Land Use Pressures & Conservation Measures
Land-use pressure in coastal areas
- Coastlines are subject to land-use pressure
- Various stakeholders use the coastline differently:
- Residents – living comfortably in the area without disturbance
- Farmers or fishermen – farming and fishing industries (commercial or subsistence)
- Business people – developing tourist industry and other coastal businesses
- Industry officials and workers – for factory work or quarrying
- Port authorities – managing the port area
- Transport companies – maintaining travel networks
- Wildlife – living safely without human interference
- Environmentalists and conservationists – maintaining and protecting habitats and vegetation (speaking on behalf of wildlife)
- Tourists – using the beauty of the coastline area for recreation
- Developers – building up the coastline for tourism and residential purposes
- Governments and councils – protecting and maintaining the coastline
- The views of these stakeholders may conflict, especially when decisions by one stakeholder negatively affect another
- All stakeholders need the coastline in some way, so they compete with each other
- A conflict matrix can show where and how much conflict there is in relation to each other
An example of a conflict matrix at the coast
An example of a conflict matrix at the coast
Land-use pressure and conflicts
| Stakeholder activity | Land-use pressure | Conflicts |
|
Tourism |
Coastal areas attract tourists with their natural beauty and recreation opportunities Tourism requires the development of hotels and entertainment facilities Tourism puts pressure on the coastline, e.g. pollution, littering, overcrowding, resource pressure, destruction of habitats, congestion Tourists argue that coastal maintenance is important to keep tourist access available |
Locals and environmentalists conflict with tourists over sustainability and conservation |
|
Industry and development |
Coastal environments have industrial uses They are home to industrial activity like energy production, e.g. oil, and gas refineries, quarrying Coastlines house shipping areas and ports Industrial activities are unsightly, cause pollution, eutrophication, and degradation of natural areas and habitats Urbanisation development increases pressure on the coastline e.g. new housing, car parks, transportation routes and other necessary infrastructure |
Can cause conflicts with locals and environmentalists Tourists may conflict with industrial developers |
|
Residents and housing |
Many residents live in coastal areas, from city commuters to retirees Residents and locals of coastal areas are against large tourist and industrial activity Some locals worry about coastal erosion and flooding, and focus their attention on pushing for coastal management |
Locals may conflict with tourists, industry developers and advocates for “do-nothing” management strategies |
|
Agriculture and fishing |
Fishing in coastal environments is some people’s livelihood Fishing industries require processing areas, transport routes and other resources This can cause overfishing and pollution Coastal areas are also home to agricultural activity This can result in fertiliser, pesticide and animal waste pollution, land reclamation and coastal squeeze, overuse of the land and habitat destruction |
Locals and environmentalists conflict with farmers and fishermen |
|
Coastal management |
Coastal management is a vital tool for protecting coastlines from erosion and flooding There are both advantages and disadvantages to hard and soft engineering strategies There are both winners and losers. Some stakeholders will benefit and some will be negatively affected by management strategies |
Conflicts can arise between winners and losers |
|
Conservation measures |
Environmentalists and conservationists work to protect coastal habitats and ecosystems Protection and preservation of the environment is a top priority |
Conflicts can arise between environmentalists and those wishing to exploit or freely use the coastline e.g. industries, tourists and local residents |
Exam Tip
Make sure you learn about who conflicts with whom. Are locals angry at industries? Are environmentalists angry at tourists? You might be asked to discuss the conflicting opinions of coastal areas.
