Airports

 Coastal city airports have often been located on or near to fragile coastal habitats, such as coral reefs or mangroves. After having been filled and graded, coastal shorelines often provide easily available sites for landing strips and ensure unobstructed landing approaches. However, the use of such sites for airport construction has led to pollution of coastal waters, erosion of shoreline habitats and destruction of coral reefs, mangroves and other sensitive ecosystems. Discharge of stormwater runoff for example increases the sedimentation load, and pollutes surrounding waters with oil, organic matter and other toxic and chemical substances. When airports are built next to lagoons or enclosed bays these pollution effects are exacerbated. Airports also often require offshore extending landing strips. These usually lie on sandy beaches and act as groins causing beach and shoreline erosion. Airport construction and/or expansion is also often associated with the development of a transportation network which causes further erosion, air pollution, disruption of natural drainage patterns, habitat destruction and loss of diversity.

Palm clearing for airport construction. Picture courtesy of NOAA

American Samoa, South Pacific: Airfield construction, filling and dredging at Pala Lagoon, American Samoa has led to serious ecological impacts on surrounding habitats. Prior to construction the Lagoon was home to the most important shellfish grounds of the territory. Dredging and filling work along the coast resulted in the disruption of longshore drift, impeding sand movement and causing erosion. The new airport also blocked the entrance to the lagoon reducing water flow and exchange, thus leading to poor water quality within the lagoon with obvious consequences for shellfish populations. Bali, Indonesia: Construction of the Kuta airport began in 1967, in one of the largest resort and beach areas on the island. The landing strip, built at right angles to the shore and which extends 1 km offshore - resembling a giant groin and thus preventing sand replenishment - has led to considerable erosion (more than 300m) on the downstream side of the airstrip. In addition to the destruction of beach and dune habitat, damage and destruction of restaurants and hotels on the downdrift side from the airfield has cost the government million of dollars. British Virgin Islands: The Beef Island airfield development officially began in 2000. The construction of this airport is seen as a key factor in the future of the British Virgin Islands as it would assist with projecting the British Virgin Islands as an up-market tourist destination. The Beef Island Airport development project incorporates the construction of a 46,000ft2 passenger terminal building, approximately four times the size of the present building, a cargo facility terminal and landslide and airside infrastructure including a car park, access roads, drainage works, security fencing and enlargement of the airport aircraft parking. Other elements include the extension of the runway to approximately 4,700ft. Already, by the start of the development, serious erosion problems were observed. These are likely to worsen during actual construction with increased sediment loads being washed into the surrounding waters and threatening seagrass meadows and coral reefs.

 

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