socio- achieving coastal resilience, a key the European Commission launches a economic and financial risks. component of a CSMP is that it should debate on instruments that could provide a large-scale assessment of transfer an appropriate part of the cost the risks associated with the operation of combating coastal erosion in risk EUROSION Recommendation nr. 3 of coastal processes and present these areas to the beneficiaries and investors. in the context of a long term policy Make responses to coastal erosion accountable framework. The key principle is that As part of an assessment of all financial they should help to reduce risks in a Albert Salman instruments and in the implementation Coastal erosion management should move away from sustainable manner. A CSMP should be Windbreak fences (called Ganivelles) are used in Camargue to restore the dunes of the Nature and the Environmental piecemeal solutions to a planned approach based upon a high level document that forms an Assessment directives, it is important to accountability principles, by optimising investment costs important element in any overall assess the potential impacts of projects against values at risk, increasing social acceptability of strategy for flood and coastal defence. Actions to be taken at EU-level on the coastal sediment balance and risks actions, and keeping options open for the future. As part of the existing conditionality to the safety of people, economic assets This move should be driven by the need to restore the assessments of all financial or coastal biodiversity. Appropriate coastal resilience and the favourable sediment status instruments and banks, coastal erosion mitigation and compensation measures and be supported by Coastal Sediment Management management projects should not be should be considered in this assessment. Plans (CSMPs). supported if they could cause adverse Projects in the field of infrastructure impacts requiring subsequent (Trans-European Networks, short sea mitigation measures. Instead, funding shipping) and water management incentives should be provided to should not be supported if they are programmes aimed at restoring the likely to cause adverse impacts requiring sediment balance and coastal resilience. subsequent mitigation measures. Funding incentives should be considered A first stage in any CSMP must include Actions to be taken by Member States for the elaboration of risk maps. identification of all the principle forces Responsibilities for elaborating coastal influencing the rate at which sediment sediment management plans should Actions to be taken at Member is removed from (or delivered to) the be passed on to regional authorities States level system and the way in which the whose coastline is entirely or partly Coastal erosion should become a dynamics operate. This will need to be included within a coastal sediment cell. mandatory topic to be assessed in assessed: When more than one region is relation to a wide variety of plans and - on a timescale of at least 30 years, concerned, interregional arrangements programmes affecting the coast increasing to 50 or 100 years in some should be established to elaborate (including planning, transport, tourist cases; shoreline management plans. developments and offshore aggregate Piotr Domaradzki - with an understanding of the whole Slope profiling in Rewal. The main erosion problem in extraction). SEA should be promoted this place is wrong ground water management. An sedimentary system from the Member States should promote the as an important new instrument for increased erosion in the neighbourhood is visible. catchment to the coast and including dissemination of best practice Environmental Assessment for coastal the nearshore marine environment information on coastal erosion erosion management. (see figure 6 above); management in their own language.

34 35 Actions to be taken at the local level should be revised every ten years. Regional authorities should take The results of a first assessment on responsibility for the development of the basis of the EUROSION database CSMPs and ensure that shoreline are presented in the central page of management is made fully compliant this brochure. with the above principles of accountability. CSMPs should be Delineation of coastal sediment cells established for five to ten years, be The delineation of coastal sediment subject to a SEA, and periodically cells is an important but complex evaluated and revised. task. Efforts should be undertaken to harmonise this work on the basis of datasets on the coastline, EUROSION Recommendation nr. 4 hydrography, coastal elevation and bathymetry, nearshore wave regime, Strengthen the knowledge base of coastal erosion and astronomical tides. Specific management and planning attention shall be given to the Natural and digital views of the Neddles (Isle of Wight). The digital view has been obtained via airborne laser altimetry (Lidar), which offers tremendous opportunities for coastline monitoring identification of sediment sources, The knowledge base of coastal erosion management and sinks and circulation patterns. planning should be strengthened through the development of information management strategies. These should Research on climate change impacts (on a series of topics) and to the Actions to be taken by Member States include dissemination of ‘best practice’ (what works and on the shoreline design and implementation of national Member States should support the what doesn’t), provide a proactive approach to data and It is extremely important to continue and regional platforms for sharing key standardized delineation of coastal information management and promote institutional and increase the research on the datasets. sediment cells through the production leadership at the regional level. impacts of climate change, not only of key input datasets and their on coastal ecosystems but also on Actions to be taken at EU-level integration into their national spatial Exposure of European coastal regions wetland evolution (especially tidal In the framework of the establishment data infrastructure (NSDI). Member to coastal erosion sand, mud flats and salt-marshes, and of an Infrastructure for Spatial Data in States should also liaise with the GMES EUROSION recommends a rating of the effects of associated mitigation Europe (INSPIRE) the standardized initiative to jointly develop a European coastal regions according and stabilization measures) on return delineation of coastal sediment cells standardized methodology for mapping to their exposure to coastal erosion. periods of extreme wave heights and should be supported by incorporating the boundaries of coastal sediment The rating is based upon factors on the extent of salt water intrusion. key input datasets required for such a cells, especially on cross-border cells; indicating pressures, state and delineation into Spatial Data and they should support interregional impacts of coastal erosion. The rating Interregional cooperation on coastal Infrastructure (SDI) standards. cooperation as well as research and should set the timeframe for sediment management planning development to support the joint establishing and re-evaluating European countries and regions and Future community research activities elaboration of CSMPs. sediment management plans at the the Commission should broaden their of the Global Monitoring of level of regional authorities and interregional cooperation to support Environment and Security (GMES) Actions to be taken at the local level coastal sediment cells and should the joint elaboration of coastal towards the establishment of At regional to local scales, production, serve as a basis for establishing sediment cell-based CSMPs. Priorities Europe-wide standardized processing, storage, update, exchange, priorities for implementing the shall be given to the development methodologies for delineating coastal and dissemination of relevant EUROSION recommendations, and and dissemination of best practices sediment cells, including information on coastal erosion methodologies relating to the processes and coastline management production or modelling of datasets should be considered as key required for delineating such sediment prerequisites to ensure successful cells, and towards shoreline shoreline management operations. economics. Regional authorities should play a lead role in creating the adequate institutional Priority should be given to the and technical conditions for such development of valuation techniques activities to take place, and for their which enable a cartographic benefits to be maximised. This should be representation and GIS processing of achieved through the elaboration and social, ecological and economical implementation by regional authorities values of coastal zones. Such a of a strategy on “coastal information representation should facilitate the governance”.This strategy should not transition from coastal erosion hazard be restricted to coastline management, maps to coastal erosion risk maps, and but extended to the broader context of support the implementation of cost- integrated coastal zone management, benefit assessment studies. wherever such approaches exist.

