Beaches have many values to Pacific island communities, for protection of the land from inundation, as well as community fishing, and tourism attractions. However, beach erosion is prevalent on many coasts, due to both natural and human causes. Coastal protection structures such as seawalls are expensive and can cause negative impacts, such as erosion to adjacent coastlines. Ecosystembased adaptation integrates biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services, and engages natural ecosystem processes to provide alternative low-cost solutions to beach erosion. Adapting well-known dune rehabilitation techniques to narrow Pacific island beaches, beach ecosystem-based adaptation techniques include beach access control fencing and gateways, and tree, shrub and ground vine planting. Defined access pathways allow people to access the beach, and facilitate natural recovery of trampled vegetation. These beach management tools are in combination with local community capacity building, and engagement in maintenance and monitoring, which fosters reduction of impacts. Communities use locally available materials, and traditional expertise in the uses of matting and fencing. Use of beach ecosystem-based adaptation can increase the resilience of beaches to climate change and climate variability, and provide alternative softengineering approaches that are both low cost and can be effectively applied by local communities.
Funding
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme
History
Publication title
Beach Management Tools - Concepts, Methodologies and Case Studies
Volume
24
Editors
CM Botero, CW Finkl, O Cervantes
Pagination
679-700
ISBN
9783319583037
Department/School
School of Geography, Planning and Spatial Sciences
Publisher
Springer
Place of publication
Switzerland
Extent
48
Rights statement
Copyright 2018 Springer International Publishing AG