Egypt's Risk For Coastal Erosion

 

         Egypt's coastline, which stretches over 3,500 kilometers along the Mediterranean and Red Seas, is vulnerable to coastal erosion caused by a combination of natural processes and human activity. Natural processes such as wave action, tidal currents, and sediment movement all play important roles in forming the coastal environment. However, manmade causes increase erosion hazards. Infrastructure development, such as ports, resorts, and coastal roads, disturbs natural sediment flow and changes coastal dynamics. Over-extraction of groundwater limits sediment supply to coastal regions, speeding increasing erosion rates. Climate change adds another layer of complication, as rising sea levels and shifting weather patterns exacerbate erosion threats. Increased storm severity and frequency are likely to increase coastal erosion occurrences, especially in sensitive regions such as Alexandria and other coastal cities.

      Coastal erosion could cost Egypt USD bns and wipe out half our beaches this century. Are we doing enough to mitigate it? | Enterprise

        Coastal erosion has far-reaching consequences for Egypt's infrastructure, businesses, and ecosystems. Erosion threatens coastal populations, infrastructure, and agriculture. In areas like Alexandria, where development is intense and land subsidence is already taking place, the risk of flooding and displacement grows. Economically, coastal erosion undermines critical industries such as tourism, fishing, and marine trade, threatening livelihoods and hampering attempts to achieve sustainable development. Furthermore, erosion causes environmental deterioration, which affects delicate ecosystems such as wetlands, coral reefs, and mangrove forests. Loss of habitat and biodiversity reduces ecosystem services that are critical for human well-being and increases vulnerability to climate change consequences.

        Addressing Egypt's coastal erosion necessitates a diversified strategy that includes engineering solutions, coastal management measures, and regulatory changes. Infrastructure planning should prioritize the construction of coastal defenses such as seawalls, breakwaters, and beach replenishment projects to reduce erosion risks and safeguard sensitive regions. Integrated coastal zone management, which incorporates environmental concerns and stakeholder interaction, is critical for sustainable development and resilience building. In addition, rules and regulations should be improved to limit coastal development, manage groundwater extraction, and encourage sustainable land use along the shore. By implementing these strategies, Egypt can reduce the effects of coastal erosion, protect coastal assets, and increase resilience to future environmental issues.

Citations

-Coastal erosion could cost Egypt USD Bns and wipe out half our beaches this century. are we doing enough to mitigate it?. Enterprise. (2022b, March 22). https://enterprise.press/stories/2022/03/22/coastal-erosion-could-cost-egypt-usd-bns-and-wipe-out-half-our-beaches-this-century-are-we-doing-enough-to-mitigate-it-67385/

Comments

  1. OmarApril 26, 2024 at 6:19 PM

    Hello Tyler, great post this week! You make some great points about Egypt's necessity to build coastal protections such as seawalls. My country is Mongolia, but since it is landlocked I decided to talk about Haiti, and seawalls seem like a great idea. I also included it in my blog this week. Keep up the good work

    ReplyDelete
  2. Allaysha R. HoustonApril 28, 2024 at 11:44 PM

    Hey Tyler, I think you did a great job on your blog post this week. You gave well-thought-out information and organized your topic really well. I have Bolivia as my country and talked about how, even though Bolivia is landlocked, it suffers great risk from neighboring countries that do have coastal erosions. It was cool reading about the experiences Egypt faces from this issue.

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