Rijkswaterstaat The Water En Strand Profiler (WESP) is a multi-purpose vehicle constructed to aid in the monitoring of the Dutch coastal area. It can operate from the beach and drive into the sea up to water depths of 8 meters

36 37 EUROSION PRODUCTS

Beside its findings and policy coastal erosion concerns into spatial recommendations, EUROSION has planning processes at the level of developed since early 2002 a wide regional and local authorities. range of products – including reports and a database – which are accessible • Guidelines for assessing costs and through the EUROSION web site benefits of coastline management (http://www.eurosion.org) or upon techniques. This document request to the European Commission. introduces to the assessment of Major among these products are: costs and benefits of coastal erosion mitigation measures. It pays a • The EUROSION database. This GIS particular attention to the database has been developed at assessment of external costs (or scale 1:100,000 and can be viewed costs of environmental damages) with any standard GIS software and the assessment of package. It contains 19 layers of environmental benefits. information including administrative and maritime boundaries, coastal • Guidelines for implementing local elevation and bathymetry, coastline, information systems dedicated to geology, geomorphology, coastal coastline management. This infrastructure, coastal defence works, guidance document presents the key erosion trends, land cover, land requirements for a successful and cover changes since 1975, wave and decision-oriented information system wind regime, sea level rise, tidal in the fields of coastline range, river sediment transport, management. These requirements areas of high ecological value, cover a broad range of aspects budget invested in coastal defence, including institutional and and regional exposure to coastal organisational procedures, functional erosion risk. Most of these layers are requirements, data content copyright-free and can be simply specifications, database modelling, obtained from EUROSTAT. Others are spatial representation, and data copyrighted and require the access and exchange technologies. authorisation of data providers. This document was mainly designed Readers interested to know more for regional authorities willing to about the database, or interactively implement such local information visualize some extracts of the systems, and their subcontractors. In different layers, are invited to visit addition to the guidelines, a prototype the EUROSION map-server at of a Local Information System has http://www.eurosion.org been developed and can be customized for any regional authority willing to • Guidelines for incorporating coastal facilitate coastal data sharing among erosion issues into Environmental regional and local stakeholders. This Assessment (EA) procedures. This prototype is also meant for regions guidance document provides some willing to get connected to one information on how to successfully another and to have access to the integrate coastal erosion processes Europe wide database. Installation of in the design of projects and during this prototype does not require any the early stages of their particular software license. development. The document also A CD-ROM of the prototype can be reviews a number of mitigation obtained upon request. solutions which can be adopted by project developers. These guidelines • EUROSION Shoreline Management have been designed for EIA Guide. The Shoreline management practitioners, including both project Guide is a review of about 60 developers and public authorities experiences of coastal erosion responsible for the development management in Europe. This guide is consent. not meant to be a coastal defence manual but rather a source of • Guidelines for mapping coastal knowledge where successes and erosion hazards. This document failures of coastal erosion reviews the main methods used in management throughout Europe Europe to map the evolution of have been documented. The guide shoreline at “low cost”. In turn, these is accessible from the EUROSION methods can help incorporate web site.

European Commission Living with Coastal Erosion in Europe – Sediment and Space for Sustainability Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 2004 - 40 pp. - 21 x 29,7 cm ISBN 92-894-7496-3

38 KH-59-04-952-EN-C