Coastal Settlements

Man's habitation of the coast is a natural outgrowth of maritime societies and the inevitable result of continuing trends to concentrate populations within the narrow coastal margins. Most settlements owe their development to dependence on the resources of the sea and the accessibility to modes of transit and trade. While many communities have some dependency on the living resources of the ocean, others rely also on the physical attributes to spur tourism and appreciation of the aesthetic values. Potential climate change impacts, such as Increased strength and frequency of storms, sea level rise, and elevated atmospheric and water temperatures may have dramatic direct effects on land management, infrastructure protection and use, and population comfort in the most developed cities not to mention less armored communities of a more subsistent nature. Warmer climates and shifts in coastal marine biota may prove a boon to some northern communities that have been limited in their ability to totally capitalize on their coastal location due to harsh weather or diminishing resources. However, other communities may experience adverse conditions that may aggravate existing problems of dense populations dependent upon limited land mass and resources. Coastal community residents may adapt to changing conditions or migrate to more favorable climes or to follow shifting resources. Subsistence populations may be unable to travel long distance to pursue migrating resources and have to move entire communities or alter their ways of life. Alteration of the natural coastlines by human populations effects the response of land margins to climate change and regional weather impacts. Weathering and inundation cause coastlines to recede over time, but, if infrastructure impedes that recession, the habitat and much of the coastal topography may be lost to both marine organisms and to humans.

 

Civilization has traditionally used many wetlands and low lands in the coastal zone for uses that would lower land values on higher grounds. Such land usages as depositories for agricultural wastes, sites for sanitation facilities, and storage of industrial materials, are, by location, quite vulnerable to flooding. These low lying areas include sea grass beds, salt marshes, estuaries, and wetland fringes are also the more biologically productive areas of the coastal habitat. Alterations in habitat due to temperature changes, rising sea level, changes in fresh water flows, variation in storm frequencies and intensities, and changes in nutrient levels, and in strength or direction currents could result in migration of organisms, changes in species mixes, and loss of some organisms. Additionally, the inundation of infrastructure and storage areas in low lying lands could spill toxics and other contaminants into the coastal waters further stressing the animals and plants that struggle to reside there. Nations are leading the way to try and decrease emissions from human activities and slow the rate of warming. While international efforts are critical to effect change, most significant efforts will have to be acted upon locally. Municipal and coastal planners could anticipate long-term change and means of adapting to change. Some leaders have already encouraged their constituents to start thinking about adapting, e.g., curbing waterfront development, raising foundations, wharf decks and roadways, and protection structures. Changing natural resource composition and socio-economies pressures may prove a more difficult accommodation.