Mass tourism threatening Venice lagoon
An Italian environmental group warned that mass tourism is slowly eroding the Venice lagoon, which it said is also threatened by major real estate development and an inadequate transport network.
Elwha River Restoration: Dams Removal Project
This September, removal of two dams on the Elwha River, in Washington State, begins, setting in motion one of the largest restoration projects in U.S. history.
Northwest Coast of Madagascar
The Betsiboka Estuary on the northwest coast is the mouth of Madagascar’s largest river and one of the world’s fast-changing coastlines. Nearly a century of extensive logging of rainforests and coastal mangroves has resulted in nearly complete clearing of the land and dramatic rates of erosion. Astronauts describe their view of Madagascar as “bleeding into the ocean.”
HidroAysén’s Approval Takes Chile in the Wrong Direction
The reasons why HidroAysén should not be constructed are numerous but sadly, the authorities showed recently that they prefer to move in the opposite direction, at the expense of Patagonia. By Amanda Maxwell, NRDC.
Chilean Patagonia: a Way of Life Under Threat by Dams
A controversial project to dam two of the world’s wildest rivers for electricity, has won approval from a Chilean government commission despite a groundswell of opposition.
Hundreds of Barrier Islands Newly Identified in Global Survey
Earth has 657 more barrier islands than previously thought, according to a new global survey by researchers from Duke University and Meredith College. Barrier islands help protect low-lying mainland coasts against erosion and storm damage, and can be important wildlife habitats.
Arctic’s Icy Coastlines Retreat as Planet Warms
The coastline in Arctic regions reacts to climate change with increased erosion and retreats by half a metre per year on average. Less sea ice means more open water, which means stronger waves generated by wind. These, in combination with warming temperatures and more storms, mean more erosion of coastlines. Rising sea levels are also expected to enhance erosion.
Leave The Sea Alone!
Sea erosion is a natural phenomenon, it is an interplay between water, wind and sand, and this process helps keeping the intricate balance of coastal ecosystem. By erecting manmade structures in the sea, or on the beach, this process becomes crippled and the sea must find “other methods.”