Eleven alarming national reports on coastal erosion in Africa will be tabled for discussion at the World Summit on Sustainable Development which starts in Johannesburg on August 26, the United Nations Department of Public Information announced in a statement on Wednesday.
”The pressure to attract investment for coastal tourist facilities that bring much-needed new jobs and revenue to developing countries, often ends up with projects that do not meet minimum standards of coastal protection,” said Patricio Bernal, executive secretary of Unesco’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.
He said that this was frustrating, since scientific and technical knowledge to prevent coastal erosion was readily available and good practices were clearly defined.
The national reports state that the seafront of Grand-Bassam in Cote d’Ivoire is in danger of crumbling into the water, while the Nigerian coastline is disappearing at a rate of 20 to 30 metres each year.
The Seychelles, which has 491 kilometres of coastline on its 455 square kilometres of territory, reported tourism as a primary cause of coastal erosion — mainly arising from attempts to cosmetically improve the beach and swimming areas, while the provision of marine facilities such as marinas and piers also played a role.
Gambia reported that the beach fronts of most of the hotels along their coastline have been washed away.
The reports mark the end of the fact-finding mission of a new United Nations project that aims to focus attention on the problem and to foster dialogue on solutions. – Sapa